Things to do in Tamworth, New South Wales: What are the best attractions?
The best things to do in Tamworth, New South Wales, include the Australian Country Music Hall of Fame. Other Tamworth attractions include the Powerstation Museum and Oxley Scenic Lookout.
Tamworth, New South Wales, is best known as the country music capital of Australia. It’s a big country town, and the largest town in the New England region by population. Country musicians are seriously overrepresented in that population.
Things to do in Tamworth, NSW: Big Golden Guitar
There are several decent things to do in Tamworth, and not all to do with big hats. The symbol of the town is the Big Golden Guitar, which is one of Australia’s notorious Big Things.
It’s a replica of the Golden Guitar, the award given out during the Country Music Awards of Australia. The Big Golden Guitar, however is 12 metres tall, and made of fibreglass and wood. You’ll find it on the A15 into Tamworth from the south, next to the Longyard Hotel.
What to do in Tamworth, NSW: Australian Country Music Hall of Fame
The Australian Country Music Hall of Fame should detain you a little longer. As the name suggests, this Tamworth attraction celebrates Australian country music. It does more than offering memorabilia in glass cases, however. The Australian Country Music Hall of Fame traces the history of country music in Australia, and its impact on the culture of the country.
Tamworth attractions: Tamworth Powerstation Museum and Marsupial Park
Other things to do in Tamworth include the Tamworth Powerstation Museum and Marsupial Park. The Tamworth Powerstation Museum is all about electricity and electronics. It traces the history of electricity and its uses, and celebrates Tamworth’s status as the first town in Australia to get electric street lighting.
Marsupial Park is essentially an adventure playground with a walk-through kangaroo enclosure and aviary. It’s not one of Australia’s great wildlife parks, but it has free entry, so why not pop by?
Things to do in Tamworth, NSW: Oxley Scenic Lookout & Mount Flagstaff
Near Marsupial Park is the Oxley Scenic Lookout, which gives excellent views of the town. A little further east is Mount Flagstaff, which is connected to the Oxley Scenic Lookout by the Mount Flagstaff Track. This 5km return walking trail heads to the top of Mount Flagstaff. On a clear day, you can see out to the Moonbi Ranges, the Great Dividing Range and the Nandewar Range.
If you prefer two wheels to two feet, then head for the Tamworth Mountain Bike Park to the north of the town.
Chaffey Dam and Apsley Falls
If the New England scenery is more important to you than Tamworth’s urban scene, there are a few beauty spots nearby. Chaffey Dam is 43km south-west of Tamworth along the Nundle Road. It’s popular for fishing and watersports, but there are also picnic areas and walking trails.
Go south-west instead of south-east, and you can learn about railway life at the Rail Journeys Museum in Werris Creek.
Apsley Falls lies further to the west near Walcha – about 110km along the Oxley Highway. It’s one of the most impressive waterfalls in the New England region. But it’s best tackled on the drive from Port Macquarie to Tamworth, rather than as a side trip from either Tamworth or Port Macquarie.
The best places to stay in Tamworth
There are several Tamworth accommodation options. These, however, are the best picks…
- For excellent value and a pool: Roydons Motor Inn.
- For design flair: CH Boutique Hotel.
- For central location: City Sider Motor Inn.
- For spacious apartments: Cadman Motor Inn and Apartments.
- For heritage and charm: Quality Inn Ashby House.
More New South Wales travel
Go for a swim at Jellybean Pool in the Blue Mountains National Park.
The best site for a Seal Rocks camping trip.
Camp by the beach at the Diamond Head camping ground in the Crowdy Bay National Park near Port Macquarie.
Sleep next to the surf at the Crescent Head caravan park.
When is the Wollongong weather at its best?