Newsflash
• New Central Coast hinterland accommodation Terrigal Hinterland is a new B&B accommodation, surrounded by a tranquil hinterland setting and only minutes from the beach. Guests can enjoy the spa bath and private terrace complimenting each of the bedrooms, and heated lap pool with swim jets. www.terrigalhinterland.com.au
• Spa Retreat Packages at Lilianfels Lilianfels Blue Mountains now offers spa retreat packages designed to improve wellbeing and rejuvenate the soul. Choose from two, three and four night packages. www.lilianfels.com.au
• Personalised Mudgee fishing tours Want to pick up tips on fishing for trout? Fish ‘n’ Trips is a new leisure fishing experience offering four hour tours with a qualified guide, exploring the local Mudgee streams, rivers, dams and waterways. www.fishntrips.com.au
• Snowy Mountains Paddle ‘n’ Saddle tours Adventurers can enjoy this new three day package which includes a horsecamp experience, combined with 4WD adventures and canoeing along the Snowy Mountains River. www.cochranhorsetreks.com.au
• New 4.5 star resort on the mid-North Coast Australis Diamond Beach opened its doors on 1st October, offering 4.5 star architect-designed beachside cottages, villas and apartments. www.constellationhotels.com
• Crowne Plaza Hunter Valley arrives The new resort has officially opened its doors, offering 150 hotel rooms and suites and 72 two-bedroom self-contained villas spread amongst the greens of the redeveloped 18-hole golf course. Other facilities include Day Spa, Grapevine Bar, two restaurants and a dedicated Kid’s Club. www.crowneplaza.com.au

Cycling NSW
Explore the natural beauty of NSW on two-wheels
There are many cycling tracks in NSW that allow you to explore the regional beauty of our state – whether it be via a coastal route or through the multitude of national parks and forests.
• Hire a bicycle and enjoy the extensive network of cycle tracks around Port Stephens, many through nature reserves and along the pretty beaches.
• Bonaira Native Gardens, south of Kiama, feature newly established rainforest species which can be explored by bicycle on the shared cycleway/walkway.
• For those after an adrenaline rush, mountain biking down the Cannonball Run in Thredbo and other ski runs is where it's at. For those looking for a more leisurely ride, enjoy the even cycling around Lake Jindabyne on the shared footpath.
• The Fernleigh Track Cycleway in Lake Macquarie is an abandoned coal haulage rail line now converted into a cycleway, stretching 15.5kms.
• Enjoy the vista along Wollongong’s Coastal Cycleway, a 65 kilometre track which takes in the coastline and Lake Illawarra.
• Ballina’s coastline can be explored along the well-paved cycleways – hire a bike locally and spend the day outdoors.
Or why not try a guided tour?
• Mountain Bike Tours, Byron Bay Cycle through protected rainforests and past cascading waterfalls, exploring the hinterland of Byron Bay. www.mountainbiketours.com.au
• Hunter Valley Cycling Enjoy a leisurely ride to a quiet picnic destination or to one of the many local restaurants, and soak in the beauty of the Hunter. Tandem bikes available. www.huntervalleycycling.com.au
• Go Wild, Blue Mountains Choose from a variety of exhilarating bush mountain tracks, spotting the native flora and fauna along the way. www.gowildglenbrook.com.au
• Xterra Tours, Central Coast Specialising in personalised mountain bike tours, designed to suit the novice right through to the more experienced adventurer. www.xterra.com.au

Our national treasures
Caves abound
New South Wales is a great state for exploring the many caves of the region – whether land-based or underwater. Perhaps you might like to even rent a cave for the night! Here are a few to whet your appetite:
• Yarrangobilly Caves, Snowy Mountains Made up of a string of limestone caves formed about 440 million years ago from the shells and skeletons of sea animals, these caves were first discovered in 1834. Located near Tumut, six of the caves are open for inspection - North Glory Cave, Glory Hole Cave for self-guided tours, Jillabenan Cave and Jersey Cave for guided tours and the Castle and Harrie Wood caves by appointment.
• The Temple of Baal, Jenolan Caves The Jenolan Caves in the Blue Mountains are the world’s oldest open caves, and date back more than 340 million years. Of the nine public cave tours, the newest is the 90-minute Temple of Baal tour complete with sound effects, music and LED lighting technology. www.jenolancaves.org.au
• Rent a cave! Hatter’s Hideout, Blue Mountains The Hat Cave as its known locally, is a huge sandstone cathedral, sculpted by nature to provide an ideal cave retreat. Facilities include gas barbecue, ice box, tables and chairs and solar powered lights for reading and cooking. There is rainwater on tap for cooking and washing up, a kitchen sink, utensils and basic cooking condiments, composting toilet and First Aid Kit. www.hattershideout.com.au
• Fish Rock Cave, South West Rocks An underwater cave, Fish Rock Cave is known as one of the largest ocean caverns in the southern hemisphere, favoured by divers in exploring the abundance of marine life that inhabit the cave. www.fishrock.com.au
• Smugglers Cave, Jervis Bay Accessed only by water, Smugglers Cave is one of the largest underwater caves in the Bay and can be entered during fairly flat conditions. For experienced ocean divers, don’t miss the 45 minute dive which takes you to a 35m-plus depth. www.jervisbay.com/sites.html
• Abercrombie Caves, Dubbo These stunning caves are located 13 kilometres south of Trunkey Creek and were once a hide out for bushrangers.

