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Coonabarabran New South Wales Australia

Coonabarabran Clock Tower

Coonabarabran

We used Coonabarabran as a base for exploring the local area.  You will need to be aware that on the way there, you will have to slow down in several sections of the road due to cattle grazing on the sides.  There are also lots of kangaroos.  We stayed one night in town and the days either side in the surrounding countryside.

Coonabarabran Location
Coonabarabran Location

On the drive there, we stopped for lunch at Coolah which is a great little town with very friendly residents. There are several cafes and pubs to choose from for lunch or quick snacks.

Coolah Valley Hotel
Coolah Valley Hotel

Once in Coonabarabran we visited the places listed below.  To read the full story for each, please click on the link.

Visitor Information Centre

In town  we looked at the visitor information centre. The staff there were very friendly and suggested some of the places we ended up visiting. In the centre there is a display of local aboriginal artifacts as well as a skeleton of a diprotodon; a type of giant extinct marsupial, and some great history of the fires that went through the town.  The town is busy with a lot of traffic going through it.

Diprotodon Skull at the Visitors' Centre Coonabarabran
Diprotodon Skull at the Visitors’ Centre

Coonabarabran

In town had a look at the town clock in the centre of the main street.

Coonabarabran Clock Tower
Coonabarabran Clock Tower

Nearby is a sundial, which is easy to get to, as parking is good.  The sundial was presented to the shire for the 35th anniversary of the Anglo Australian Telescope.

Sphere Sundial Coonabarabran
Sphere Sundial Coonabarabran

The scenery around the town is great, ranging from forests to grazing properties and mountains.

Scenic View Coonabarabran
Scenic View
Scenic View Near Coonabarabran
Scenic View

As you drive around, take a look at the post boxes on the side of the road.  They are very interesting, varying from astronomical themes to Science fiction.

Mailbox Coonabarabran
Mailbox

Baradine and the Pilliga Forest

Baradine in the Pilliga has the Pilliga Forest Discovery Centre where you can learn about the forest that surrounds the town. The staff were very helpful and gave us directions to the Sculptures in the Scrub, which are nearby. The road into Baradine and to the Sculptures was all dirt road and in places was very rough. When you travel be aware of this and travel to conditions and check the road condition beforehand.

Pilliga Forest Discovery Centre Baradine
Pilliga Forest Discovery Centre Baradine

We noticed this great building driving through Baradine. It is a memorial hall to the Servicemen of World War One. The inscription is latin – faithful unto death.

Baradine & District Soldiers Memorial Hall near Coonabarabran
Baradine & District Soldiers Memorial Hall

Drought

On the trip home, we were reminded of the impact from the drought when we came across cattle grazing on the side of the road, as this is the only feed left for them.

Cattle Grazing on the Road Coonabarabran
Cattle Grazing on the Road

To see what else there is to do in New South Wales, please see some of our other stories.

Pilliga Pottery Coonabarabran New South Wales

Sign Post For Pilliga Pottery Pilliga Pottery www.destinationsjourney.com

As with many great artistic retreats, Pilliga Pottery is located in a quiet out-of-the-way location. Despite this, it is easy to find, and the dirt road into it was well maintained when we went.

The Road into Pilliga Pottery Pilliga Pottery www.destinationsjourney.com
The Road into Pilliga Pottery

Our first stop was the restaurant where we purchased some home-made scones with jam and cream to eat and drinks before we walked around the show room. It was cold outside, coming into the restaurant was also very nice and warm due to the kilns being close by.

A small show room next to their restaurant displays some of the products made there.  There was a nice range of quality pottery at good prices. It was a really relaxed welcoming environment with no pressure to buy anything.

Pilliga Pottery www.destinationsjourney.com
Car Park and Entrance

You are also encouraged to walk through the workshop and talk to some of the artists , and see how things are made, which was very interesting.

For other places to see in New South Wales, please read some of our other stories.

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Sculptures in the Scrub Coonabarabran

First Lesson Sculptures in the Scrub Pilliga Stae Forest Coonabarabran www.destinationsjourney.com

Sculptures in the Scrub is located in the Pilliga State Forest to the north of Coonabarabran. The road in is dirt and when we went was badly corrugated. Be careful of the road conditions with respect to your type of car as it may be dangerous in the wet.  There are two section to this walk. The first follows the top of the ridge where the sculptures are located, while the second winds around the base and then leads back to the car park (you can get a different perspective of the sculptures from the bottom level). 

Five artists have work displayed here in a unique bush environment, with each piece taking advantage of its natural setting to enhance its beauty. As you walk along the bush tracks, you come across each sculpture in turn. 

Scrub Spirits Sculptures in the Scrub Pilliga Stae Forest Coonabarabran www.destinationsjourney.com
Scrub Spirits
Scrub Spirits Sculptures in the Scrub Pilliga Stae Forest Coonabarabran www.destinationsjourney.com
Hunting Sticks
First Lesson Sculptures in the Scrub Pilliga Stae Forest Coonabarabran www.destinationsjourney.com
First Lesson
Yuunda - Axe Sculptures in the Scrub Pilliga Stae Forest Coonabarabran www.destinationsjourney.com
Yuunda – Axe
Respect Mother Sculptures in the Scrub Pilliga Stae Forest Coonabarabran www.destinationsjourney.com
Respect Mother

Each sculpture has an information board detailing its meaning and significance to the local aboriginal people.

The bronze of the aboriginal man and child can also be viewed from the base of the escarpment, giving you a second perspective on this sculpture.

First Lesson From Below Sculptures in the Scrub Pilliga Stae Forest Coonabarabran www.destinationsjourney.com
First Lesson From Below

Sculptures in the Scrub was an easy and fun walk in the bush with something different to look at along the way.

For other places to visit in New South Wales, please read some of our other stories.

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