The city of four seasons

by Stephanie Wanless | 22 Nov 2016

Blessed with magnolia blossoms in spring, sun-kissed summer days, autumns that glow and the chance of snow in winter, Armidale offers the perfect backdrop for a country escape all year round.

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 You can’t miss the billboard as you drive into town: Welcome to Armidale, Australia’s highest city! With an introduction like that, why wouldn’t you stop to explore this regional beauty, conveniently nestled between Sydney and Brisbane? There are plenty of bushwalking tracks at Dangars Falls in the New England National park, or closer to town at the Blue Hole and around Dumaresq Dam. Bring your kayak to the dam if you fancy it, or even sail on the Malpas Reservoir.

If cultural pursuits are more to your taste, head to the New England Regional Art Museum. Purpose built for the Howard Hinton Collection, it houses two collections to form a comprehensive overview of Australian Art history. With its changing exhibitions, boutique and cafe, it will educate, entertain and sustain you. Next door is the Aboriginal Keeping Place, and in town next to the library is the Folk Museum, both of which offer insights into the history and culture of the region.

Step back to the 19th century and tour Saumarez House. This National Trust Edwardian mansion is a 30-room property, where you can learn about the White family who owned it for more than 100 years. Exploring the history of the White family will also take you to Booloominbah at the University of New England. This grand Victorian house was designed as a family home for Frederick White by renowned Sydney architect James Horbury Hunt.

Stay

Armidale offers quality caravan and camping parks for you to bring your own van, and your dog. There are plenty of onsite cabins too, so check out the Highlander Van Village or the Armidale Tourist Park. Both are close to town, but in quiet locations.

Want to be a bit more pampered? Armidale offers a range of motels and self-catering. You’re sure to find something to suit your needs and budget close to the town centre where you can walk to shops, pubs, cafes and restaurants. Just 10 minutes up the road on Marsh Street is the Quality Hotel Powerhouse. With its wine and tapas bars and Azka restaurant, there won’t be any need to walk into town.

Another welcoming option is the heritage-listed boutique hotel Moore Park Inn. With sweeping views of the regional landscape and à la carte dining at the award- winning Archie’s on the Park restaurant, you’ll forget you’re only five minutes from the town centre. Moore Park also offers superbly-appointed apartments and is pet friendly.

Eat

New England is the newest NSW district to be classified as a wine region and its cool climate, high altitude wines are gaining interest and respect around the state. A pleasant one-hour drive south west will take you to Kingstown to savour the wines of Merilba Estate and Why Worry, while closer to town on Dangarsleigh Road, Petersons Winery offers years of experience in viticulture. You can dine here in The Cellar Door restaurant and pamper yourself with a stay in the beautiful guesthouse of historic Palmerston Homestead.

Further south just off the New England Highway, Banalasta Estate at Bendemeer produces eucalyptus and lavender oils as well as wine. Alternatively, if you’re heading north on the same highway, you can drop into Gencoe for Wright Robertson hand-crafted organic wines.

If an ale or lager is more to your taste, you should drop into the New England Brewing Company in the main street of historic Uralla just 20 kilometres south of Armidale. Brewing began in 2013 with a brew house brought up from Beechworth in Victoria and they now produce three ales, along with other seasonal releases.

On Marsh Street in the centre of Armidale is The Welder’s Dog Craft Beer Bar. Housed in a former auto-electrician’s premises, it now serves a wide range of kegged and bottled beers, but also wines and spirits if you fancy a malt whiskey on a cold afternoon. The range of dining options here caters for everyone. From pubs to cafes, casual and fine dining, Armidale has you covered. The mall in the centre of town is a particularly relaxing spot, but you’ll find alternatives in shopping centres and motels.

Armadillos are fussy about their coffee, so you can’t go wrong at the Goldfish Bowl Bakery. Drop in for breakfast, brunch or lunch and then pick up fabulous sourdough breads and tempting pastries. With so much on offer, it’s easy to see why more and more travellers are breaking their journeys on the Waterfall Way, New England Highway or Thunderbolt’s Way to take in the culture and beauty of Armidale. Maybe it’s time you did too.