What are the best things to do in Tenterfield, NSW?

The best things to do in Tenterfield, NSW, include learning Australia’s federation story at the Sir Henry Parkes Memorial School of Arts and admiring the Goonoo Goonoo Tablelands from the Mount Mackenzie Scenic Lookout.

6 best things to do in Tenterfield, NSW

The best things to do in Tenterfield are:

Learn about Australian history at the Sir Henry Parkes Memorial School of Arts.
Discover railway heritage at the Tenterfield Railway Museum.
Climb Bald Rock in Bald Rock National Park.
Admire the panoramic views from the Mount Mackenzie Scenic Lookout.
Enjoy fresh cherries and peaches at the Cherrydale Orchard.
Taste local wines at Reedy Creek Estate.

Where is Tenterfield, NSW?

Tenterfield is at the northern end of the New England region of New South Wales. From Tenterfield to the Queensland border along the New England Highway, it is just a 20km drive.

Things to do in Tenterfield, NSW: Sir Henry Parkes Memorial School of Arts

There are several heritage buildings to admire in Tenterfield, but perhaps the most important is the Sir Henry Parkes Memorial School of Arts. There’s a cinema, theatre and library on the site, but the museum will be of most interest to visitors.

The museum at the Sir Henry Parkes Memorial School of Arts covers different aspects of Australia’s history, but there’s an understandable focus on federation. Tenterfield is known as the Birthplace of Australia, as Sir Henry Parkes made an influential speech here in 1889, calling for the six colonies to federate.

What to do in Tenterfield: Railway Museum and cork tree

For more heritage, try the Tenterfield Railway Museum inside the former Tenterfield Station, which was built in 1886. Or, for something a little more unusual, there’s the enormous cork tree on Wood Street. It was brought from England in a jam jar back in 1861.

Things to do in Tenterfield, NSW: National Parks

Tenterfield is surrounded by a near-ring of national parks. Girraween National Park is just over the Queensland border, Bald Rock National Park is to the north, while Basket Swamp National Park and Boonoo Boonoo National Park are to the northwest.

You can also explore Timbarra National Park to the east and the Washpool State Conservation Area to the south-east.

These national parks offer a series of walking trails, strange rock formations and waterfalls. Bald Rock National Park, with its enormous granite dome to climb, is arguable the best choice.

Things to do in Tenterfield, NSW: Lookouts

There’s another impressive granite formation on the way into Tenterfield from the south. Bluff Rock is one of the most striking landmarks on the New England Highway, and it can be viewed from the Bluff Rock Lookout next to the highway. Unfortunately, this looming mound of granite has a dark past – in 1844, settlers massacred a group of local Aboriginal people here.

There’s an arguably better lookout close to the town centre, however. The Mount Mackenzie Scenic Lookout in the Mount Mackenzie Nature Reserve is just under 1,300 metres above sea level. You can drive up, and enjoy the picnic tables and barbecues while there. The view takes in the town and the Goonoo Goonoo Tableland.

Wineries near Tenterfield, NSW

Also on the list of things to do in Tenterfield is tasting local produce. The Cherrydale Orchard, just off the New England Highway to the south of town, offers farm gate sales of plums, peaches, cherries and nectarines.

There are also a few wineries around Tenterfield. Most in Queensland’s Granite Belt region, but Reedy Creek Estate is to the west of town, rubbing up against the border.