Postcard from Murrurundi
An artistic and eclectic community in the Upper Hunter region, Murrurundi is a beautiful heritage-listed rural town and is home to a flourishing beef and sheep grazing industry. The town also hosts the highest art prize for landscape paintings outside metropolitan areas, the Norvill art prize, attracting visitors from across Australia.
Murrurundi highlights
• “The first ingredient is always love” is the family motto of authentic Italian Bacco’s Bakery, offering a selection of handmade traditional Italian baked goods. www.baccos.com.au
• Described as one of the grand old ladies of rural NSW, take the Heritage Walk and discover the history of this heritage listed village, settled in the 1800’s.
• The Murrurundi Markets are held on the last Sunday of each month, outside the Visitor Information Centre. Stalls range from baked items to knitwear, jewellery, fresh produce, food and art.
• Watch the annual ‘King of the Ranges Stockman’s Challenge’ held in May. A 3-day event, watch horsemanship at its best with events that include cross country, whip crack, shoeing, stock handling, bareback, and brumby catch. www.kingoftheranges.com.au
• The Murrurundi Bush Festival is held at the same time as the ‘Stockman’s Challenge’ incorporating music, a bush poet's breakfast, bush dance, dog trials, rodeo, maiden campdraft team penning, billy boiling competition and lots more.
• For more information about Murrurundi, go to www.visitnsw.com.au

Regional Winners - 2007 Sydney Morning Herald Good Food Guide
When a hat isn’t just a hat
The annual Sydney Morning Herald’s Good Food Guide is out again. This year our regional restaurants garnered an impressive array of ’hats’ in showcasing the best of regional produce, innovation and wines at their very best.
Two Hats:
• Collits Inn, Hartley Vale Provincial French dining in a historic homestead (circa 1823), with Parisian chef Laurent Deslandes. www.collitsinn.com.au
• Fins, Byron Bay Like a refreshing dip in the ocean, experience the taste of fresh seafood by the beach with innovative dishes by chef Steven Snow. www.fins.com.au
• Solitary, Leura Falls Contemporary flavours, from chef John Cross, are as clean as the mountain air with the restaurant’s spectacular views over the Jamison Valley. http://solitary.com.au
One Hat:
Ashcrofts (Blackheath), Bannister’s (Mollymook), Boomerang (Byron Bay), Caveau (Wollongong), Darley’s (Katoomba), dish (Byron Bay), Eschalot (Bowral), The Journeyman (Berrima), Lolli Redini (Orange), Lochiel House (Kurrajong Heights), Neila (Cowra), No.2 Oak Street (Bellingen), Restaurant II (Newcastle), The River (Moruya), Tonic (Millthorpe), Vulcans (Blackheath), Zest (Nelson Bay).

Mini-break to Port Stephens
Port Stephens is known for its uncrowded sandy beaches, sheltered bays and unspoilt national parks which provide a perfect backdrop for a variety of outdoor and aquatic activities.
When in Port Stephens, why not…
• Spot the resident population of dolphins from one of the many dolphin watching cruises.
• Indulge in fresh seafood at the many seafood restaurants around the port.
• Take part in a champagne sunset or overnight kayak tour exploring the natural beauty of Nelson Bay. www.seakayaking.com.au
• Enjoy a horse ride along the beach at the Stockton Sand Dunes. www.saharatrails.com
• Visit Holberts Oyster Farm in Salamander and enjoy Port Stephens’ finest quality oysters and cooked prawns, fresh from the farm. www.holbertsoysterfarm.com
• Tee off from one of the many golf courses in the area such as Horizons Golf Resort or Nelson Bay Golf Club.
• Head out to the suburb of Bobs Farm, to taste local wines at Port Stephens Winery or Wonganella Wines. Or try the vintages at Divers Luck Boutique Family Vineyard and Winery.
• Live like a movie star and spoil yourself in luxury at One Mile Ridge house in Port Stephens www.contemporaryhotels.com.au, or stay at the architecturally designed Bali at the Bay apartments amongst private tropical gardens www.baliatthebay.com.au

