Armidale –
Heart of New England
Take a break from the heat and the
crowds and visit the high country where the summer temperatures
are comfortable and the evening air is cool. Travel up the
beautiful Great Dividing Range.
At an elevation of 980 metres above
sea level, Armidale has a population of 25,000 and is
Australia’s highest city. Armidale is located almost mid-way between
Sydney and Brisbane on the New England Highway, just over an
hour from Tamworth and two and a half hours drive from Coffs
Harbour and the coast along the scenic touring route known as
the Waterfall Way.
Often described as
the educational
and cultural capital of New England, Armidale is home to the
University of New England, Australia’s oldest rural university
and is a vibrant rural centre with a welcoming country
atmosphere. Like most university towns Armidale has a diverse
community, which enjoys the cosmopolitan atmosphere, provided by
pedestrian malls with outdoor cafes, monthly markets and regular
artistic events and cultural festivals.
History & Heritage - Art &
Culture
Armidale has a rich history dating
from the early days of European settlement.
Armidale is graced
with elegant cathedrals, churches, heritage buildings, museums,
galleries and grand pastoral homesteads such as Saumarez and
Booloominbah. The New England Regional Art Museum houses over
3500 works including the Hinton and Coventry collections, which
are the envy of national institutions. The Aboriginal Cultural
Centre and Keeping Place provides many opportunities for
visitors to experience some of the richness of Koorie heritage
in New England and features indigenous art, craft and
artefacts. Armidale’s free Heritage Tour, which runs daily from
the Visitors’ Centre, is an excellent way of enjoying a
leisurely guided tour of the city taking in the major historic
and architectural landmarks. It’s a popular attraction so
bookings are recommended.
Natural Wonders
World Heritage-listed national
parks and magnificent natural scenery are right on Armidale’s
doorstep. In the vast gorge country of Oxley Wild Rivers
National Park, within a short drive of the town centre, you can
experience the thrill of standing on the edge of an escarpment
with a 300 metre vertical drop. Less than an hour’s drive, is
the unspoilt wilderness of the Great Dividing Range at New
England National Park where you can walk amidst snowgums and
Antarctic beech trees; living descendants of forests that
flourished 80 million years ago!
The national parks, state forests
and nature reserves around the Armidale area offer spectacular
scenery, magnificent waterfalls and a great choice of outdoor
activities for all interests: from bushwalking, wildflowers,
fossicking, bird-watching and fly fishing to horseriding,
canoeing and photography.
Enjoy Armidale's perfect summer
weather - warm during the day and cool in the evening.
Visit armidale
for your accommodation,
food and fun requirements. |
