West of the Blue Mountains lie the rich plains and rural heartland of New South Wales' regional centre, known as Explorer Country. This agriculturally rich region offers its visitors an unforgettable bush experience.
Explorer Country has a strong agricultural tradition and is an integral part of the meat-producing centre of Australia. Both the grain belt and cotton belt cut a swathe across Explorer Country.
Cowra, Orange and Mudgee are all major wine growing areas, and farms producing fine wool, citrus fruit and canola abound in the area.
Take a farmstay holiday here and share the pioneering spirit of early European explorers who crossed the Great Dividing Range to discover the region. A majority of Explorer Country's farmstay experiences are to be had on sheep and cattle stations. All offer views of the stunning landscape that characterise the region and you can even try your hand at sheep shearing. Many farmstays offer gold-panning lessons. Some are located on the sites of former gold rushes, so you never know your luck!
The fresh air will give you a real appetite, and you'll find meal times at your farmstay are a treat. Sample food from the region and discover why the locals are so proud of their produce's reputation. Most farmstays are fairly close to the region's cities, all of which deserve exploration. Dubbo, Orange and Bathurst are thriving regional centres, and all contain impressive Victorian era buildings, which provide a window into our pioneering past. The kids will love a visit to Dubbo's Western Plains Zoo, which can be navigated on foot or by bicycle.
The well-preserved prison at Dubbo Gaol is another popular attraction. Astronomers far and wide go to Explorers Country to enjoy the night sky in all its glory away from the city smog. Take the kids on an evening adventure to either of the observatories in Coonabarabran and Gilgandra, where you can view the rings of Saturn or the moon's craters through powerful telescopes.
A trip to Explorer Country will awaken your pioneering spirit and give you a love of rural life. With such variety and so much to discover, Explorer Country is the ideal location for your farmstay holiday.
Purchase this DVD that captures the sweeping contrasts of New South Wales. Includes footage of the Great Dividing Range to Bathurst, Goulburn and Albury, through the rich grazing lands.
Marvel at Dubbo's Western Plain Zoo and discover the rare opal at Lightning Ridge. Explore the Ghost Towns and outback city of Broken Hill and admire the splendour of the Menindee Lakes in the Kinchega National Park.
Investigate the Minnamurra Rainforest and enjoy the waterfalls of the Illawarra Plateau. Explore the snowfields of the Snowy Mountains, Mt Kosciusko and traverse the Murray River from the Alpine headwaters to Lake Hume. Moving on to the Southern Coast of New South Wales and the panoramic vistas's of Jervis Bay, the famous Blow Hole at Kiama and north to Port Macquarie, Coffs Harbour and Byron Bay.
PLEASE NOTE: The New South Wales travel destinations outlined above are only a small selection from the tens of thousands of Australian travel information pages available on Australian Explorer. A comprehensive list of destinations for New South Wales Holidays can be found on the main New South Wales Holidays location guide.
