A DRIVE DOWN THE NEW ENGLAND HIGHWAY
STANTHORPE
As we left the Gold Coast we started to climb and eventually reached Stanthorpe which has the reputation of being Queensland coolest town with an altititude of 915m. It has over 50 wineries, cideries and brewery and many good restaurants, music festivals and opera. It is also where you can buy fresh fruit and vegetables often from the grower. We enjoyed tasting both wine and food here and also some delicious homemade apple pie with sweet cider ice cream from Suttons cidery. It is also worth paying a visit to Vincenzos which is an enormous deli emporium with samples of most things that the district offers and a cafe as well. There is also a delicious cheese place and a berry farm.
TENTERFIELD
Known for being the birth place of Peter Woolnough (the boy from Oz Peter Allan) and his famous song the 'Tenterfield Saddler' which is still in business.
GLEN INNES
Home of the Celtic Festival and celebrating all things Scottish. Town is full of historic buildings and boasts a ring of standing stones.
ARMIDALE
A very pretty leafy town that can get cold in the winter (has got to -18C and snow at times) and colourful in the autumn with all the leaves of the trees in full show. It is known as the place of education boasting many fine schools and the University of New England. The information centre provides a two and a half hour tour of the town that is free but you must book as it is really popular and very informative. We stayed at the showgrounds which is reasonably priced at $22 night for power and water and the amenities are clean and the water good and hot.
TAMWORTH
We came for the Country Music Festival and we weren't disappointed. We managed to get a site at the North Tamworth Country Leagues club which was a bit noisy as we were right next to the fence and near a road but we could stay for as short a time as we wanted (some ask that you stay for 7 days). The place was really jumping with great entertainment on every street corner and shows being done every night of the week at various venues for free or low cost. There are over 800 acts so lots of choice. We witnessed an impromptu song by Kasey Chambers in the main street with some up and coming young artists, and went to Creedence and Johnny Cash tribute shows which were great. Lots of our well known acts started as buskers on Peel Street during the Tamworth Country Music Festival. We both said we'd love to come again with friends and really make a week or so of it. It really is lots of fun!
Standing in the middle of Peel Street.
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