Tenterfield in New South Wales is not always the first destination on people’s list of places to visit, however, those that do make the excursion inland are rarely disappointed.
Tenterfield is an untouched and stunning town located around eight hours north of Sydney and three and half hours south of Brisbane. The town is located around 200kms from the east coast and the nearest tourist town of Byron Bay.
It’s a town for those looking for something different from their holiday. Looking to get away from the coast and explore the untamed bush, beautiful national parks and the stunning New England and Northern Rivers regions.
Tenterfield enjoys mild alpine summers, sunny winter days and crisp winter nights, blazing red autumns with stunning tree-lined roads and bright wildflower springs, making it an attractive destination all year round.
Known as the ‘Birthplace of our Nation’, Sir Henry Parkes delivered his famous federation speech in the Tenterfield School of Arts in 1889, which helped to make the case for the Federation of all Australian states.
The area is rich in indigenous culture and for many thousands of years, one of the region’s most famous sites, Bald Rock, served as neutral ground for the three Aboriginal nations of the region: the Jukembal, Bundjalung and Kamilaroi. Bald Rock was considered a boundary by the nations, so meetings and trade could occur on the site without each nation having to journey through the other territories.
The region of Tenterfield is bursting with things to do for locals and tourists alike. The national parks are one of the biggest draws but many people come to the region to learn more about the history as well as visit the local museums and attend events in the area.
Here are five of the best things to do in the region:
The Tenterfield region is surrounded by national parks and you will be spoilt for choice when deciding what to do in the region if you love the outdoors. There are eight national parks found within the Tenterfield region including the popular Bald Rock National Park and Boonoo Boonoo National Park.
The Bald Rock National Park is rated at the number one activity in the Tenterfield region on TripAdvisor and is worth adding to your Australia bucket list. Located 30km from Tenterfield on the New South Wales and Queensland border, Bald Rock National Park is home to an abundance of wildlife (including the rare spotted tailed quoll), native plants and wildflowers. Its most famous resident, however, is the mighty Bald Rock, which rises above the horizon at almost 1300 metres above sea level. It’s a great place to explore with plenty of trails and the climb to the top of Bald Rock will leave you feeling like you are on top of the world.
The Tenterfield Station opened in 1886 and is a rare survival of something that was once common throughout NSW. It is an almost intact nineteenth-century railway precinct. When the line was completed to the border in 1888, Sydney and Brisbane were linked by rail for the first time. Services declined gradually from the 1970s and finished completely in October 1989.
The museum itself is a celebration of the railway and the travel opportunities that the station opened up to people of the region. The station allowed tourism to flourish in Tenterfield and despite closing in 1989, the seeds were already sown and people continue to flock to Tenterfield to explore the region.
It’s a great place for the whole family, with some fantastic reviews on TripAdvisor, “There are a lot of hands on exhibits (especially in the “trikes” shed which the kids loved), and you can also walk into most of the carriages that were there. A good history lesson for both kids and adults! There are sections of old photos showing what life would’ve been like in the railway yards, and as a station master.”
The golf course in Tenterfield attracts golfers from all across the region and beyond. Founded in 1901, the course has a long history and a new clubhouse was opened in 1979.
With onsite accommodation available, play-and-stay packages are extremely popular at Tenterfield. The club is a real part of the community and they have an extensive competition schedule. One of the highlights of the calendar is the annual US Masters Tournament that is held on the final day of the Masters competition every year. Whilst the players may not be competing for the green jacket, it’s a competition that attracts a big field. This year promises to be another big year as players turn up to see if Hideki Matsuyama can defend the title he won at Augusta last year before heading out to play. Matsuyama is currently 26.00 with Betway to defend his title with Jon Rahm the current favourite at 9.00.
The Mount Mackenzie Scenic Lookout is almost 1,300 metres above sea level and provides some of the best views in the Northern Tablelands.
To the north, you can see the Boonoo Boonoo tableland, made up of Bald Rock and Boonoo Boonoo National Parks in New South Wales, and Girraween National Park in Queensland.
The Mount Mackenzie Scenic Lookout is 13km from Tenterfield. Alternatively, the one hour, 38km Mount Mackenzie Scenic Drive showcases the town’s spectacular surroundings from many different angles and takes you on a loop back into Tenterfield.
Mount Mackenzie is another favourite with locals and visitors alike. Exploreraussie had this to say on TripAdvisor, “OMG, what a place. Summer, it’s beautiful, winter is delightful and spring is a dream. Take your shorts, ski’s, and your dogs there.”
As you might expect from the name, the Boonoo Boonoo Falls are located in the Boonoo Boonoo National Park.
The Boonoo Boonoo Falls walking track offers a short easy walk from the Falls picnic area along the southern side of Boonoo Boonoo Gorge. It’s a 0.7km return walk which should take no more than 30-40 minutes, however, make sure you leave time to enjoy the magnificent falls.
There is a magnificent viewing platform at the end of the track that offers up a spectacular view of the cascading falls and beyond. Depending on how much rainfall there has been, it is possible to swim in the pools at the bottom of the falls, although if there has been heavy rainfall, you can always visit the nearby Platypus Hole which has a pontoon and ladder to ease yourself into the water.
Tenterfield is a wonderful place to visit with plenty of things to see and do for the whole family. There are also lots of accommodation options in the region to suit all budgets and a number of towns to explore.
As well as a wide range of outdoor activities, there are also some good shopping opportunities in the region as well as local producers including Aloomba Lavender, Wild Souls Mead and Cherrydale Orchards.
Make sure you add Tenterfield to your list of places to visit in New South Wales this year.
