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Stories and Experiences
Mesa System/Geology of the the Tablelands region
The Tablelands Way experience opens the door to a world of geological wonders. You will find an ancient land of great beauty and diversity. Nowhere else on earth can you see in one region all the different ways that land all over the world has been formed. Discover how our planet evolved and revel in the beauty of remarkable features such as the hauntingly beautiful caves of Jenolan and Wombeyan. more
The Platypus Paradox
The first known description of the platypus comes from the Wiradjuri tribe, whose area includes the Wolgan and Capertee Valleys and the land to the west. This curious and endearing monotreme caused scientists great confusion when first discovered by Europeans. It defied all understanding of the animal kingdom, sharing defining characteristics with mammals, birds and reptiles. Some even doubted it was real, preferring to believe it was an elaborate hoax. more
Mudgee
Since the Mudgee region was first discovered by Europeans in 1821 it has developed enormously. Mudgee was gazetted in 1838 and grew rapidly. The discovery of gold in nearby Hargraves in 1851 led to a gold rush which saw the town boom. Around the same time the first grapevines were planted in Mudgee. Today the gold rush is long gone, but Mudgee remains a thriving town, with a growing reputation for fine wine. more
Lithgow - The convict stockades
In the Greater Lithgow area, stockades were built at Mount Victoria, Hassans Walls, Bowens Hollow, Mount Kirkley and Mount Walker. These areas were of great importance for the development of a road network in the 1830s. Many convicts earned their freedom for good behaviour and the hard work they did while housed in the stockades, though some were not prepared to wait and took matters into their own hands. Discover the stories of the stockades and the communities that grew up around them. more
Myles J. Dunphy
Myles Dunphy was a conservationist and Australia's greatest advocate for National Parks. He campaigned tirelessly for over fifty years for the establishment of a professional parks service, and gave the region many of its distinctive and poetic place names. His passion inspired many others, including his son Milo, who was taken in his pram to Kanangra Walls at the age of just 20 months. This marked the beginning of an association with the conservation of the area that would become a life's work. more
Crossing the Blue Mountains
Since Europeans first arrived in Australia the Blue Mountains were considered an impenetrable barrier. The first recorded official attempt at crossing them was made in 1796 by George Bass, a British Naval Surgeon. In 1801 Francis Barrallier made two attempts and came tantalisingly close to making it through. Finally, in 1813 an expedition led by Gregory Blaxland, William Lawson and William Charles Wentworth successfully negotiated this seemingly impossible challenge, and the westward expansion of New South Wales followed. more
Charles Darwin visits Wallerawang
In 1836, HMS Beagle arrived at Sydney Cove carrying the naturalist Charles Darwin. Darwin spent 18 days in New South Wales, where he attempted to gain a little understanding of the geology and natural history of Australia. Of particular interest, was one day he spent as a guest at the Wallerawang Homestead. While there he had his first encounter with unique Australian species such as the platypus and visited the Wolgan Valley, which left him struck by its sheer size and baffled by its formation. more
Bushrangers
The hills of Upper Lachlan Shire and the twists and turns in the roads made this region the perfect spot for gangs of bushrangers. They could stage an ambush before slipping away into the bush and evading capture. Australia’s relationship with these often romanticised criminals is complex. Infamous outlaws such as Ben Hall terrorised the region in the 1800s, but nonetheless always enjoyed some support from the communities in which they operated. Today they are often seen as romantic anti-heroes. more
Discovery of the Goulburn Plains
Expeditions took place in 1798 to see what lay on the other side of the Southern Highlands, but the Goulburn Plains were not officially discovered until 1818, when an exploratory party led by Hamilton Hume and Surveyor James Meehan crossed the Plains. The region then developed quickly. The construction of a road from Picton to the Goulburn Plains was ordered in 1819. Settlers started to move into the area and the township of Goulburn Plains was born. Present day Goulburn was gazetted in 1833. more
