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seating area at the lookout.

Natural Attractions

Buurree Walking Trail

Explore the history and rich ecosystems of the Wattle Flat Heritage lands on the Buurree Walking Trail. The Buurree Walking Trail is situated in the Wattle Flat Heritage Lands North. This is an area of open woodland bush close to the gold mining township of Wattle Flat. The trail is marked by a series of yellow triangles that denote the circular track. Going uphill to a ridgeline with lovely views towards Sofala and the Turon Valley. Leisurely walking will take approximately two hours at the most but it can be completed in an hour or so. This walk can appeal to children as they enjoy the challenge of spotting the yellow markers. The walk can be combined with a wander around the Wattle Flat township where some of the buildings date back to the 1860s. This trail is also a great spot to go bird watching with good quality Box Gum woodland and Yellow and White Box Trees providing habitat for native birds, and a small central dam that attracts various migratory species.

Wattle Flat NSW

6.4 km away

Horseride through the river! — Image credit: Turon Gates

Natural Attractions

Horse riding at Turon Gates

Turon Gates has been offering horseriding experiences to their guests for over 50 years. Experience guided scenic trail riding along the Turon River in the Blue Mountains, cross rivers and enjoy the magic of the Australian bush with the experienced Turon Gates team. Small ride groups of up to four at a time can enjoy an hour or 1.5-hour trail ride. Trail rides are available to adults under 90kg and children aged 11 years and over. For Children 10 and under, Turon Gates offers 15-minute lead-around pony rides. They have gorgeous little Shetland ponies for the very little ones and ponies for the older kids. Helmets are provided. Wearing long pants is recommended, and closed-toe shoes are required. Please make sure you book your rides in advance before your arrival. Refunds are provided if it rains and riding is not possible. Note: this is for guests of Turon Gates only.

Capertee NSW

20 km away

Ariel View along the Bridle Track — Image credit: Bathurst Regional Council

Natural Attractions

The Bridle Track - Bathurst to Hill End

Enjoy an adventurous four-wheel driving trip, filled with opportunities for camping, fishing and exploration on the famous Bridle Track. The Bridle Track was first established as the road between Bathurst and Hill End in the 1800s earning its name from the narrowest sections where hopeful gold miners and settlers had to lead their horses by the bridle. During the mid-1900s the track was expanded into a scenic tourist route along the Macquarie River. Today the track is a popular four-wheel drive track with 13 campsites along its full length.

Duramana NSW

25 km away

History Hill Museum

Galleries, Museums and Collections

History Hill

Just 1.5 kilometres north-east of the Hill End Historic Site and 79kms from Bathurst, is History Hill, a museum and underground mine. You can spend hours at the History Hill Museum browsing over 10,000 gold rush and colonial-era artefacts as well as: Mining tools, Historic Photos, Steam Engines, Stamper Batteries, Gold Scales, Blacksmith Shop/Stables, Rare Uranium Glass, Chinese Connection, Geology Section and Colonial and Convict History. If you're feeling adventurous, there's a 175-metre underground mine purposely built for visitors to experience - The Son of Hope. Booked bus group tours are very welcome, but must be booked in advance.

Hill End NSW

26 km away

Craigmoor House

Historical Sites and Heritage Locations

Craigmoor House

Take a walk through Craigmoor House and see history come to life before your eyes. Once home to the Marshall family, the building has been preserved in its original condition and holds a wealth of stories about life in Hill End during the colonial era. The house is closed to the public, but you can explore the rooms in-depth on a virtual tour. This interactive 360-degree experience allows you to swipe, zoom and click through each room to see how the Marshall family lived during the 1800s and early 1900s. Take the time to appreciate the embellished gothic timberwork of the house, inspired by the Duke of Elgin's hunting lodge in Scotland. Then immerse yourself in the Marshall's rich legacy as you head indoors. During their time at Hill End, James and Sarah Marshall had 11 children, including 3 daughters, one of whom lived in Craigmoor House until her death in 1950. The keepsakes the Marshalls left behind reveal the resourceful, simple and aspirational way they lived, as well as the impact they had on this historic mining town.

Hill End NSW

27 km away

Denningtons Cottage

Historical Sites and Heritage Locations

Denningtons Cottage

Denningtons Cottage was constructed in 1858 and is part of the department's Conservation Lease Program, where members of the public submit proposals to conserve the property in exchange for a long term lease. This property is Denningtons Cottage is a quaint historical house of Hill End that has become a haven for ceramic artists. Originally built in 1858 as a miner’s cottage, it withstands as a historical snapshot of the living conditions of those seeking their fortune during the gold rush period of the late 1800s. Today, visitors are welcome to view the pottery ceramic artworks which are shown here, but it’s best to call ahead. La Paloma Pottery, meaning dove in Spanish, is a charming workshop producing fine ceramics and pottery. Privately leased by La Paloma Pottery and the potter often welcomes visitors to view his work.

