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86 | AUSTRALIAN ROAD RIDER

DESTINATION TAMWORTH

Climb up the magnifi cent ranges

along the New England Highway to the

north and you’ll reach the willowy town

of Bendemeer in a leisurely half hour.

Stop at the historic Bendemeer Hotel on

the banks of the MacDonald River. 

The roads west of Tamworth are fast,

open and sweeping, but sadly, not very

interesting.

WHERE TO STAY

Because the city is set up for a huge infl ux

of tourists for the Country Music Festival,

there is plenty of accommodation, from

cheap caravan parks to pubs, hotels and

top-class motels.

Surprisingly it’s not the weekends

that are busiest. If you’re staying during

the week, it might be an idea to book

ahead as the place is usually booked

solid from Tuesday to Thursday with

business people passing through or

a ending conventions.

“Thankfully there are some great link roads that wind

up and over the Great Dividing Range such as the Oxley,

Bruxner and Gwydir highways, plus Bucketts, Clarence and

Thunderbolt’s Ways.”

■ You’d smile too if you were here!

■ The Nundle Woollen Mill is a

step back in time

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