Hilton’s guidebook
Visitor Places near Scone
Scone is an important rural centre on the New England Highway. It is known as 'The Horse Capital of Australia' and claims to be the second-largest horse breeding area in the world, after Kentucky in the United States.
The equine focus of the town is reflected in numerous ways: it is the home to the Australian Stockhorse Association; the Hunter thoroughbred breeding industry which is reputedly the second largest breeding area in the world; the district has some of the country’s longest established pony clubs; there is a thriving polo and polocrosse community; and the bronze sculpture, 'Scone Mare and Foal' by Gabriel Sterk, is prominently situated beside the highway in Elizabeth Park.
The region is also home to cattle and sheep grazing, cereal cropping, dairies and boutique wineries. The town and the district have a large number of significant historic buildings and there is real pleasure in driving around the district and admiring the huge horse studs.
Scone is one of the major entry points into the Barrington Top National Park:
The drive from Scone to Gloucester via the Barrington Tops Forest Road involves a 148 km drive from Scone via the tiny settlements Gundy, Belltrees, Moonan Flat, Rawdon Vale, Copeland and Barrington. The drive - with a substantial stretch on dirt road - has a number of places of interest along the way. Here are the highlights as the road traverses the "tops" from Scone.
41 místní doporučují
Barrington Tops National Park
Scone is one of the major entry points into the Barrington Top National Park:
The drive from Scone to Gloucester via the Barrington Tops Forest Road involves a 148 km drive from Scone via the tiny settlements Gundy, Belltrees, Moonan Flat, Rawdon Vale, Copeland and Barrington. The drive - with a substantial stretch on dirt road - has a number of places of interest along the way. Here are the highlights as the road traverses the "tops" from Scone.
Lake Glenbawn Recreation Area
Located 20 km east of Scone, Lake Glenbawn was named after the property submerged under the dam waters. It is a popular spot for water skiing, wake boarding, swimming, sailing, canoeing and sailboarding. Anglers will find catfish, bass and golden perch. The foreshores consist of open woodland with over 100 species of birds including galahs, eastern rosellas, pelicans, king parrots as well as kangaroos and wallaroos which can be seen in the early morning and at dusk.
Brushy Hill has two separate lookouts with quite spectacular views across the lake to the far side where mountains loom overhead in close proximity. To the east are Mount Woolooma, the Mount Royal Ranges and Barrington Tops. To the north is the Liverpool Range and to the south and west the valleys of the Upper Hunter.
Glenbawn Dam was built between 1954 and 1957 to regulate the flow of the Hunter River in order to meet stock, domestic and irrigation requirements. Today it also provides water for the vineyards in the Hunter Valley.
It covers 2,614 hectares, draws on a catchment area of 1,295 square km, has a storage capacity of 750,000 megalitres and a maximum depth of 85 m. The main wall is 100 m high and the length of the crest is 1,125 m.
Major extensions in the 1980s facilitated the development of the recreation area. Here there is a caravan park with camping sites, a kiosk, tennis courts, a recreation hall, a cricket oval and three-hole golf course, as well as appropriate facilities. For more information check out http://www.stateparks.nsw.gov.au/lake_glenbawn and http://www.waternsw.com.au/supply/visit/glenbawn-dam.
11 místní doporučují
Lake Glenbawn
Brush Hill Lookout RoadLake Glenbawn Recreation Area
Located 20 km east of Scone, Lake Glenbawn was named after the property submerged under the dam waters. It is a popular spot for water skiing, wake boarding, swimming, sailing, canoeing and sailboarding. Anglers will find catfish, bass and golden perch. The foreshores consist of open woodland with over 100 species of birds including galahs, eastern rosellas, pelicans, king parrots as well as kangaroos and wallaroos which can be seen in the early morning and at dusk.
Brushy Hill has two separate lookouts with quite spectacular views across the lake to the far side where mountains loom overhead in close proximity. To the east are Mount Woolooma, the Mount Royal Ranges and Barrington Tops. To the north is the Liverpool Range and to the south and west the valleys of the Upper Hunter.
Glenbawn Dam was built between 1954 and 1957 to regulate the flow of the Hunter River in order to meet stock, domestic and irrigation requirements. Today it also provides water for the vineyards in the Hunter Valley.
It covers 2,614 hectares, draws on a catchment area of 1,295 square km, has a storage capacity of 750,000 megalitres and a maximum depth of 85 m. The main wall is 100 m high and the length of the crest is 1,125 m.
Major extensions in the 1980s facilitated the development of the recreation area. Here there is a caravan park with camping sites, a kiosk, tennis courts, a recreation hall, a cricket oval and three-hole golf course, as well as appropriate facilities. For more information check out http://www.stateparks.nsw.gov.au/lake_glenbawn and http://www.waternsw.com.au/supply/visit/glenbawn-dam.
Located in the society's offices at 48 Guernsey Street, the Australian Stock Horse Society Museum, as the website explains, "reflects on the many famous stockhorses and the history of their breeding." The society points out that "The forebears of the Australian Stock Horse arrived in Australia on the First Fleet in 1788. They are now considered possibly the world’s most versatile horse, they evolved over time through selective breeding in response to the demands of the environment. The Society was established in 1971 in Scone which promotes itself as "the Horse Capital of Australia" and is now the largest of more than 70 individual horse breed associations in Australia. They enjoy a loyal and growing membership of more than 9000 individuals and have in excess of 150,000 horses registered. The Society aims to preserve and promote the heritage and bloodline of the Australian Stock Horse, recognised for its versatility and superior performance amongst work and leisure breeds." For more information check out http://www.upperhuntercountry.com/index.php/attractions/equine-adventures/135-australian-stock-horse-society.
Australian Stock Horse Society Ltd.
48 Guernsey StLocated in the society's offices at 48 Guernsey Street, the Australian Stock Horse Society Museum, as the website explains, "reflects on the many famous stockhorses and the history of their breeding." The society points out that "The forebears of the Australian Stock Horse arrived in Australia on the First Fleet in 1788. They are now considered possibly the world’s most versatile horse, they evolved over time through selective breeding in response to the demands of the environment. The Society was established in 1971 in Scone which promotes itself as "the Horse Capital of Australia" and is now the largest of more than 70 individual horse breed associations in Australia. They enjoy a loyal and growing membership of more than 9000 individuals and have in excess of 150,000 horses registered. The Society aims to preserve and promote the heritage and bloodline of the Australian Stock Horse, recognised for its versatility and superior performance amongst work and leisure breeds." For more information check out http://www.upperhuntercountry.com/index.php/attractions/equine-adventures/135-australian-stock-horse-society.