f ever there was a time to get out and explore Australia’s country towns,
with their vast landscapes and rich agriculture, it’s now. And so with a spirit
of adventure, and two weeks of school holidays up our sleeves, we set off to
embrace the land in Moree, a small country town north-west of New South
Wales, right on the Gwydir Valley.
Our first night out of Sydney was spent at Willow Tree, smack bang in the
middle of cattle country. We stayed at the Willow Tree Inn, a boutique stay owned and
meticulously renovated by Sydney-based packaging tycoon Charles Hanna.
It’s nothing short of a luxurious country retreat for families with big appetites.
Every detail of this expansive accommodation and adjoining gastro pub, Graze,
has been immaculately considered to provide great comfort, with epic food offerings
to boot. Graze sits on one of the region’s best paddock-to-plate experiences.
The family’s Black Angus cattle property, Colly Creek, is nearby and, with a butcher on
site, you can stay, eat and fill your esky with red marbled souvenirs.
THE REGION
Located on the banks of the Mehi River, Moree sits where food crops are king.
The town is part of ‘the Golden Triangle’ (the other towns are Boggabilla and
Warialda) boasting fertile black soil made rich by the Gwydir River that flows through.
Here, sizeable crops of wheat, cotton and chickpeas are predominantly grown, as well
as being home to plenty of cattle, citrus and honey farms, and Trawalla, the largest
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