Travel back in time and immerse yourself in rich history and rugged beauty. This town was named after the village of Appin in Scotland, dating back to 1811 and was the fifth village in the colony. In 1824, explorers, Hume and Hovell commenced their expedition to Port Phillip from this district and a monument stands on the road from Campbelltown commemorating the journey.

Appin offers visitors the opportunity to view several historic buildings such as the first public school built under Henry Parkes’ Public School Act. The small town is the perfect place to stroll and explore a number of shops and cafes. A trip to the Appin Bakery for delicious coffee and baked treat is a must on any visit.

Cataract Dam is located approximately 10 minutes from the main street in Appin. It’s both historically significant and a sight to behold with beautiful sandstone walls and a picturesque tower. It’s the perfect spot for a picnic offering free BBQ facilities, plenty of benches and a large playground.

The Appin Way Driving Tour highlights historic Appin buildings and scenic routes through Appin and surrounds. The brochure is free and available from the Wollondilly Shire Council, Wollondilly Library and the NSW Rail Museum.

Population (as at Census 2018): 3,147

The picturesque Araluen Valley is home the historic gold mining town of Araluen, nestled amongst the Great Dividing Range.

Just 26 kilometres from Braidwood, the road to Araluen meanders down the valley walls until you reach the village, peacefully nestled amongst endless greenery.

The hotel is open for meals or a drink and the camping ground down by the river attracts nature lovers in the warmer months. Try your luck in gold panning or fishing. Enjoy a bush walk and reminisce of the days when there were 4,000 people in town and 26 hotels.

The two cemeteries in town provide a glimpse of days gone by and the hardships that the residents endured.

In its heyday, around 1852, Araluen had produced 2839 kilograms of gold.

Angourie is a charming seaside town on the northern tip of Yuraygir National Park and the first port of call on the southbound Yuraygir Coastal walk.

With spectacular views of the coastline, a glorious natural setting and a laid back, relaxed lifestyle, Angourie became famous as one of the best point-breaks in Australia and is often visited by the world’s best surfers. It’s one of those special pockets of coast.

If you surf you’ll know all about Angourie Point’s almost mythical reputation as ground zero for Australian surfing’s ‘soul’, thanks largely to its role in seminal ‘70s surf flick Morning Of The Earth. It’s now a National Surfing Reserve, recognised for its significance to the pastime. It’s a special place to visit, and even non-surfers can sense the unique energy of this place.

Between Angourie and Spooky Points, lie the picturesque freshwater Green and Blue pools. The rock shelf separating the pools from the ocean is often frequented by families at low tide. Keep an eye on the ocean at all times when out on the shelf though.

Hike the first section of the renowned Yuraygir Coastal Walk starting at Angourie. Check out Mara Creek, Back Beach, beautiful Lake Arragan, and the caves on the southern side of Shelley headland. Remember to look out for whales along the way.

For those less keen on long walks, how about starting the day with a walk out to Angourie’s grassy headland. A perfect vantage point view to the township of Yamba and across Yuraygir National Park.

Take a dip at Spooky Beach, a popular beach in summer, followed by a bite to eat at one of the cafés nearby.

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Walk in the footsteps of their pioneers, discover unique and interesting works of art or enjoy a morning of foraging at a local market. Their picturesque lake and stunning sunsets will catch your breath, and their warm and welcoming community will capture your heart.

Welcome to Forbes – their town delivers the unexpected and the amazing.

Forbes offers a great range of attractions so you can do as much or as little as you like. The town is situated on Lake Forbes, a natural lagoon on the Lachlan River, offering over 10 kilometres of walking and cycle tracks, abundant birdlife, shaded picnic areas, barbecue facilities, a playground and recreation vehicle rest area. The Lachlan River also offers many great spots for picnics, fishing and bushwalking.

Forbes has a reputation as a unique shopping location, with locally owned boutiques and speciality stores.

The ‘Somewhere Down the Lachlan’ Sculpture Trail is a significant sculpture project from Forbes to Condobolin via the stock route by the Lachlan River, and Albion Park hosts a curation of sculptures from world renowned artists.

If history and heritage is more your thing, take a stroll through the streets of Forbes where you will find beautiful architecture, providing a look into a bygone era. You may even spy some familiar buildings if you’ve seen the movie, “The Dish” featuring the Parkes Telescope Satellite.

