Tourist Information
Gloucester Tourist Information Centre is located at the corner of Church and Denison Streets. It is open daily from 9.00 a.m. to 4.30 p.m. (8.30 a.m. to 5.30 p.m. in school holidays) and offers an accommodation booking service, maps, historical and local interest literature, local arts and crafts and postcards. Contact them for information about scenic drives, picnic areas, bushwalking and fishing. The waters of the Barrington, Manning and Barnard Rivers are noted for quality canoeing and the information centre can furnish details on local canoe hire and potential routes, tel: (02) 6558 1408.
The Homestead
The homestead is located opposite the saleyards, on the western side of The Bucketts Way at the southern end of town. It is a single-storey sandstock brick residence built c.1830 by the Australian Agricultural Company on what was then the main north coast road. It is currently a private residence.
School Museum
Just to the north, at the corner of the Bucketts Way and Oak St, is St Clement's Historic Park. Gloucester's first church was built here by the Australian Agricultural Company in 1860. Just behind the park is the Upper Bowman School Museum which is a typical 19th-century, one-teacher, rural schoolhouse with original furniture. It is open by appointment, tel: (02) 6558 1882.
Folk Museum
From here the Bucketts Way is known as Church St. At 12 Church St is the Gloucester Folk Museum which is located in the former shire council chambers (1909). The Wunderlich pressed-metal ceilings are of interest and, to the rear of the building, are the police lock-up and an explosives store from the former goldmining town of Copeland. It is open Thursdays and Saturdays from 10.00 a.m. to 12.00 noon and on Tuesdays in the school holidays, or by appointment, tel: (02) 6558 1882.
Bucketts Scenic Walk and Bucketts Circle
Head out of town along Park St which soon becomes the Barrington Tops Forest Rd. After 1 km turn left into Bucketts Road. 1 km along this road, to the right, is the signposted start of the Bucketts Scenic Walk (2 km but steep) which leads up the Bucketts Mountain Range where there are excellent views of the Gloucester and Avon Valleys.
Those wishing to extend the trip into a scenic drive can continue along Bucketts Road for another 8 km then turn right onto Faulkland Rd. After fording the river three times in 3 km, turn right over the river then right again on to Barrington East Road. At its end turn right to return to Gloucester. Half of this 30-km drive is sealed.
Kia-Ora Lookout and Tourist Drive 4
About 4 km from the centre of Gloucester, via Barrington Tops Forest Rd, is the Bowman Farm turnoff (signposted) on the right. Follow Tourist Drive 3 for another 3 km to Kia-Ora Lookout (watch out for the sharp left turn off the bitumen) which offers truly panoramic views of the district.
If, instead, you follow Tourist Drive 4 to the north-west, it leads along an unsealed road through river flats and ridge country. At its end turn left onto Thunderbolts Way (sealed) then left again, after 7 km, back onto Barrington Tops Forest Road.
Mountain Maid Goldmine
Continue west along Barrington Tops Forest Rd through the villages of Barrington (established in 1897) and the former goldrush town of Copeland where gold was discovered in 1872.
17 km from Gloucester there is a clearly signposted turnoff on the left along Old Copeland Rd. It is about 200 m to the Mountain Maid Goldmine carpark. The Mountain Maid Goldmine commenced operations in 1876 and did not close until 1979. There are underground tours, restored equipment, a cedar slab hut, goldpanning, an inspection of the workings, rainforest walks and picnic-barbecue facilities. It is open Wednesday to Sunday from 9.30 a.m. to 3.30 p.m. and every day in school holidays. For further information ring (02) 6558 4303 or go to http://www.excursions.tac.com.au/goldtownsnsw
Dilgry Circuit
Just to the west of the Old Copeland Road turnoff, the bitumen of Barrington Tops Forest Rd peters out leaving a winding gravel road negotiable in a 2WD (be careful in wet weather).
54 km from Gloucester you can turn right at the Dilgry sign. This unsealed loop road traverses 18 km of scenic countryside before returning to Barrington Tops Forest Road.
Devils Hole
About 60 km from Gloucester, via Barrington Tops Forest Rd, is the Devils Hole Lookout Day Use Area which offers fine views over the Barrington Wilderness and adjoining farmlands. It is, in fact, one of several lookouts which are signposted along the Barrington Tops Forest Road.