Hill End NSW

27 km away

General Store

Historical Sites and Heritage Locations

General Store

Located right in the centre of this historic township, Hill End’s General Store is a great meeting place before embarking on a walk or Discovery tour. This wheelchair-accessible cafe offers great coffee, meals, groceries and general merchandise. The store is an excellent example of Hill End’s unique architectural heritage. Originally two separate buildings, the Salvation Army hall was added in the 1880s, on the site that was originally the Colonial Wine and Dining rooms. The Baker and Grocer section dates back to 1872, when it was the heart of this bustling mining community. Grab some snacks from the cafe and enjoy a leisurely lunch in Bill Lyle Reserve picnic area. Or, if you’re feeling indulgent, tuck into a delicious lunch in the restaurant, surrounded by historic photos in the old Salvation Army hall. Be sure to book ahead during busy times to avoid missing out on this unique dining experience.

Hill End NSW

27 km away

Village Walking Track — Image credit: Photo: John Spencer

Natural Attractions

Village Walking Track

Step back in time as you wander the historic streets of Hill End on Village walking track. Pick up a map from Hill End Visitor Centre and take yourself on a self-guided walk to the many historic sites. There are also guided tours available, so if you want to get a more in-depth perspective, ask about Discovery tours at the visitor centre. The great thing about this short walk is that you can start and stop wherever you like. Great Western Store is an excellent place to start, with the historic photographic collection providing an excellent introduction to the history of the area. Or finish at General Store and enjoy picnicking at Bill Lyle Reserve after your walk? Pop into some of the historic buildings as you stroll along, such as Northeys store, the post office and Royal Hotel. Stop to read the signage along the way, or just close your eyes and imagine what this thriving village would have been like.

Hill End NSW

27 km away

Hill End Heritage Centre

Galleries, Museums and Collections

Hill End Heritage Centre

Located right in the centre of Hill End Historic Site, next to the General Store, this new heritage centre is the ideal starting point for your Hill End experience. Step into the beautifully restored 1950s Rural Fire Service shed, and enjoy the displays at your own pace. This self-guided centre brings the incredible characters, stories, and more than 120 years of Hill End history to life through screen projections, historic artefacts and interactive iPads. Peek into the the remains of a miner's cottage from the 1890s gold rush glory days. You can even see the old red Blitz fire truck, and an historic mining trolley. The heritage centre is wheelchair-accessible and boasts both air-conditioning and heating, making it a great all-weather attraction that's suitable for everyone.

Hill End NSW

27 km away

Bill Lyle Reserve picnic area

Natural Attractions

Bill Lyle Reserve picnic area

Located right in the heart of town, Bill Lyle Reserve picnic area, also known as Lyle Park or Lyle Reserve, is an ideal place for a picnic and a great starting point for your walking tour through the historic sites of Hill End. Grab a coffee or a snack from General Store, or pack a picnic hamper. With picnic tables and free barbecues, the reserve is a great spot to cook up a storm and enjoy a leisurely lunch. The playground will keep the kids entertained, and the local kangaroos might drop by for a visit. On the nearby creek bank, you'll find historic ruins of buildings from the glory days of the gold rush. Enjoy some great birdwatching right in the heart of town. King parrots, rosellas and a vast array of other native bird species are commonly seen in the trees above.

Hill End NSW

27 km away

Great Western Store

Historical Sites and Heritage Locations

Great Western Store

Step inside this original building and get a glimpse of what it would have been like during the heyday of the gold rush era. Imagine the daily chatter of miners looking for their fortune as they visit one of the few shops to be found along this section of Tambaroora Road. In its heyday, bullock teams travelling between Mudgee and Turon River packed the streets, and the sound of whips cracking as bullocks moved through town would have filled the air.

Hill End NSW

27 km away

Presbyterian church

Historical Sites and Heritage Locations

Presbyterian church

Hill End's heritage Presbyterian Church is a beautiful example of religious architecture of the late 1800s. It also demonstrates how religion played an important part in the gold mining communities of that time. While the church is of Gothic design, the inclusion of Romanesque details makes it distinctive and beautiful. The inclusion of the thistle motif in the church's doorway symbolises the strong Scottish support for the Presbyterian faith. Once you've had a stroll around the church, be sure to visit the Hill End Heritage Centre to discover more about the heritage wealth of Hill End's mining legacy .

