The drive from Tamworth to Inverell takes you through spectacular gemstone country. Barraba is an easy 70 minute drive north from Tamworth. On the banks of Manilla River, Barraba is near spectacular Mount Kaputar National Park and Split Rock Dam, a pretty spot for swimming, fishing and boating.

With more than 190 bird species including the rare Regent honeyeater, Barraba is popular with birdwatchers following bird routes along - old droving trails that are signposted. You can pick up birdwatching brochures from the Tamworth Visitor Information Centre on your way to Barraba.

This is gemstone country in the beautiful New England region. The discovery of sapphires dates backs to 1854 and Kings Plains is where one of the world’s richest gem-quality sapphire deposits was mined.

You can fossick for sapphires and other gems and quartz crystals in various locations, such as Billabong Blue Sapphire Fossicking Park. Many fossicking sites allow camping and you can enjoy bushwalking and birdwatching too.

Inverell Pioneer Village is a collection of historical buildings dating from 1841. Pick up brochures and maps from the Inverell Visitor Information Centre and explore the district. Visit the captivating Inverell Art Gallery, where you can browse and purchase a diverse range of works on display in two heritage buildings, including the old 1877 School of Arts.

There are exhilarating walking tracks in the Goonoowigall State Conservation Area, home to hundreds of wildlife species.

The picturesque Emmaville is 56 km from Glen Innes. Home to the famous Emmaville Mining Museum, Emmaville is also famous for its annual sheep races held in March.

This splendid part of the New England region is home to many natural wonders, including national parks in the Gondwana Rainforests of Australia World Heritage Area.

You’ll find plenty of places to stay in the Glen Innes area, from campgrounds and caravan parks to cottages, classic pubs and comfortable motels.

In the beautiful New England high country of NSW, this charming rural town is dotted with more than 30 heritage-listed buildings - the main street is a picture-postcard.

Known as Celtic Country because of the early European settlers and verdant countryside reminiscent of the Scottish highlands, Glen Innes built the intriguing Australian Standing Stones as a tribute to its pioneers. The annual Australian Celtic Festival in May is a highlight of the wonderful events calendar.

You’ll discover more gems at the Minerama Fossicking, Gem and Jewellery Show in March, the largest of its kind in NSW. Other marvellous things to do include visiting the Land of Beardies History House Museum and taking a Country Art Escapes cultural tour.

Make sure you refresh with a stop at the Super Strawberry Farm, where you can enjoy delicious ice cream, milkshakes, jam and cake – all made from plump strawberries growing in an adjacent field.

You can join Armidale Heritage Tours, in the township of Armidale, and discover grand cathedrals and colonial buildings. You’ll be delighted with the many things to do and see including the wonderful New England Regional Art Museum. It contains the important Howard Hinton and Chandler Coventry collections and works by famous artists Arthur Streeton, Tom Roberts and James Gleeson, to name just a few.

You can admire indigenous art at the Aboriginal Cultural Centre and Keeping Place. A short drive southwest of Armidale is Saumarez Homestead, a National Trust-listed 30-room Edwardian mansion built between 1888 and 1906. There are guided tours of this fascinating home.

Armidale enjoys a vibrant events calendar of festivals, exhibitions and the bi-monthly Armidale Farmers Market. You’ll find quality restaurants and cafes, and hip bars and classic pubs such as the Welders Dog and the Wicklow Hotel.

Follow the New England Highway through Armidale,Guyra and Uralla. If you have time to explore a road less travelled, take the popular Thunderbolts Way, named after the bushranger, by travelling from Glen Innes to Inverell and then to Armidale.

From gold and sapphire fossicking hip bars and art galleries to one of Australia’s last operating spinning mills, historic Nundle sits on the banks of the Peel River, and is home to colonial heritage, lovely shops, fishing at the Arc-en-Ciel Trout Farm and Chaffey Dam.

Pop into the Nundle Visitor Information Centre for brochures and tips. The fantastic Gil Bennet collection of rare minerals and sparkling crystals is in the centre. You can explore the colonial gold rush at the Mount Misery Gold Mine Museum and Cafe.

Gold fever struck the district in the 1850s. Many joined the gold rush, including Chinese migrants. Today, the annual Nundle Go for Gold Chinese Easter Festival celebrates their contribution to Nundle’s heritage. Check out too the other marvellous festivals and shows in the Nundle events calendar.

You can savour delicious regional produce at the Nundle Country Picnic in March in the pretty grounds of the Nundle Woollen Mill, which spins fine merino wool. You can buy colourful knits and woollen socks at the mill’s shop. You’ll find more enticing shopping at Odgers and McClelland in a beautifully preserved 19th century village store.

Places to stay include a riverside tourist park, cottages, a sheep station, motel and the 1860-built Peel Inn, a pub with a great beer garden.

Tamworth is just under an hour from Nundle. Check out the country music memorabilia at the Big Golden Guitar Tourist Centre. The rich cultural scene extends to the Tamworth Regional Gallery. You can visit historic towns on scenic drives in the pretty countryside and enjoy bushwalking, fishing, horseriding and paragliding in the great outdoors.

The iconic Tamworth Country Music Festival is in January and attracts star performers from around the world and tens of thousands of fans to vibrant Tamworth, the heart of the region. The largest music festival in the southern hemisphere, this events has attracted over 700 artists featured in 2,800 scheduled events across 120 venues.

The kids will be thrilled getting up close to kangaroos, wallabies and other friendly animals at the Tamworth Marsupial Park and Adventure Playground. Another fun spot for the kids is the Tamworth Regional Playground, where there are flying foxes, a skywalk, a bike track and a cooling splash pad.

With green pastures and fertile soils, the Tamworth region grows bountiful produce. Treat yourself to delectable experiences, including a fine range of restaurants. The annual 10-day Taste Tamworth Festival in April celebrates the region’s fresh produce, cool-climate wines and other delights.

You can explore more historic towns such as Werris Creek, Gunnedah and Uralla on scenic drives in the undulating countryside.