Contents


Photos by Frank Low ~ taken in the Winterbourne area.

The Adventure Archives of New England NSW Australia

Walking New England Tablelands can be as leisurely or as challenging as you want to make it. From pleasant half-day strolls along a gorge rim, to week-long backpacking trips through  river valleys. Every type of walker is catered for.

Click on walk areas on map and will show links to those walks.

The New England Tableland is bounded by the Hunter River on the south, the Queensland border on the north, the escarpment and coastal plain on the east, the inland slopes on the west. This forms a rough rectangle about 400 x 180 km, ranging in height above sea level from about 800 m to 1586 m at Round Mountain on the eastern escarpment. This is the highest point between the Australian Alps and Mount Bartle Frere in North Queensland.

 It's possible to walk comfortably all year round as the summers are relatively cool.      A 4-season sleeping bag is essential for the frosty winter nights which are usually followed by sunny days. Annual rainfall is around 760 mm with more falling in summer, often as afternoon thunderstorms.

The New England Highway curls around the south-western side of the tablelands before bisecting the plateau north-south. From this highway, roads branch off to the east from the main tableland towns of Tenterfield, Glen Innes, Armidale, Uralla and Walcha. These roads, from north to south, are the Gwydir Highway, the Waterfall Way, the Oxley Highway and Thunderbolts and Bucketts Way. They give access to gorge and escarpment wilderness areas as they head towards the northern coast of NSW.

 

The great range of altitudes, landforms and soils in the New England Tableland provide a variety of environments supporting about 3000 plant species and endangered animals such as the brush-tailed rock wallaby. The temperate rainforests of New England and Washpool National Parks form a link in the chain of Gondwana rainforests of north-eastern Australia along the coastal escarpment. They have World Heritage listing.
Although much of the land was cleared for agriculture in the 1800s, many public reserves were established in the 1900s.  Large tracts of wilderness provide many opportunities for walking both on and off track. Wilderness areas in the east are concentrated along the escarpment at places such as New England and Dorrigo National Parks and in river systems such as the Macleay-Apsley and Guy Fawkes where they cut deeply into the tablelands, creating  dramatic gorges. Other large national parks include Oxley Wild Rivers, Cathedral Rock, Werrikimbe, Guy Fawkes and Dorrigo to the east, and Kaputar and Warrabah to the west. Kaputar National Park gives 100 km views in all directions.

 

 

These scenes were
taken on a winter's morning around Point Lookout
 

Disclaimer
“While the authors have endeavoured to ensure that the information presented is as up-to-date as possible, they cannot accept any responsibility for any loss, injury or inconvenience sustained by any person using this website. Like many other outdoor activities, walking/canoeing has its hazards and it is the responsibility of each walker to use common sense to reduce risks. There are potential dangers on some of these trips from both the weather and the terrain. The trips on this website may also alter as both natural and man-made changes will occur with time. You must make your own judgement about your capabili­ties and safety in undertaking any trip. The maps on this site are intended to be used only as a guide of where to walk. All walkers should also carry and use the recommended topographic maps as these show more information and cover a larger area.”
Intending walkers MUST seek permission before entering private property.  Contact President Armidale Bushwalkers for further information.

 

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