Explore Our Great Outdoors

Yindyamarra Trail Fish Trap, Albury EXPLORE OUR GREAT OUTDOORS Credit: AlburyCity

RIVERINA MURRAY, NSW

Summer is the perfect time to explore some of the region’s picturesque areas – as long as you’re prepared to start early in the cooler morning hours and take a refreshing dip in the plentiful creeks and rivers along the way.

Consider the historic Hume and Hovell Track, which stretches 426km and passes through the towns of Yass, Wee Jasper and Albury and nearby the towns of Tumut, Talbingo and Tumbarumba.

The track is an epic trail featuring stunning waterfalls, rivers, creeks, and damns, traversing rugged and beautiful countryside following a mix of public roads, fire trails, purpose built single track and over 100 footbridges.

Visit www.humeandhovelltrack.com.au to help plan your hikes using interactive maps and detailed trail descriptions which break the trail up into sections, including Google Maps links to photos of the trail.

You could attempt the trail in shorter sections using Wagga as your base or make it a multi day trek by camping at one of 17 picturesque camping spots along the way.

If you haven’t seen the stunning Blue Waterholes in the Goobarragandra Valley then you could start with walking the Wee Jasper to Snowy Mountains Highway section of the track (see map 2 of Humeandhovelltrack.com.au).

Another great walk closer to home is the Wagga Wiradjiri Trail which offers 42km of track along the Murrumbidgee River, past the Wagga Wetlands and through bushland, all within a stone’s throw of Wagga CBD. The trail winds through Silvalite Reserve and Pomingalarna Park - perfect for a little wildlife spotting or enjoying some of the best views over the city. The Wollundry Loop is 12.1 kilometres and a more leisurely walk, following part of the Murrumbidgee River and the perimeter of the Wollundry Lagoon.

Over in Albury you can jump on the Wagirra Trail. The 15 kilometre (return) Murray River pathway links Wonga Wetlands with the South Albury Trail. The two-metre wide walking and cycling pathway meanders through Albury's riverside parks, with plenty of places to stop for a picnic or enjoy the spectacular views.

The newest edition to this beautiful trail is the installed sculptures on the Yindyamarra Sculpture Walk. Created by local Aboriginal artists, the sculptures are scattered along the five kilometres of Wagirra trail between Kremur Street and Sydney Wonga Wetlands. The sculptures are enhanced by augmented reality via Coolamon Wagga Wagga Tumut smartphone which tell the story of Aboriginal history and the cultural significance Tumbarumba of the Murray River. Albury

Melbourne

FIRST PUBLISHED DEC 2017

www.RIVERINAMURRAY.com.au Murumbang Interpretive Walk, Ganmain EXPLORE OUR GREAT OUTDOORS Credit: Coolamon Shire Council

RIVERINA MURRAY, NSW

The Kindra State Forest in Coolamon contains a range of leisurely bike and walking trails that will lead you on a journey of discovery, taking in the flora and fauna of the forest, seating, viewing areas and picnic spots with interpretive signage to help you discover the area.

Over 100 bird species have been sighted in Coolamon Shire. At the top of the rise there is an excellent view of the Travelling Stock Reserve dam constructed as a back-up water supply for the township of Coolamon. The dam provides a habitat for a wide variety of birdlife including the endangered Superb Parrot, swans, pelicans and ducks. Ganmain's Murumbang Interpretive Nature Walk winds around the Ganmain Forest, railway dams and Boggy Creek. It has two bird hides, interpretive signage and an interpretive centre with picnic facilities.

Situated just off the Sturt Highway between Narrandera and Wagga Wagga, and only 13 kilometres from Lockhart, Galore Hill is an impressive landmark that covers over 500 hectares of thriving bushland. Drive to the top of the Saddle or the Summit and enjoy stunning views, well maintained bushwalking tracks, and extensive native flora and fauna. A lookout tower on the Summit offers panoramic views while extensive walking tracks take in the caves of infamous bushranger, Daniel 'Mad Dog' Morgan. An entertaining children's playground rests beneath shady trees at the Saddle, while barbeques, picnic facilities and toilets are available at both the Summit and the Saddle.

While at Galore Hill, keep an eye out for grey kangaroos, wallabies, echidnas, black cockatoos and 140 different bird species. Over 850 varieties of Australian native plants grow here, and in springtime Galore Hill is a colourful array of wattles, grevellias, hakeas and flowering eucalyptus. There’s so much to see and explore – so pack your picnic, sunscreen and a water bottle and enjoy. For maps and other information visit www.visitnsw.com/destinations/country-nsw.

Sydney Coolamon Wagga Wagga Tumut Tumbarumba Albury

Melbourne

FIRST PUBLISHED DEC 17