Polblue and Walking Trails
About 70 km from Gloucester, along Barrington Tops Forest Rd, is the Polblue Camping Area, situated within Stewarts Brook State Forest, from whence the Barrington Tops Plateau Walk commences. It is about five hours (one way) through sub-alpine woodlands and wetlands, past the Little Murray and Big Hole camping areas, to Careys Peak (1545 m) which offers spectacular views over the Barrington wilderness and the Hunter Valley. Once at Careys Peak there are extensions south to Lagoon Pinch and east to Gloucester Tops. For further information on Barrington Tops National Park ring the National Parks and Wildlife Service on (02) 6558 1478.
4WD Trail and Other Roads
From a point near Polblue, the Barrington Trail (4WD only) heads south off Barrington Tops Forest Road, past the Little Murray and Junction Pools camping areas to Mt Barrington (1558 m) from whence it is a 7-km walk to Careys Peak. The Middle Ridge Trail joins the Barrington Trail just before Mt Barrington, heading north-west back to the Barrington Tops Forest Rd. It traverses private property and both 4WD trails are closed from 1 June to 30 September each year.
93 km from Gloucester, along the Barrington Tops Forest Rd, is the turnoff on the right to Moonan Flat (see entry on Gundy) and beyond lies Scone. A number of side roads (some 4WD only) lead off Barrington Tops Forest Rd to camping areas within Stewarts Brook State Forest.
Woko National Park
9 km west of Gloucester along Barrington Tops Forest Rd (1 km west of the village of Barrington) is the turnoff on the right onto Thunderbolts Way (the road north to Walcha). 11 km along this road (just beyond the locality of Rookhurst) turn left onto Curricabark Road which soon becomes gravel. Just before the first causeway over the Manning River turn right onto the flood detour road which leads to a secluded campground by the river within Woko National Park (8265 acres) which is located on rugged land once occupied by the Birripi people. The campground is located on a former cattle property. There are fireplaces, pit toilets and picnic facilities, but collecting wood is forbidden so bring your own, or a fuel stove.
The Scrub Turkey Circuit (20 minutes return) leads through dry rainforest (where bush turkeys are often seen) then dry sclerophyll forest before rejoining the gravel road. Turn left at the road to return to the campground.
The Cliff Face Walk is steep and takes about two hours (return).It branches off to the right from the Scrub Turkey Track, passing through pockets of sub-tropical rainforest and past rocky outcrops from the escarpment above.
Swimming and liloing can be enjoyed on the river and hiking off the beaten track is possible for experienced bushwalkers.
Bretti Reserve and Thunderbolts Way
34 km north of Gloucester, along Thunderbolts Way, is a turnoff on the right to the locality of Bretti. There is a camping and picnic area on the banks of the Barnard River where swimming and canoeing can be enjoyed. There are picnic and barbecue facilities.
If you follow Thunderbolts Way north to Walcha it passes through Giro State Forest and some fine mountain and river scenery.
Gloucester Tops
9 km south of the town centre, via the Bucketts Way, is Gloucester Tops Rd which heads off to the west. Follow this road for 7 km, turn left at Faulkland then left again at Invergordon (22 km from the Bucketts Way). About 30 from the Bucketts Way is the Gloucester River Camping Area. Wildlife in the area includes lyrebirds, red-necked pademelons and brush turkeys.
Gloucester Tops Rd continues on its winding way for about another 18 km to Gloucester Tops Day Use Area, from whence there are a number of walks (some short, some lengthy), including the Link Trail to the Barrington Tops plateau. A shorter walk leads to Gloucester Falls. There is a diversity of vegetation in the area, including Antarctic beech forest, snow gum forest and swamps.
Mograni Lookout
Mograni Lookout is located 5 km east of Gloucester along the Bucketts Way. It furnishes excellent views of Gloucester Vale. There is also a picnic-barbecue area but no water.
Bundook
A left turn off the Bucketts Way at Mograni Lookout will take you through the fine scenery of the Gloucester Valley to Bundook. From there veer south back to the Bucketts Way then turn right and head back to the lookout. This route covers 56 km, half on unsealed roads.
Horseriding
Krazy K's Riding Ranch offers safe and affordable scenic trail rides in the area. It is located on Bucketts Way, tel: (02) 4994 7188.
Walking Tours
Guided walking tours through the Barrington wilderness are available from Forest Escapes, tel: (02) 6558 4133.
Barrington Outdoor Adventure Centre
There is a commercial organisation which organises adventure holidays in the Barrington Tops including kayaking and canoeing. Check them out on http://www.midcoast.com.au/~boac/.
Sign up for the Traveller Deals newsletter
Get exclusive travel deals delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up now.