The whole Mudgee area is part of Wiradjuri country. The Wiradjuri language group is the largest in New South Wales, covering much of the west of the state.

Dunns Swamp (Wollemi NP)

The area is rich in Aboriginal heritage. Hand stencils can be seen in a small sandstone overhang within the camping area.

Hands on the Rock, Ulan

This Wiradjuri rock art site with hand stencils is reached by a short walking track off Cassilis Road.

Dunns Swamp (Wollemi NP)

The Dunns Swamp camping area is rightly very popular for the diversity of activities it offers - so get in early during the holidays! Basic facilities and a variety of sites both near the water and set back into the forest. Relax, swim, canoe, walking, spot wildlife, explore the pagodas. Camping and park entry fees apply.

Facilities:

• camping
• picnic
• walking
• toilets
• canoe
• swim
• wheelchair
• fees

You can also camp in Goulburn River National Park and at Cudgegong Waters Park on Windamere Dam. Fees apply.

The still waters of Dunns Swamp in Wollemi National Park provide beautiful paddling past reeds and between rock pagodas. A wide variety of waterbirds add to the attractions. Canoes can be hired on-site during weekends and holidays in spring and summer.

Windamere Dam is another excellent venue for canoeing.

Mudgee Museum

Situated in the old West End Hotel building (1870s) and depicting the life and times of Mudgee and district. Open every day (02 6372 3078).

Gulgong Pioneer Museum

Houses perhaps the finest collection of Australiana in the country, a fully restored Cobb & Co coach and other horse-drawn vehicles. Open every day (02 6374 2394).

Henry Lawson Centre, Gulgong

Gulgong's Salvation Army Hall (1922) houses an exhibition on the famous writer's life. Open every day (02 6374 2049).

Kandos Bicentennial Industrial Museum, Kandos

General collections with an emphasis on domestic, agricultural and railway themes. Special collections on the Lady Bushranger and Boer and Vietnam Wars. Open weekends and public holidays or by appointment (02 6372 1020).

Mudgee Town Arboretum

A collection of local trees off Market Street. Open any time.

The National Parks Discovery program provides a range of guided activities at Dunns Swamp during school holidays (02 4787 8877). Guided boat trips are also available at various times.

The region boasts a wide range of general tours, as well as more specialised winery tours.

Prince of Wales Opera House, Gulgong

The oldest (1871) still-operating opera house in eh Southern Hemisphere is owned by the Gulgong Amateur Musical and Dramatical Society. Open for inspection by appointment (02 6374 1614).

Mudgee Town Walk

A tour through the historic townscape, taking in Robertson and Lawson Parks, the old Rural Bank, the Mechanics' Institute, St John the Baptist Anglican Church and St Mary's Catholic Church (02 6372 1020).

Gulgong Town Trail

This walk highlights historically significant and well-preserved buildings dating from 1870 to 1910. A pamphlet (small charge) is available from the Mudgee or Gulgong Visitor Centres (02 6374 1202).

The best mountain bike tour in the region is perhaps along the Bicentennial National Trail, which provides for walkers and horse-riders as well as cyclists. The route goes from Widden Brook south to Glen Davis via Dunns Swamp.

Both the National Parks Discovery activities and the guided boat tours at Dunns Swamp are both excellent opportunities to learn more about the local environment.

A display at Dunns Swamp provides detailed information on the local landscape, flora, fauna and Aboriginal heritage.

There are no overnight walks on tracks in this part of the World Heritage Area, however the Bicentennial National Trail (which extends 5,330 km from Cooktown to Victoria) can be traversed from Widden Brook in the Hunter, over Nullo Mountain, past Dunns Swamp and on to Glen Davis in the Capertee Valley. Much of the route is on vehicle trails, and Dunns Swamp is a suitable overnight stop.

Experienced off-track bushwalkers can explore the wilderness of Wollemi National Park and the gorges of Goulburn River National Park.

Apart from the many delightful picnic choices in the town parks of the region, the conservation reserves offer some more rustic alternatives.

Dunns Swamp (Wollemi NP)

The day use area at Dunns Swamp is excellent for a picnic combined with a swim, walk or paddle - or all three! Park entry fee applies.

Facilities:

• camping
• picnic
• walking
• toilets
• canoe
• swim
• wheelchair
• fees

Ferntree Gully Environmental Reserve

The carpark and track head provide picnic facilities in a quiet setting off the Bylong Valley Way.

Facilities:

• picnic
• walking
• toilets

Munghorn Gap Nature Reserve (5,934 hectares)

The pleasant Moolarben picnic area is shaded by large rough-barked apples. It lies beside Wollar Road as it passes through the reserve, on the northern side of the Great Divide.

Facilities:

• picnic
• walking
• BBQ

Many of the finest views in the region are from the roads, which lie mostly in the valleys looking up into the mountains.

Two lookouts in Ferntree Gully Environmental Reserve are only a short walk from the car, and give views over the gorge and sandstone formations.

Dunns Swamp (Wollemi NP)

Several walking tracks fan out from the camping area beside the waterway. All are moderate in grade and range in length from 500 metres (15 min.) to 5.5 km (2 hours). Explore pagodas, shorelines, forests and woodlands. The Campsite Rocks circuit passes an Aboriginal art site and is wheelchair accessible.

Facilities:

• moderate

Ferntree Gully Environmental Reserve

The best walk here is a one-hour, 2 km circuit which takes in both the cliff top lookout track and the gully track. Highlights are the two lookouts over the gorge and the rainforest boardwalk in the depths of the gully. Use the map on the sign in the picnic area to plan your walk.

Facilities:

• moderate

Castle Rocks (Munghorn Gap NR)

From the point where the Wollar Road crosses Munghorn Gap (and the Great Divide), Castle Rocks is an easy 8 km return walk to an area of sandstone pagoda formations with spectacular views to the south.

Town walks

Both Mudgee and Gulgong have walks exploring the many historic buildings and other features.