Greater Hume Shire Council: Forests, Trails and Heritage

Greater Hume Shire Council offers a variety of reasons to plan a trip: forest landscapes and birdwatching, trails with different route types, and places where regional heritage comes to life. If you are travelling with a group, you could start by considering which of these themes you want to shape your stay.

Forest landscapes, birdlife and views

Woomargama National Park is the largest protected forest area west of the Great Dividing Range. While birdwatching in the park, you may spot species including the Regent Honeyeater, Superb Parrot and Powerful Owl. Norths Lookout offers a different perspective: this natural granite platform sits at about 1,000 metres and provides a 180-degree view of the Upper Murray Valley, the western side of the Snowy Mountains, the Riverina District and Holbrook. Forest, birdlife and panoramic views each offer a different focus for a nature stay.

Birdwatching and walking are possible at the Tunnel Road picnic area in Woomargama National Park; in spring, you can also see wildflowers there. 4WD tours are also available in the park. These options show different ways to engage with the landscape without reducing it to a single activity.

Trails with different route types

The section of the Hume and Hovell Track from Lankey’s Creek to Bowna passes through Woomargama National Park. The Burrumbuttock Walking Track has a different layout: it is a 4.5-kilometre loop around the town. This means a named track section through the park and a loop around a town offer two different types of walks. You can enquire about booking a guided walk up Table Top Mountain. Morgan’s Lookout is recommended as a picnic destination.

Nature observation and exercise also go hand in hand at Gum Swamp Reserve, where 150 bird species have been recorded. The trails in the western part of the reserve provide easy access for walkers. Its biodiversity and trails offer two different reasons to include the place in your travel plans.

Heritage in the region’s towns

In Jindera, the Pioneer Museum has more than 25 rooms and galleries. Its shop building is particularly notable: with its original shop fittings and furnishings, it is considered outstanding in New South Wales. The museum’s size is thus complemented by a close-up look at historic shop interiors.

In Walla Walla, the Heritage Walk tells the story of German influence. The Zion Lutheran Church, built in 1924, is also located there. It is the largest Lutheran church in New South Wales and has just under 600 seats. Heritage trails can also be found in Burrumbuttock, Culcairn, Henty, Jindera and Woomargama. The walks and buildings offer different focal points: sometimes the emphasis is on a town, sometimes on a cultural legacy or a single historic building.

Holbrook adds another theme to this heritage: the decommissioned Australian submarine HMAS OTWAY is located there. Holbrook’s Submarine Precinct is a stop along the Hume Highway. For directions to attractions and advice on suitable stops, the Greater Hume Visitor Information Centre offers expert guidance and travel tips.

Weighing up reasons to travel

The Henty Machinery Field Days take place every year in September and attract about 50,000 visitors over three days. If the event is the reason for your trip, check the exact dates when planning. For other stays, nature watching, a loop walk, a museum or a heritage walk could be the main focus. At the Wirraminna Environmental Education Centre, there is a scenic dam as well as a picnic area with a free electric barbecue.

Which experiences you plan first can also influence your choice of where to stay. Tailor your search for accommodation in Greater Hume to the places and themes that matter most to you: perhaps forests and views, trails and birdlife, or heritage. This way, your planning starts with the kind of trip you want, rather than a general idea of what accommodation should offer.

Discover more destinations: Bowna, Sutherland Shire Council, Cabonne Shire Council, Kyogle Council, Narromine Shire Council, Bega Valley Shire Council, Fairfield City Council, Hawkesbury City Council.

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