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Armidale
Armidale is city of 24,533 people (2006) which is the main service
centre for the New England region of northern New South Wales. It
has a wide range of modern services and facilities including major
retailers, a public and private hospital, plus schools and a
university. Sheep and wool production, and cattle grazing are the
main forms of agriculture around Armidale. The surrounding area is
well known for its natural beauty, particularly its spectacular
gorges and waterfalls, and New England national Park. The city is a
tourist attraction in itself, being home to many historic buildings
and beautiful parks. Being 980 m above sea level, Armidale's climate
is much cooler than coastal areas. In the warmer months expect
temperatures in the low teens to the high 20's while in winter
overnight temperatures often drop below zero and the daytime
temperatures can reach the mid to high teens
Things to see
Dangar Falls
- 23km south east of Armidale (head south on Dangarsleigh Rd and
look for the sign at the turnoff). These spectacular
falls tumble 120m down a rock face into a deep gorge. Two lookouts
offer great views of the falls. But they are at their best only when
when it has rained recently.
Saumarez
Homestead -
Saumarez was one of the
first properties in the Armidale region when it was taken up by
Henry Dumaresq in 1835. Francis White's family started
building the current two-storey building in 1888 and it was
completed in 1906 when the top storey was finished. The homestead,
which still contains the White family’s furniture and personal
items, was given to the National Trust in the early 1980’s. An entry
fee applies to enter the grounds of the homestead and historic farm
buildings, and another charge applies for entry to the homestead (by
guided tour only). Guided tours are available from 10.30am and 2pm
Monday to Friday and 10.30am, 2pm, 3pm and 4pm on weekends and
public holidays. Saumarez is closed from June to September.
Gostwyck Chapel
- The quaint little church was built in 1921 among what is now an impressive
grove of elms at the entrance to the Gostwyck sheep and cattle
station. In autumn it is covered in a spectacular coat of red boston
ivy. The chapel is 11km east of Uralla on Gostwyck Rd. It can also
be reached from Armidale via Dangarsleigh Rd.
Photo.
Wollomumbi
Falls-
The falls, Australia's second tallest, tumble 424m down the side of
Wollomumbi Gorge. They are about 45km east of Armidale, just off the
Waterfall Way.
New England National Park
- Straddling the edge of the Great Dividing Range, this park is a
mix of temperate rainforest and alpine forest. The main visitor
access area is around Point Lookout which offers great views of the
rainforest and ranges below the escarpment. Several walking tracks
start at Point Lookout and at the nearby Banksia Point picnic area.
Photo.
Folk Museum
- Houses a large collection of memorabilia and photos in the
Literary Institute building at the corner of
Faulkner and Rusden streets. Phone (02) 6770 3536.
Mt
Yarrowyck Nature Reserve
- It is an easy 3km walk to the aboriginal art site at the base of
the mountain. There is no track to the summit (1206m above sea
level) The reserve is 30km west of Arimdale. Take the
Armidale-Bundarra Rd for 29km and go north 1km on the
Uralla-Bundarra Rd.
New England Regional Art Museum -
NERAM in Kentucky St is the
home of Hinton and Coventry Collections, and it also hosts
many travelling exhibitions. It includes the
Museum of Printing
which has a collection of printing machinery from the 1850s to the
early 1900s. Phone
(02) 6772 5255
Shopping
Major retailers: Coles, Woolworths, Bilo, Big W,
Harvey Norman, Target Country, plus major national specialist
retailers.
Shopping centres: The majority of Armidale's retailers
are located in the CBD. There are four main shopping areas within
the town centre. The Beardy Street
Mall, between Dangar and Faulkner
streets is an attractive open-air shopping precinct with many cafes. Armidale
Plaza is home to K Mart, Target Country, Bilo and
about
dozens of
specialty shops. Being indoors it offers a welcome respite
to Armidale's often chilly weather. It is
open seven days a week. Centro Armidale, another indoor centre
which
opened in 2007, has Woolworths, Big W and about 30 specialty stores.
East End Shopping Centre, at the corner of Marsh and Dumaresq
streets is home to Coles and specialty shops.
Markets: Armidale Markets in the Mall - 8am to 1pm on
the last Sunday of each month in the Beardy Street Mall. Phone 02
6773 5117 or go to
www.armidalemarkets.com
Fast food
McDonalds - 131 Marsh St (between Rusden and Barney
streets).
KFC - 132 Marsh St
(between Rusden and Barney streets).
Hungry Jacks - 117
Dumaresq St (between Marsh and Faulkner streets - near information
centre).
Subway - 146 Barney St
(corner Barney and Marsh streets).
Red Rooster - 146
Marsh St.
Eagle Boys - 113/115 Rusden St.
Education
University of New
England - UNE began
in 1938 as the New England University College, a College of
the University of Sydney, and became independent in 1954.
It operates on several sites in and around Armidale. These
include the northern campus is 5km to the northwest of the CBD, the
Newling campus (home to the New England Conservatorium of Music)
just south off the city centre and rural properties.
New England Institute of TAFE -
Operates from several locations throughout the New England and north
west. For details of courses and locations go to the
website.
Private schools -
The Armidale School,
Presbyterian Ladies
College, New England Girls
School.
Hospitals
Armidale Hospital - Provides all types of medical services including
medicine, surgery, obstetrics, paediatrics, geriatrics and accident
and emergency as well as outpatient clinics, radiology, pathology,
occupational and speech therapy, social work, physiotherapy and
pharmacy. For more details, including visiting hours, go to the
hospital's
webpage or phone (02) 6776 9500.
Armidale Private Hospital - Offers a wide range
of services.
Details
Rest
stops
Some
of the better places for travellers to stop for a break are:
Civic Park off Dumeresq St - There is a large
parking area behind the Armidale tourist information centre. There
are picnic tables, a playground and plenty of grass for kids and
pets to stretch their legs on. Hungry Jacks is close by and
Armidale's central business district is just five minutes walk away.
MacDonald Park, Barney St - A short distance
from the town centre on the highway to Coffs Harbour, this park is
ideal for caravan owners as there is plenty of on-street parking.
Central Park, Barney St - Just north of the CBD
this park features plenty of mature trees. But parking is at a
premium on working days.
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