ew South Wales West Tamworth
Population 34,500
Tamworth is situated at the junction of the New England and Oxley Highways, on
the banks of the Peel River. It is 411km (255 miles) from Sydney; 1152km (715
miles) from Melbourne; 1,446km (898 miles) from Adelaide; 589km (366 miles) from
Brisbane.
Climate
Average temperatures: January max 30C (88F) - min 17C (63F); July max 16C (61F)
- min 4C (39F). The town is 389 metres (1276 ft) above sea level and has
an average rainfall of 650mm (25in). Occasional snow falls in winter on the
hilltops around Nundle (60km [37miles]) to the south.
Characteristics
As well as being famous as the Australasian Country Music Capital, Tamworth
was also the first city in the country to install electric street lighting.
The city is in the heart of the biggest gemstone fossicking region of NSW,
and is surrounded by picturesque countryside.
How to Get There By Rail
An air conditioned Countrylink service operates daily to Tamworth. The Countrylink
connects in Tamworth with a fleet of luxury coaches which travel over a large
area of north-west NSW.
By Bus
Tamworth is on the main Brisbane/Sydney, Brisbane/Melbourne and Brisbane/Adelaide
routes which are covered daily by Greyhound Pioneer and McCafferty's.
By Road
Tamworth is approximately 5.5 hours drive from Sydney and 6.5 hours from Brisbane
along National Highway 15 - the New England Highway. The city also has highway
links to the Gold Coast, Melbourne, Port Macquarie and Adelaide.
Tourist Information
The Tamworth Visitor Information Centre is on the corner of Peel and Murray
Streets, & 02 6755 4300 or email tourism@tamworth.nsw. gov.au Their opening
hours are 8.30am-4.30pm Mon-Fri, 9am-5pm weekends.
Accommodation
Make sure you ask for a room away from the highway as trucks travelling at
night can destroy your sleep. Here is a selection with prices for a double
room per night, which should be used as a guide only. The telephone area
code is 02.
Powerhouse Boutique Hotel, New England Highway, 6766 7000. 81 units, 2 licensed
restaurants, swimming pool, sauna, spa, gym - $115-125.
Tamwell Motel, 121 Johnston Street, 6766 2800. 16 units, unlicensed restaurant
(closed weekends), secure parking - $95-100.
Abraham Lincoln, 343 Armidale Road, 6766 1233. 15 units, swimming pool, barbecue
- $75-80.
Alandale Flag Inn, New England Highway, 6765 7922. 25 units, licensed restaurant,
swimming pool, spa, half-court tennis - $85-100.
Roydon's Motel, cnr New England Highway & Church Street, 6765 7355. 12
units, basic facilities - $55-60.
Southgate Inn, cnr. Kathleen & Kent Streets, 6765 7999. 6 rooms (private
facilities), unlicensed restaurant - $60-65.
Tamworth Hotel, Marius Street, 6766 2923. 11 rooms, licensed restaurant - $40.
Caravan Parks
City Lights Caravan Park, New England Highway, 6765 7664. (Pets allowed on
application) 102 sites, pool, playground, barbecue - powered sites $16-25
for two, on-site vans $30-45 for two.
Austin Caravan Park, 581 Armidale Road, 6766 2380. (Pets allowed on application)
104 sites, barbecue, pool, good facilities - powered sites $19 for two, cabins
$35-75 for two.
Eating Out
There are licensed clubs which provide lunch and dinner, and have activities
and live entertainment for guests. Visitors are always welcome. There are
a number of fully licensed restaurants mainly associated with the major hotels,
and many fast food outlets such as McDonald's and the local cafes.
Valentino's Italian Restaurant, 2 Byrnes Ave, 6766 4246.
Empress Chinese Restaurant, 455a Peel St, 6766 1616.
Bangkok Thai Restaurant, North-gate Shopping Centre Shop, 18 Peel St, 6761
3098.
Deepka Indian Restaurant, 23 Brisbane St, 6766 1771.
83 Restaurant, 199 Marius St, 6766 2383.
Points of Interest
The Department of Lands has created a Heritage Walk and a Nature Walk in Tamworth.
Maps of both walks are available from the Visitor Information Centre in Kable
Avenue.
The Powerstation Museum in Peel Street celebrates Tamworth's centenary as Australia's
first city with electric street lighting, and features working steam-powered
electricity-generating equipment.
Calala Cottage in Denison Street was constructed in 1875 as the home of Tamworth's
first Mayor, and today forms part of the local Historical Society complex.
Munro's Mill in Peel Street opened in 1863. Built from handmade bricks and
hand-forged nails, it was the first commercial flour mill in New England. Today,
it is an antique shop.
The Country Collection, 6765 2688, on the New England Highway offers an interesting
combination of attractions including the Rock, Gem and Mineral Collection,
a wax museum filled with legends of country music, and Britten's Boutique Brewery
which produces a series of Tamworth ales.
Endeavour Drive, at the top of Brisbane Street, takes you to Oxley Park, a
peaceful sanctuary for kangaroos and other native wildlife, with full amenities,
picnic and barbecue facilities.
Bicentennial Park, in Kable Avenue, is a peaceful 'people's place' of parkland,
pathways, fountains, pergolas, restaurant and a central pool. The pool is ringed
by granite etched with depictions of the district's history and wildlife. Tamworth City Gallery, 6755 4459, in Marius Street has a
silver collection on permanent display. It also houses travelling
exhibitions and is the site for the National Fibre Exhibition.
Festivals
The Australasian Country Music Festival is held over ten days each January.
The festival normally has over 600 concerts and events.
The Tamworth Arts in Action Festival is held biennially in October. It includes
concerts, displays of homecrafts, opera and live theatre.
Facilities
Excellent sporting facilities are available in Tamworth for just about every
type of sport from tenpin bowling to clay target shooting. At Lake Keepit
you can water ski, canoe, fish, sail and bushwalk. There are also facilities
for gliding (Keepit Soaring Club).
The hilltop countryside around Tamworth is best appreciated on horseback. Four
Wheel Drive enthusiasts will find the back roads around Manilla, Hall's Creek
and Bendemeer challenging.
Outlying Attractions Manilla
On the Namoi River, it is known for Dutton's Meadery in Barraba Street, where
you can taste their honey-based alcoholic drink, which is reputedly mans' oldest
liquor.
Kootingal
Pyramid Planetarium on the New England Highway features a working model of
the solar system.
Moonbi
Braecroft Cottage Gallery, Braefarm Road is the home of the ceramic artist
Fred Hillier and his range of ceramic figurines and Australian bush buildings.
Nundle
If you want to try your luck fossicking then try around this historic village
especially in the 'Hills of Gold' area, after visiting Hanging Rock, and
asking one of the locals for advice. The Nundle historical Museum is in Jenkins
Street, 6769 3292.
