The Fossickers Way Visitor Guide Volume 1 | Page 12

Barraba

for two other mining villages
(Woodsreef and Gulf Creek)
that were located near Barraba
and were about the same
size, but have since been
abandoned. Diatomite is still
mined around Bell’s Mountain.

MOUNT KAPUTAR
NATIONAL PARK

L

ocated midway along the
Fossickers Way, Barraba
is nestled in the heart of
the Nandewar Ranges and is
surrounded by natural beauty.
Straddling the Peel Fault,
a geological fault line that
runs from north to south, the
district is an exceptional area
for fossicking and gem hunting.
Barraba has many natural
attractions, from towering
mountains and ancient rock
formations, to rare flora and
fauna species. Climbing nearby
Mt Kaputar by 4WD or foot
affords breathtaking views,
while Horton Falls is quite a
splash, plummeting 83m to the
valley floor.
The Barraba area is
renowned for birdwatching,
which can be enjoyed along
any of the 14 ‘bird routes’

in the area, a natural tourism
attraction that won the region
an award for environmental
tourism.
Split Rock Dam is located
15km south of Barraba and,
along with the local rivers,
the district offers fishing for
Murray cod, golden and silver
perch, and catfish. Split Rock
Dam is also a wonderful
facility for water-sports and
other activities such as sailing,
water skiing and camping.
In the 1850s, gold was
discovered at Woodsreef,
Ironbark and Nangahrah
creeks and at Crow Mountain,
which in its time made way

Did
you

know?

Barraba is a rich beef
growing area home to many
of the country’s leading
cattle studs

12

A rugged island of wilderness
towering high above the
surrounding Western Plains, Mount
Kaputar National Park is the
footprint left behind by a series of
volcanic eruptions that moved
across this area between 17 and 21
million years ago.
Worth exploring is the 4WD-only
Barraba Track, which runs to the
summit of Mt Kaputar via some of the
most westerly rainforest in the state
before reaching an altitude of 1510m
at the summit. From there, on a clear
day you can see an almost
unbelievable 10 per cent of NSW.
Stop past to check out Horton
Falls, located just off the track and
plummeting a stunning 83m.

fast

facts
• The beautiful Playhouse Hotel,
where you can enjoy a meal and
theatre performance, is housed
in premises formerly known as
the Central Hotel, the oldest of
Barraba’s four pubs
• If the kids fancy a break
from fossicking, the Barraba
Swimming Pool is an excellent
example of a country pool, with
a water slide and huge pool toys
available