Hill End NSW

27 km away

Northeys Store — Image credit: Photo: John Spencer

Historical Sites and Heritage Locations

Northeys Store

Northeys Store offers a historic insight into the Hill End township. It’s great for camping supplies, fishing licences and booking a Bald Hill Mine tour. Step inside Northeys Store and you’ll get a glimpse into the past. Just like it was during the gold rush, it’s a busy retail outlet providing supplies to adventurers and visitors to the area. It’s great for last-minute camping supplies, and if you‘re planning on fishing in the nearby creek, you can also get your fishing licence here too. This two-storey brick building, with its corrugated roof and verandah, is just one of the many historic sites you can visit as you wander around Hill End along Village walking track. It offers an insight into the daily life of this once-bustling town and a reminder of the wealth generated during the gold rush.

Hill End NSW

27 km away

Beyers Cottage

Historical Sites and Heritage Locations

Beyers Cottage

Beyers Cottage was built by the pioneering Polish miner Louis Beyers in the 1850s. Beyers was involved in the famous Holtermann Specimen discovery - the largest gold nugget found at the time. He later became the mayor of Hill End and is renowned for developing the local area. This working class cottage is a miner's dwelling relic and a great example of the wattle and daub construction technique. Once you've equipped yourself with lots of information, be sure to visit the quartz roasting pits and Valentines mine and imagine how the pioneers fossicked in search of fortune.

Hill End NSW

27 km away

Athol

Historical Sites and Heritage Locations

Athol

Athol is a lovely historic home built in townhouse-style in the late 1800s. View the faade of this heritage building. Grander than its mining-town surroundings of rusted iron and brick remains, Athol offers a peek into the wealth generated during the gold rush. If you're taking an easy walk around Hill End Historic Site, you might like to see Holtermann's Corner too. The large store was built in 1872 with the discovery of the world's largest ever gold piece 93.3 kg of pure gold.

Hill End NSW

27 km away

Hill End Historic Site

National Parks and Reserves

Hill End Historic Site

Step back in time at Hill End Historic Site and discover the enduring legacy of colonial New South Wales and the roaring early days of the gold rush. Explore the town on a self-guided tour starting at the Hill End Heritage Centre, where you'll find streetscapes and buildings with little changed since the village's 1870s goldmining heyday. Public toilets and barbeque facilities are available throughout the village, simply follow the signage. Take a virtual a tour of impressive Craigmoor House for an intriguing peek into the past. Spend a couple of days uncovering the layers of history in this remarkable area, home to a thriving community and artists' retreat. You can camp at one of two campgrounds or stay in heritage accommodation in town. Part of a living village, Hill End Historic Site is also dog-friendly with your furry friend welcome at campgrounds, picnic areas and lookouts, and on public roads and walking tracks.

Hill End NSW

27 km away

Fossicking on the Tambaroora Commons — Image credit: Bathurst Visitor Information centre

Historical Sites and Heritage Locations

Tambaroora Fossicking Area

Is there still gold in them thar hills? Find out by heading to the Tambaroora Fossicking Area, five kilometres north of the former gold-rush boom town of Hill End, to see if you can strike it lucky. To find this spot, look for the Tambaroora Fossicking Area signpost and turn left into the fossicking area on Abbots Road. When entering, do not dig on or near the Four Wheel Drive crossing. Instead, continue past the initial crossing and into the commons area to fossick. Unsure about how to pan for gold or need some advice? Contact the Bathurst Visitor Information Centre for gold-panning guides, tour guide contacts and information on where to get gold pans and equipment. Powered equipment is prohibited and all fossicking must comply with NSW fossicking regulations.

Tambaroora NSW

27 km away

Turon National Park — Image credit: Photo: D.Noble

Natural Attractions

Turon National Park

Turon National Park is great for remote bushwalking and camping, trout fishing, birdwatching, swimming, mountain biking or canoeing. If you want to really feel like you’ve gotten away from it all with a remote and rugged bush camping experience, Turon National Park is a fantastic, accessible choice. Just 45 kilometres from Lithgow and 185 kilometres north of Sydney, you can explore remote bushwalking and camping in a spectacular setting that features incredibly diverse vegetation, from wide-open eucalypt forest to silver wattles and river oaks. The park has a fascinating history, both for its role in the Australian gold mining boom and its early Aboriginal occupation, which is believed to date back thousands of years. History buffs will be intrigued by the evidence of both that is still highly visible in the park. You’ll also encounter plenty of interesting birds and animals, such as powerful owls hooting away at night and red wallabies sunning themselves on the sandstone tops during the daytime before descending to the valley at dusk.

