New England tours cover a big stretch of northern New South Wales, and it helps to know the ground before you choose one. This page sets out the region, its main towns and the history that shapes many itineraries.
Tour operators set their own durations and prices, so check current details with the operator before you book.
Where New England tours operate
New England is a geographical region in the north of New South Wales, about 60 km inland from the Tasman Sea. It takes in the Northern Tablelands (also called the New England Tablelands) and the North West Slopes. As of 2021 the population was 185,560, with over a quarter of people living in the Tamworth Regional Council area.
The region has no clearly defined boundaries, so a tour described as a New England tour may cover quite different country depending on the operator. The narrowest and most common definition is the Northern Tablelands highland area on the Great Dividing Range, running from the Moonbi Range in the south to the Queensland border. That stretch is about 320 kilometres long and roughly 130 kilometres wide.
Towns a tour might pass through
The major settlements are Tenterfield, Inverell, Glen Innes, Moree, Armidale, Narrabri, Tamworth, Gunnedah, Quirindi and Wee Waa. Tamworth and Armidale are the main commercial centres, both with large shopping centres and tourist attractions. Inverell and Moree are considered semi-major towns.
Distances between these towns are long, which is why we reckon an organised trip can make sense here.
History that shapes many itineraries
Tours in this region often draw on its past, so it helps to know the outline. Indigenous Australians have lived here for tens of thousands of years, the Kamilaroi people in the west. The first European to explore the area was John Oxley, who crossed the southern part of the New England Range near the Apsley Falls before naming Port Macquarie in 1818.
Hamilton Collins Sempill was the first settler, taking up the Wolka run in 1832 near present-day Walcha. Convicts began building a road across the Great Dividing Range in 1838, known then as Major's Line and later named the Oxley Highway.
Bushrangers and gold
Captain Thunderbolt robbed properties, mail coaches and hotels across the region in the 1860s. He was shot dead in May 1870 by Constable Walker at Kentucky Creek, near Uralla. Gold was found at Rocky River, about two kilometres west of Uralla, in 1851, and Hanging Rock followed in 1852.
Mining also left its mark at Hillgrove and Halls Peak, where the remains of two hydro-electric schemes can still be seen along the Styx River and at Gara Gorge. Copper mining at Gulf Creek near Barraba was one of the largest in the state at its peak in 1901.
Planning around tours
The Northern Tablelands railway reached Armidale in 1883, though the Main North line is now closed north of Armidale, so road travel matters. Our New England transfers page is the place to start for getting between towns, and our New England activities page covers things to do that may not need a tour at all.
For sights worth building a day around, see our New England attractions guide. Our New England travel guide gives the wider picture.
For official state-wide tourism information, the Visit NSW website is a sound next step. Background on the region is also in Wikipedia's New England entry.
Frequently asked questions
How big is the area a New England tour might cover?
The Northern Tablelands alone is about 320 kilometres long and roughly 130 kilometres wide, and the wider region also includes the North West Slopes.
Which towns are the main hubs?
Tamworth and Armidale are the major commercial areas, with Inverell and Moree considered semi-major towns.
Where is New England?
It is in the north of New South Wales, about 60 km inland from the Tasman Sea.
