Murrurundi is a beautiful country town in the NSW Upper Hunter Valley. The town has many lovely historical buildings, some nice cafes and has a wonderful selection of art galleries.
The Eye of the Needle Bush Walk
We started our day at Murrurundi with a walk to the Eye of the Needle. At around 90 minutes return, it is a nice bush walk with great scenery and rewarding views at the summit. The walk starts at Paradise Park where there is a nice picnic area and toilet facilities. The rock formations here and along the track are very interesting, consisting of large exposed rock faces and boulders.
The track is well-marked with red and yellow arrows, depending the route taken. At times it can be rough and slippery underfoot. Many of the rocks are a conglomerate and when weathered, form pebbles which can slip as you walk on them.
The Eye Of the Needle is a large crack in the rock face that you climb through. It is steep and narrow. This means that it can be difficult to climb. We took our time and got through OK. At the top the track is fairly flat to the lookout where you are rewarded with great views over the countryside and Murrurundi.
Exploring Around Town
Returning to town, we made our way to the buildings that interested us. The first stop was St Joseph’s Catholic Church.
After this a stop at the train station took us up to the pedestrian overpass for a high level view of the buildings. The station is well maintained and the buildings all looked like they had recently been painted.
We then passed the Railway Hotel, and Anglican Church before parking in the Main Street and exploring on foot. We walked past the White Hart Hotel, and as far as the Royal Hotel. There are many interesting buildings along the way. Next to the old Literary Institute which is now a museum is a monument to Peter Norvill. He was a local who achieved many Australian flying records.
The local tourist information is located near here. So, if you are not sure what else to see, drop in and see the friendly staff.
Coffee Cakes and Art
We found a great little café selling home-made cakes and sat down for a break for a snack and coffee. Nelliebelles Bake And Cake Cafe had some delicious cakes and they went down well with the coffee. We had missed the pedestrian swing bridge and the people there gave us directions. Making our way to the bridge, we walked over it and yes it does bounce with each step you take. Just up from here was the old police station and adjoining court-house.
Our last stop before going home was Michael Reid’s Murrurundi Gallery. The setting is a work of art in itself and the interior of the two buildings is full of art.
We had a great time in Murrurundi, from the bush walk to the exploring around town and the refreshments.
To see what else there is to do in the Hunter Valley, please see some of our other stories.