For more information on all that Forbes has to offer, be sure to call in to the Forbes Visitor Information Centre, located in the historic railway station in Union Street.

Anglers Reach is a small community on the northern shores of Lake Eucumbene, near Adaminaby. It is an ideal location to base yourself for fishing, skiing and exploring the northern areas of Kosciuszko National Park including Kiandra, Yarrangobilly Caves, Mount Selwyn and the remains of Old Adaminaby. Caravan parks and cabins in the area provide great family holiday accommodation.

It’s time to visit Alpine, which is located just north of Mittagong amongst the rolling green countryside of the Southern Highlands. The town’s northern rural setting places it close to Mittagong and makes it a perfect base for exploring the region, allowing visitors to reflect on the more leisurely pace and soak in the tranquil atmosphere of the rolling green hills of the Southern Highlands.

Scenic drives are a must in the Southern Highlands region.

The small village of Alectown is part of the thriving Parkes Shire and is located around 23 kilometres north of Parkes along the Newell Highway. It is a very small farming community and is situated close to the world famous Radio Telescope, ‘The Dish’. The village boasts a strong rural fire group.

Community bush and old time dances are held in the War Memorial Hall. Australia’s Bush Cathedral – Go Forth Faith Arena at Mamre Farm is only six kilometres east of Alectown where an annual “Old Fashioned Revival Camp Meeting” is held annually.

Albion Park is known for its wonderful museums. The Illawarra Light Railway Museum is dedicated to the small steam and diesel powered locomotives that served in the mining and agricultural industries and for flying buffs, Albion Park’s Shellharbour Regional Airport is a great place to experience the thrills of flying in a light aircraft, while the Historical Aircraft Restoration Society Museum (HARS) features fully restored and operational aircraft ranging from small Cessna’s to Tiger Moths and is now home to the 747-438 “City of Canberra” – Longreach, Qantas Passenger Jet.

Discover the rich history and see the sites and heritage buildings left behind by our pioneers through the Albion Park Heritage Trail. The trail begins in Russell Street, Albion Park Rail at the Illawarra Shorthorn Sculpture and takes approximately two hours.

Download the “Tread Shellharbour” app from the App Store or Google Play and take a virtual tour.

The town of Albert is an hour and a half west of Dubbo and is home to Jason Owen, runner up in the 2013 X Factor competition.

Albert is also home to the Rabbit Trap Hotel featuring the largest known rabbit trap on its roof. ‘Get Trapped’ for a few days at Albert, and make your visit to the Central West memorable.

Drop into the ‘Rabbit Trap’ for a cold drink and a wholesome meal, or stay overnight in the rooms available at the hotel or book one of the cabins just across the road. Open seven days a week from 10am till late. Stop and enjoy a camp oven on the last Saturday of every month.

Nestled on the banks of the Adelong Creek, this is the heritage gateway to the Snowy Mountains. Its veranda-lined main street, classified by the National Trust (NSW), has buildings dating back to the gold rush era of the 1800’s.

The nearby heritage listed industrial site of Adelong Falls Gold Mill Ruins boasts a remarkable collection of stone ruins, the remains of the Reefer quartz crushing mill, and an impressive lookout and picnic area. The Adelong Falls Walk is a beautiful and peaceful walk along Adelong Creek, linking the town to the falls. It provides an easy walk for locals and visitors alike, and is suitable for strollers.

With origins steeped in pioneer history and gold, and the preserved ruins of the gold mill open to exploration, the town makes for a wonderful base to explore the region’s nearby wineries, lakes, rivers, mountains, caves, forests and snowfields.

A CMCA RV Friendly town, Adelong’s range of accommodation options includes B and Bs, pub-style rooms, the Adelong Golden Gully Caravan Park (powered and unpowered sites, and self-contained cabins), pet-friendly farmstay accommodation, and free RV parking at Adelong Showgrounds.

Services in Adelong include a service station, supermarket, doctors, chemist, takeaway, café, mechanic, vet, library, hairdresser, pub and club. Adelong pool is open in the warmer months, and free WiFi is available in the main street. Playgrounds, basketball courts, a skate park, and accessible public toilets are available in Adelong’s parks.