There are few cities in Australia better placed to serve as a base for exploring national parks than Armidale. Discover some fourteen different national park visitor areas within an hour's drive and enjoy sight seeing, picnicking, walking, and many more outdoor recreation activities.
Oxley Wild Rivers National Park
Gara Gorge: Just twenty minutes drive and you're in Oxley Wild Rivers National Park. Take an historic walk to a lookout platform overlooking the Maclay Gorges Wilderness.
Dangars Gorge: The grandeur of the gorges is clearly visible at Dangars Gorge just 22km south-east of Armidale. A 20km network of walking tracks and lookouts extends around the gorge and down into the valley. The picture above is taken of the Danger Falls located within the gorge.
Wollomombi Gorge: The famous waterfalls here are the highest in N.S.W but may not be flowing in dry spells. Two lookout platforms and a walk to the river for fitter visitors.
Long Point: Access to this part of Oxley Wild Rivers National Park is via the village of Hillgrove for spectatular gorge lookouts and walks through dry rainforest.
Aspley Gorge: Just fifteen minutes from Walcha, south of Armidale, the dramatic gorge scenery includes two waterfalls, first sighted by Europeans when John Oxley passed this way in 1818.
Tia Gorge: Further down the Oxley Highway from Asplay, Tia offers gorge scenery, including a waterfall and walking tracks for easy access.
Budds Mare: Located 44km east of Walcha this is an exciting base for camping and day walks to the Aspley River.
Georges Creek: This camping area, which can be easily reached by foot, is just outside the Oxley Wild Rivers National Park. A good launch site for canoeing the Maclay River.
- Dangars Lagoon This northen tablelands freshwater lake is just outside Uralla off the Walcha raod. Picnic sites and a bird hide provide a pleasant view over the water.
- Mother of Ducks Lagoon Highlands lake at Guyra is home to large numbers of water birds, including the migratory snipe all the way from Japan. Facilities include a samll display, picnic shelter and bird hide over the lake.
- Mt. Yarrowyck Aboriginal Walk Drive to the west of Armidale along the Bundarra Raod for 30km and park off the road to begin your walk into the Dreaming. Mountain scenery, information signs and a cave painting site.
- Cathedral Rock National Park Giant volcanic boulder softened by years of woodland growth make this an exciting area to explore along walking tracks finally clambering up to the lofty summits.
- Ebor Falls These spectacular double falls on the Guy Fawkes River are visible from lookout platforms just off the main road at Ebor. They are well worth the visit, on the way to the coast or combined with other national park attractions on the way to Ebor and back.
- New England National Park This is the jewel in the crown of the national parks system near Armidale. One visit cannot do justice to the breathtaking lookouts, rainforest walks and the mountain waterfalls and creeks that make up this remarkable park, dedicated in 1935...but it's a great start!