About Armidale

Natural Wonders

At around 1000 metres above sea level, Armidale offers visitors a truly evocative and unique experience with four distinct seasons. The city of Armidale and the towns of Guyra, Uralla and Walcha share a rich history and stunning natural environment.

Apsley Falls

They are the first falls in a succession of dramatic drops in an area that has some of the most remarkable scenery in Eastern Australia. The first drop of the falls is about 65 metres (213 ft) in depth, and the second, which is about 800 metres (2,625 ft) further on, plummets 58 metres (190 ft) metres to the bottom of the gorge.

The main falls and gorge can be easily viewed from several lookouts which are readily accessed via stairs from the car park. The sheer sided walls of the upper Apsley Gorge are largely caused by the slate in this area which splits vertically.

Food and Wine

From casual family restaurants, cafés, clubs and pubs to fine dining rooms and cellar door establishments, there’s a diverse choice of dining options, as well as cuisines in the New England.

In season, you can buy freshly-picked berries, apples, pears and stone fruits from farm stands and local markets, or head out of town to pick your own. On weekends year round, you can head out of town to one of the cellar door operations that serve food with a view of the vineyards.

Art and Culture

At the University of New England (UNE), there are museums and collections embracing art, classical archaeology, local history, zoology, botany, geology, Asian musical instruments, manuscripts and rare books.

Armidale’s newest performing arts venue, the Hoskins Centre, is a creative arts complex with a state-of-the-art theatre, rehearsal rooms, art studios and exhibition space. Drama and musical productions are another flourishing dimension of the city’s rich performing arts scene.

History and Heritage

Armidale was officially declared a town in 1846. A few years later, the arrival of the railway and discovery of gold at Rocky River and Hillgrove heralded a population and building boom. Valuable minerals and metals, including tin, were discovered at other sites around the region.

The University campus and many charming heritage buildings across the region are home to museums and collections that reveal myriad colourful stories about the history of the New England.

Sport and Adventure

SportUNE, the University of New England’s state-of-the-art facilities including a gym, climbing wall, pool, playing fields and tennis and squash courts, is open to visitors and the wider community seven days a week.

Out in the gorges and national parks, hiking, rock climbing and abseiling expeditions range from easy to difficult, and kayaking down the rivers can be a wild ride, particularly after heavy rains. If calmer waters are more your thing, then you’ll find Dumaresq Dam is a peaceful spot to paddle.

Canyoning, mountain biking, birdwatching, trout fishing and other outdoor adventures take on an exciting new dimension up high.

Scenic Drives

Tourist Drive 3, for example, focuses on the historic stomping grounds of miners, bushrangers and farmers. It begins in Armidale, taking in some of the city’s finest heritage buildings, including the cathedrals, Folk Museum, Town Hall and old Teachers College.

Tourist Drive 19 from Uralla, the elm tree-lined approach to the photogenic vine-covered Gostwyck Chapel remarkably resembles the English countryside the region was named after. From there, the route passes over a narrow wooden bridge, transporting you straight back into the Australian bush.

Tourist Drive 21 from Uralla, over the hills to the lovely Banalasta lavender and eucalyptus farm, old Bendemeer coach stop and the tiny hamlet of Woolbrook, where you can fish for trout in the crystal clear waters of the McDonald River.