New England sits in the north of New South Wales, about 60 km inland from the Tasman Sea, and it is a very different Australia from the coast. This New England travel guide covers what the region is, where its main towns are and how its history shapes a visit.
As of 2021 the population was 185,560, with over a quarter of people living in the Tamworth Regional Council area. Check current prices, times and road conditions with operators before you go.
What New England is
New England is a geographical region that takes in the Northern Tablelands (also called the New England Tablelands) and the North West Slopes. It has no clearly defined boundaries, and the term has several possible definitions, which vary with councils, electorates and service areas.
The narrowest and most common definition is the Northern Tablelands highland area, part of the Great Dividing Range, running from the Moonbi Range in the south to the Queensland border in the north. That tableland is about 320 km long and roughly 130 km wide.
The region has no Bureau of Meteorology forecast of its own. Forecasts for the whole of the Northern Tablelands, and part of the North West Slopes and Plains, cover it.
What the region is known for
Travellers come for the scenery, the small country towns and a feel of inland Australia. It is a large agricultural area with pleasant bushland walks, national parks, waterfalls and gorges. Heritage landmarks, museums, art collections, fishing, fossicking, bushwalking, markets, pubs, clubs and restaurants round out the offer, along with the autumn colour that locals call New England gold.
If you want to see how big and varied the continent is, we reckon it is worth leaving the Pacific Highway and driving inland along the New England Highway. Our New England attractions page lists places to stop.
The main towns
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, each with large shopping centres and tourist attractions. Inverell and Moree are considered semi-major towns.
For a first trip, Armidale and Tamworth are the easiest bases because they are the major commercial areas. Smaller places such as Uralla and Walcha reward a detour, and both feature in the region's history below.
History you can still see
First peoples and explorers
Indigenous Australians have occupied the region for tens of thousands of years. The Kamilaroi people lived in the west. In the highlands the original languages, now extinct, included Anaiwan south of Guyra and Ngarbal to the north of it.
John Oxley was the first European to explore the area, crossing the southern part of the New England Range near Apsley Falls before he found Port Macquarie in 1818. Allan Cunningham travelled north along the western edge of the range in 1827. Thomas Mitchell reached Wallamoul Station near Tamworth in 1831 and later found the Gwydir River.
Settlers, roads and bushrangers
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, linking Walcha with Port Macquarie. It was known as Major's Line and was later named the Oxley Highway.
In the 1860s the bushranger Captain Thunderbolt robbed properties, mail coaches and hotels across the region. He was shot dead in May 1870 by Constable Walker at Kentucky Creek, near Uralla.
Gold and mining
Gold was found in 1851 at Rocky River, about two kilometres west of Uralla, and set off a rush. Gold followed at Hanging Rock and Swamp Creek in 1852. Later mines at Halls Peak and Hillgrove were powered by two hydro-electric schemes, and their remains can still be seen along the Styx River and at Gara Gorge.
Other finds included tin at Torrington in 1881, tin and arsenic at the Ottery Mine near Emmaville, and copper at Gulf Creek near Barraba, which was one of the largest mines in the state at its peak in 1901. Mining shaped towns such as Bingara, Nundle, Tingha and Emmaville.
Railway heritage and getting there
The Main North railway line reached Werris Creek and west Tamworth in 1878, Armidale in 1883 and Wallangarra on the Queensland border in 1888. It is now closed north of Armidale. The line from Werris Creek to Moree, also known as the North-West line, reached Gunnedah in 1879, Narrabri in 1884 and Moree in 1897.
By road, the New England Highway is the inland route to follow, and the Oxley Highway crosses the range between Walcha and Port Macquarie. For rides without your own car, see New England transfers, or look at New England tours for guided options.
When to go and what to plan
Autumn is famous for its golden foliage, and that is a good reason to time a trip for then. For dated happenings, check New England events.
Flooding has hit parts of the region in the past, notably in the Namoi area, and in November 2000 floods devastated Gunnedah, Narrabri and Wee Waa. Check local conditions and road status before travelling. For state-wide planning, the official site Visit NSW is a good starting point, and the background on the region is set out at Wikipedia: New England (New South Wales).
Places to stay range from boutique hotels to apartments; see New England accommodation for options.
Frequently asked questions
Where is New England in NSW?
It is in the north of the state, about 60 km inland from the Tasman Sea. It includes the Northern Tablelands and the North West Slopes.
What are the biggest towns?
Tamworth and Armidale are the major commercial areas. Inverell and Moree are semi-major towns, and other main settlements include Tenterfield, Glen Innes, Narrabri, Gunnedah, Quirindi and Wee Waa.
When was the New England District gazetted?
It was gazetted on 22 May 1839, after squatters moved sheep onto the Northern Tablelands in the 1830s.