Houseboating in NSW
Looking for accommodation on the waterfront but without the expensive price tag? Look no further than the huge selection of houseboats on offer - perfect for soaking up the sunshine while casting out a line for your nightly dinner catch.
Murray River Hire a houseboat at Echuca and slowly explore the river’s quiet reaches, stopping at wineries along its banks.
• Lazaway Houseboats – www.lazaway.com
• Willandra Houseboats – www.willandrahouseboats.com.au
Tweed River A peaceful waterway located just south of the New South Wales-Queensland border.
• Boyds Bay Houseboats – www.goldcoasthouseboats.com.au
• Berger Houseboats – www.bergerhouseboats.com.au
• Tweed River Houseboats – www.tweedriverhouseboats.com.au
Myall Lakes Explore the Myall Lakes National Park – this vast, beautiful lake system is definitely one of the mid-North Coast’s best-kept secrets.
• Boat Shed Number 1 – www.manningcbd.com.au/houseboats
• Getaway Luxury Houseboats – www.getawayluxuryhouseboats.com.au
• Luxury Houseboat Hire – www.luxuryhouseboat.com.au
Hawkesbury River From crystal clear ocean swells to its tranquil upper reaches, the Hawkesbury River offers a cruising ground of outstanding scenic and historic interest.
• Luxury Afloat – www.luxuryafloat.org
Batemans Bay Cruise the Clyde River to the upper reaches, where every turn of the river brings a new and delightful scene that is distinctive to this infamous river.
• Clyde River Houseboats – www.clyderiverhouseboats.com.au

Lest we forget
NSW’s Heart of Country region is dotted with locations to honour our courageous Australians on Remembrance Day, 11th November.
• The Goulburn War Memorial was opened in 1925 as a lasting tribute to the gallant men and women of Goulburn who served in World War I. A square tower of stone and concrete, it stands at a height of 20 metres above the top of Rocky Hill.
• The first Australian Horse & Lighthorse Memorial in Harden, Murrumburrah, ensures the memories and actions of our brave men are remembered with a spectacular bronze statue, memorial, fountain and diorama.
• In 1944, 1000 Japanese POWs staged a mass breakout in Cowra, which was the biggest in British and Australian War History. 231 Japanese POW’s lost their lives and four Australians also died during the breakout. There is a walking trail through the camp ruins and a scale model of the camp is on display at the Cowra Visitors Centre, in addition to the POW theatre with a presentation of the breakout.
• Lake Boga Flying Boat Museum stands on an original site of the World War II No. 1 Flying Boat Repair Depot. What was once an underground wartime communications bunker is now an air-conditioned museum containing authentic items from the depot’s operational days during World War II.
• Muswellbrook Vietnam Memorial Grove and Rest Stop was established in 1990 by local Vietnam veterans in memory of their fallen comrades. 519 trees were planted for each Service Man and Woman killed in the conflict.
• The Royal Australian Infantry Museum at Lone Pine Barracks in Singleton contains a world class collection of infantry weapons, equipment and military memorabilia, including the largest collection of small firearms in Australia.
• During WWII, Concrete Tank Traps were built in Tenterfield to span a bottle neck in the Clarence River Valley. The concrete pillars are still visible in and beside the river near the crossing. There are some other well known tank traps just north of Tenterfield on the Bald Rock Road. They consist of log pillars and a concrete wall in the valley. There were up to 10,000 soldiers camped in the Tenterfield area during WWII.

What's on in October and November
• Nymagee Outback Music Festival, 6-9 October A 2006 Tourism NSW Regional Flagship Event www.geocities.com/nymageefestival
• Griffith Festival of the Gardens, 13-16 October A 2006 Tourism NSW Regional Flagship Event www.griffith.nsw.gov.au
• Songlines Festival, Blue Mountains - Enjoy global and classical music, performance, interactive workshops and film over three weekends from 14th October. www.songlinesfestival.com.au
• Hawkesbury Defence Force Air Show, 21-22 October Held at the RAAF Base Richmond. www.hawkesburyweb.com.au/news.asp?ID=1
• Jazz in the Vines, Pokolbin, 28 October More like a picnic in the vineyard with good friends, fantastic food and Hunter Valley wines. www.jazzinthevines.com.au
• Eden Whale Festival, 2-5 November A 3-day community event celebrating the annual migration of whales through the waters of Eden. www.edenwhalefestival.com
• “A Day on the Green” Concert, 4 November The cream of Australian talent will perform at the annual outdoor concert in Mudgee. Acts include Diesel, James Reyne, Dragon, Christine Anu and The Choirboys. www.adayonthegree.com.au
• Land of the Beardies Festival, Glenn Innes, 4-12 November Celtic-themed event, celebrating the early settlers of the region. See the Bearded Stockman competition, street parades and market stalls. www.gleninnestourism.com
• 4WD Cliffhanger Event – 10-13 November Start your engines and get ready for a four day rally event for drivers and spectators alike, held near White Cliffs outside of Broken Hill. www.navrun.com.au
• Ballina Rivafest, 11-12 November A 2006 Tourism NSW Regional Flagship Event www.ballinarivafest.com.au
• Snowy River Festival, Dalgety, 17-19 November A celebration of Snowy River heritage and Snowy River Recovery including the RM Williams Stockman’s Challenge, novelty races, bush poetry competition, dancing and Snowy River Food Fair. www.snowyriverfestival.com