New gallery and heritage trail for Hartley

A new gallery and walking track have opened for visitors in Hartley Valley, Blue Mountains, bringing visitors a unique view of Hartley Village.

The new walking track has been constructed from the rear of the former Post Office to the granite tor overlooking the village. Visitors will be able to see Mount Blaxland as well as tour the nineteenth and twentieth-century cottage gardens and sandstone buildings.

The Kew-Y-Ahn Aboriginal Gallery has been established in the former Farmers Inn and is a joint venture between NPWS, Arts Out West and the Heritage Division of the Office of Environment and Heritage. The gallery will promote the commercial sale of art by Aboriginal artists living in the central west of NSW.

For more information on Hartley Village, visit the national parks website.

Road trip through outback NSW

Some of the best drives in the country are out the back of Bourke, and the best time to get behind the wheel and explore the outback is now, when plant and wildlife flourish after the rains. We’ve identified three awe-inspiring outback NSW routes.

First, take a grand tour of the lower and central Darling with the Broken Hill Loop, leading through one of the Outback’s most impressive natural treasures – the ephemeral freshwater lakes of Menindee Lakes and the ancient lunar landscapes of Mungo.

Next, drive beneath soaring wedge-tailed eagles, past roaming emus and through an amazing diversity of contrasting landscapes, from grey-soil plains and creeks to red sand dunes on the Corner Country Loop,a drive that takes you past the world’s longest fence, the Dingo Fence.

Or lastly, have a go at finding that elusive black opal around the eccentric opal mining town of Lightning Ridge; pass through woodlands, floodplains and sand-hills and discover quaint pubs and galleries on the Lightning Ridge Upper Darling Route.

So jump in the car and take a fascinating journey of discovery into the outback, which is closer than you think. Start planning now!

See Yanga like never before

The cooler weather signals the perfect time to head out west, and while you’re there, why not stop by Yanga National Park and experience two brand new digital experiences in the homestead and woolshed?

A brand new audio tour takes visitors through 21 historic sites around the homestead, shedding light on stories about the heritage and the architectural insights of this fascinating site. The new handheld devices can be picked up from the park office.

In addition to this, four interactive iPad displays have been set up inside the Woolshed. Photos and video from Yanga’s past are displayed and visitors can experience the sights of Yanga Woolshed in the full swing of shearing.

For more information on Yanga National Park, visit the national parks website.

2 Wheeled Treks returns

Between 14-28 September 2013, NPWS will host a series of community cycling and mountain bike guided events.

Ranger-guided cycle tours are an ideal way for both families and mountain bike enthusiasts to enjoy the cycle routes available in NSW national parks. Further information on 2 Wheeled Treks will be available in mid-July. 

There are a number of cycle tracks and facilities available now for you to explore, so why not get out and experience the best tracks and facilities for cycling in our parks.

Even more to love about WilderQuest

It’s been a busy time at WilderQuest headquarters recently, with a brand new Facebook page, a new environment to explore and more WilderQuest Discovery tours available during the school holidays – check it all out at our website!

If you are looking for great kids activities during the school holidays, then look no further. Take your family to join one of our many great WilderQuest Discovery tours at a national park near you. These tours are a fun way to get your children into the great outdoors for a nature-based learning experience.

The WilderQuest website has undergone a makeover and it is even bigger with the addition of our new Desert environment. From the mighty Red Kangaroo to the mighty useful Dung Beetle, there’s an abundance of new flora and fauna for your children to discover.

Keep up to date with all of this information over at our new Facebook page, and be the first to hear about new tours, exciting school holiday activities and game updates.

Two new apps to rediscover your local national parks

We’ve recently launched two brand new mobile apps, taking a new spin on discovering some of our state’s most popular national parks.

The first app, Convict Road, available through the Apple App Store brings the history of the Old Great North Road World Heritage site alive. Discover the secrets of this historic trail and immerse yourself in the past as you follow in the footsteps of the convicts, soldiers and government officials who built the road.

Our second app, Audio Tours NPWS, available on both the Apple App Store and Google Play contains two audio tours which will guide you thile walking in Sydney Harbour National Park and Ben Boyd National Park. Make sure you give these a shot next time you tackle either the Bradleys Head to Chowder Bay walk or the Light to Light walk, you might just uncover some fascinating discoveries.

For more information on these apps search for them in your mobile phone app store.

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