Wines of The Tablelands Way experience
The Tablelands Way experience is a wine lover’s delight. At either end of The Tablelands Way wineries abound. In the South is the exciting and rapidly developing Canberra District, and, at the northern end, the world renowned Hunter Valley. And as if this were not enough, you can continue to indulge your palate as you make your way through the region, with wineries close to Oberon and, of course, in the historic Mudgee region. more
Food of The Tablelands Way experience
A beautiful region, blessed with wonderful fertile plains, the Tablelands have long been recognised as an ideal location for the growing of food and the grazing of livestock. These natural advantages coupled with the passion and skill of the local producers make The Tablelands Way experience a must for any lover of fine food. From award winning Goat’s Cheese in Lidsdale to organic olives in Rylstone and a wonderful array of culinary delights at Mudgee’s wonderful farmers markets you will never go short of ways to satisfy your gourmet urges. more
The Eucalpyts
Eucalypts are a defining feature of the Australian landscape. They have adapted to thrive in most conditions of climate and terrain found in this country. In total there are close to nine hundred species and all but a few are indigenous to Australia. The forests of the Tablelands region contain an enormous variety of conditions, which in turn has led to its remarkable diversity of eucalypt varieties. Eucalypts provide a source of food, shelter and much more to both humans and animals. In many cases they are as useful as they are beautiful. more
Rare, remnant and endemic plants of the Tablelands region
Over hundreds of millions of years the plants that cover Australia’s vast landscapes have evolved as conditions have changed. However remnants of plant communities that used to be commonplace still remain in places. The Tablelands region is home to many rare and endangered plant species. There are endangered trees such as the ancient Wollemi pine and the Kowmung red cedar, as well as endangered communities such as box-gum woodland and Newnes Plateau swamp. There are also many endemic plants. Two examples are Chalkers and Kowmung wattles. more
The Forest Ecosystems of the Tablelands region
The Tablelands region is home to a huge variety of forest ecosystems. Rainforests were dominant before the evolution of eucalypts, and remnants remain today. Tall Open Forests contain the giants of the Australian bush, reaching 70 metres or more. Open Forests contain hard-leaved shrubs under an open canopy of smaller eucalypts or she-oaks. The floor of the Open Forest is home to many of Australia’s best known flowers. Grassy Woodlands are home to enormous diversity of plants including eucalypts, grasses, daisies, wattles, legumes, orchids, lilies and many more. more
Vulnerable Animals of the Tablelands region
A vulnerable species is one whose population is threatened and is likely to become endangered if the threats it currently faces continue. The Tablelands region is home to many such creatures from the famous koala to the less well known spotted-tailed quoll and numerous species of bird. In the National Parks of The Tablelands Way experience there is always the possibility of catching a glimpse of one of these precious and rare animals. Take the time to visit them in their natural environment and you will to be inspired to contribute to their conservation. more
Endangered Animals of the Tablelands region
Since European settlement of Australia our actions have consistently put pressure on native species. Increasingly, as mankind makes its mark on the environment, National Parks become sanctuaries for species unable to survive elsewhere. The Swift Parrot, Regent Honeyeater, giant dragonfly, stuttering frog, booroolong frog, broad-headed snake and brush-tailed rock wallaby are all classed as endangered but can still be found in the Tablelands region’s National Parks. more
The Discovery of the Wollemi Pine
The Wollemi pine was a critically endangered species when it was discovered by Dave Noble in 1994, and its exact location in the Wollemi National Park remains a closely guarded secret. The botanist Carrick Chambers stated that the discovery was: ‘the equivalent of finding a small dinosaur alive on earth’. The Wollemi pine evolved around 140 million years ago, when Australia was part of a super continent called Gondwana, which linked Australia, New Guinea and Antarctica. The arrival of the Wollemi pine coincided with the first flowering plants, and the extinction of the dinosaurs. more
Food of The Tablelands Way experience