Capertee NSW

27 km away

Golden Gully Walking Track — Image credit: Photo: John Spencer

Natural Attractions

Golden Gully Walking Track

A visit to Golden Gully makes for a fantastic experience, where you can see where massive erosion has exposed evidence of the underground warren of mines that once dotted the creek line. Golden Gully walking track is a short and easy stroll, ideal for all ages. This flat, clearly signposted walk leads to a deep gully where you’ll discover old mine shafts and the remnants of Chinese and European alluvial mining techniques. Close your eyes and you can almost hear the sounds of former goldminers searching for their fortune. In July, you’ll walk alongside magnificent wattle trees in full bloom, after which this area was named. Be sure to look out for ‘The Arch’, a striking formation created by mining, and later erosion. Keep your eye out, too, for the old cemetery. Return via the ruins of Tambaroora and Valentines mine for a picnic lunch, and relax in the shade at the nearby creek.

Hill End NSW

27 km away

Bald Hill Walking Track — Image credit: Photo: John Spencer.

Natural Attractions

Bald Hill Walking Track

Bald Hill walking track is an easy walk that meanders through open woodlands, past the historic relics of old mine workings. Situated in Hill End Historic Site, this scenic loop walk begins on Reef Street and offers an insight into the working conditions of the miners. Along the way, you’ll pass the remains of old mines, stamper batteries and dams. For a longer walk, choose to combine it with a Hill End village tour. If you want to experience what life was like underground for the miners, why not go on a tour of the nearby Bald Hill Mine? In spring, the bush is a blaze of colour, with native plant life as well as fruit trees in flower. If you enjoy birdwatching, look out for the bright colours of king parrots, rosellas, grass parrots, finches and wrens darting about in the bush.

Hill End NSW

27 km away

Bald Hill tourist mine

Historical Sites and Heritage Locations

Bald Hill tourist mine

Bald Hill mine is closed. Visitors and school groups will not be able to take a guided tour in 2026. Experience the underground world of a goldminer at Bald Hill tourist mine. A short walk or drive from Hill End, this guided tour is ideal for families and school groups. Bald Hill tourist mine offers a unique opportunity to step into an original 1870s mine shaft and experience the subterranean world of a colonial gold miner. It's easily accessible by car on the way to Beaufoy Merlin lookout, or just a short 30-minute walk along Bald Hill walking track, from the township of Hill End. It's a fantastic day trip or family excursion, and guided tours are very popular with school groups. A guided tour offers insights into the life and work of miners during the gold rush and a great introduction to the history of Hill End. You'll see demonstrations of hammer and tap mining techniques and walk down original mine shafts. Looking down the 80 metre tunnel, you can just imagine what life was like for the miners underground. If you're feeling adventurous, choose to climb the 30 metre ladder to exit via the ventilation shaft.

Hill End NSW

27 km away

Beaufoy Merlin lookout

Natural Attractions

Beaufoy Merlin lookout

Also known as 'Merlin's lookout', Beaufoy Merlin lookout is a great spot to look out over the area once known as "the richest quarter mile in the world". It's only a short drive from town or an easy walk along the road if you add it to your Hill End village tour or Bald Hill walking track. Overlooking Hawkins Hill, it's an excellent vantage point to take in the true scale of mining that took place here. A display shows how it may have looked during the mining heyday to spark your imagination. The views are spectacular, especially at sunrise and sunset when the sky is filled with vibrant colours. On winter mornings, you'll often see fog blanketing the valley, creating outstanding photography opportunities. But any time of day, it's a peaceful spot for a quiet cuppa or a picnic with beautiful views across Turon Valley.

Hill End NSW

28 km away

Valentines mine

Historical Sites and Heritage Locations

Valentines mine

Valentines mine showcases the beauty of the Australian bushland and the rich history of Hill End Historic Site. It's a short drive from Hill End's centre and a great day trip from Bathurst or Mudgee. You'll see some of the oldest mining remnants in Australia. There's a mining water tank and a stamper battery that was used to crush quartz to prepare it for gold separation. These artefacts give a colourful insight into what the mine may have looked like while operating. After you've seen the mine, have a relaxing picnic in the shade of native cherry trees, surrounded by wildflowers.

Tambaroora NSW

28 km away

Bald Hill lookout

Natural Attractions

Bald Hill lookout

Bald Hill lookout is about a 3km drive from the Hill End town centre and a great place to relax and enjoy the sunset. Be prepared for gusty winds as you travel up high to the lookout and view over the gorgeous countryside scenery of Hill End. You might want to bring some blankets to keep yourself warm in cooler months so you can stay and watch the sun set to the west. There is some seating atop the summit, so be sure to bring a hamper to enjoy a picnic with scenic views. If you’re staying at Glendora campground, this lookout is a short distance from here. And more than likely, you’ll probably see some local kangaroos.

Hill End NSW

28 km away

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