The Fossickers Way Welcomes you
Just like the precious stones found along its route, The Fossickers Way in northern NSW holds many treasures waiting to be unearthed - from buildings steeped in history to picturesque scenery and quaint villages where the personalities are as big as the sky overhead.
Every town long the route provides a different experience. Together they create a diverse destination featuring adventure, natural splendour, shopping, history and a warm country welcome all round.
Take a few days to meander through the picturesque countryside, staying at one of the many accommodation options along the way, or set aside longer and bring your tent or caravan – you will be well catered for with fine food, comfortable accommodation and plenty to see and do.
From action and adventure to natural wonders and pockets of the delightfully quirky, it’s all here to be discovered along The Fossickers Way.
Step back in time to Nundle where the best things in life are served up with country charm from the finest wools to exquisite foods and arts to antiques. There are also reminders of its lively gold-mining past.
Nearby Tamworth is a bustling retail and commercial centre known worldwide for its annual Country Music Festival. With expansive public parks and gardens and a vibrant cultural scene, it’s a great place to find fun for the whole family.
There’s the adventure of paragliding at Manilla where enthusiasts are drawn to launch themselves into the sky for a birds-eye view of the countryside below. It also has Split Rock Dam and Lake Keepit in the area offering camping, water sports and fishing. The Manilla Heritage Museum should not be missed.
Barraba has its natural attractions drawing birdwatchers and bushwalkers to sample mother nature’s extraordinary work. Horton Falls and the endangered Regent Honeyeater are just two examples. History buffs will enjoy wandering through town on the heritage walk.
Cradled between rugged mountains is the pretty town of Bingara where reminders of the past are everywhere and nature has performed some of her best work. Lush farmland and a friendly atmosphere make it a great place to unwind with horse riding, fishing and bushwalking readily available. Copeton Dam is a popular among water sport enthusiasts.
Warialda, at the northern point of The Fossickers Way, offers the opportunity to hurtle through natural bushland in a speed machine during its annual offroad event. Its other attractions include Cranky Rock Nature Reserve and Koorilgur Nature Walk. Myall Creek Memorial, the Wells Gem Collection at the heritage centre and Ceramic Break Scuplture Park are also popular among visitors.
Surrounded by family-friendly fossicking sites, Inverell is known as the Sapphire City, with good reason. Not only does the town host an annual Sapphire Festival but stones found in this area are among the best in the world. Inverell also offers great shopping, cultural attractions and galleries and an ever-growing gourmet food trail. Inverell Pioneer Village and the transport museum are major attractions.
Glen Innes is recognised as Celtic Country. As well as being home to the Australian Standing Stones and Australian Celtic Festival, Glen Innes has a rich history with many buildings of heritage significance in its CBD. The Emmaville Mining Museum is a great place to visit and includes a fossil collection.
The Fossickers Way takes you on a memorable journey through:
There are many activities along The Fossickers Way. These include:
- Fossicking for gold and other minerals
- Fossicking for semi-precious stones
- Country music entertainment
- Shopping
- Aero-sports (paragliding and hang gliding)
- Water sports
- Fishing
- Bush walking
- Self guided drive tours
- Cinema and performing arts
- Birdwatching
- Museums and art galleries
- Scenic flights
- Wineries
