Streetscapes, MoreeCredit: Destination NSW
Mural on a local store located on Heber Street in Moree.
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In the heart of the enchanting Gwydir Valley, 635km northwest of Sydney, Moree is perhaps best known for its artesian hot springs. Whether you visit as part of a road trip or take a direct flight from Sydney, there’s plenty more to see and do in this vibrant regional New South Wales town once you’ve finished soaking in the heavenly mineral baths.
Soak in Moree’s hot artesian springs
Plan a relaxing day in the zinc-and-magnesium-rich waters of Moree Artesian Aquatic Centre’s legendary hot mineral baths. If you can handle the heat, slide into the Active Spa — its rejuvenating 40°C water has been pumped up 868m from the Great Artesian Basin below. The 38°C Passive Spa is a more temperate choice for some. Alternatively, soak in solitude in the aquatic centre’s private Artesian Wellness Centre. Recline on an underwater jet-massage bed, brave the cold plunge pool and then sweat it out in the sauna. Or treat yourself to a ‘scrub-and-nurture’ session at the day spa. Meanwhile, kids can wear themselves out in the ‘hydroplay’ area, riding the 10m-high waterslide.
Follow the Moree art trails
Moree’s art gallery trail is a cluster of five galleries showcasing local Aboriginal art from the Kamilaroi Nation as well as a collection of works from modern artists across regional NSW. Not-for-profit Yaama Ganu Centre sources its inspirational works from Aboriginal art centres across Australia. If you buy any of the social enterprise’s stunning dot paintings, carvings or homewares, profits go directly to these communities. In-house Café Gali trains young talent in the art of whipping up indulgent treats and light lunches.
Bank Art Museum Moree (BAMM) hosts touring exhibitions as well as a vast collection of local art and one of the most prolific assortments of Aboriginal cultural items in NSW. The Moree, Mehi and Sisters Under the Skin galleries all add their own character and style to the trail. Street art fans should not miss the dancing brolgas and surrealist interpretations on the 15-stop Moree Art Mural Trail.
Moree Artesian Aquatic Centre (MAAC) Credit: Destination NSW
Couple enjoying a relaxing visit to the Moree Artesian Aquatic Centre.
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Moree Artesian Aquatic Centre (MAAC) Credit: Destination NSW
Couple enjoying a relaxing visit to the Moree Artesian Aquatic Centre.
Moree Artesian Aquatic Centre, Moree Credit: Destination NSW
Children enjoying the waterpark at Moree Artesian Aquatic Centre.
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Moree Artesian Aquatic Centre, Moree Credit: Destination NSW
Children enjoying the waterpark at Moree Artesian Aquatic Centre.
Walk the Moree walks
Join the guided Moree History Tour to marvel over some of regional Australia’s best-preserved Art Deco architectural gems. The iconic rendered-brick clock tower of the former Moree Council Chambers (now a TAFE vocational education campus), circa 1902, is the pièce de résistance. The self-guided Moree Heritage Trail (pick up a pamphlet from the Moree Visitor Information Centre on Alice Street) tells the town’s fascinating story through 14 landmarks, from a charming 1920s pub to a rotunda of note. A stroll through Moree Botanic Gardens, on the Mehi River’s southern banks, is the perfect end to your day.
Explore the Gwydir Valley’s black-soil plains
O’Dempsey’s Tours hosts Moree’s nuttiest day trip: a visit to the largest pecan farm in the southern hemisphere, encompassing 105,000 trees on 700 hectares. Aim to visit Stahmann Farms’ Trawalla pecan farm during harvest time to witness the huge Transformer-like loppers, toppers and shakers dislodging the tasty nuts from their 25m-high perches. Melissa O’Dempsey’s homemade pecan-and-date slice is another highlight.
When there’s been good rain, take a scenic drive 70km northwest to Gwydir Wetlands Waterbird Lagoon for a glimpse of up to 75 species of feathered friends, from whistling ducks to white-bellied sea eagles. Check road conditions with the Moree Visitor Information Centre before setting off.
Bank Art Museum Moree (BAMM) Credit: Destination NSW
Facade of the Bank Art Museum Moree, located in the previous home of the Commercial Banking Co. of Sydney (built 1911).
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Bank Art Museum Moree (BAMM) Credit: Destination NSW
Facade of the Bank Art Museum Moree, located in the previous home of the Commercial Banking Co. of Sydney (built 1911).
Pecan Farm, Moree Credit: Destination NSW
Pecan trees ready to be harvested in Moree.
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Pecan Farm, Moree Credit: Destination NSW
Pecan trees ready to be harvested in Moree.
More Inspirational Stories
Art Gallery of New South Wales, SydneyCredit: Destination NSW
Friends enjoying a visit the the Art Gallery of New South Wales in Sydney.
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Come alive with the possibilities as you delve into Sydney’s dynamic arts scene and cultural institutions. Feel moved as you immerse in striking contemporary artworks at public and private galleries, and take in cutting-edge performances and exhibitions across the city.
Be moved by must-see cultural landmarks
Marvel at the ‘sails’ of the Sydney Opera House as you approach this iconic performing arts venue, then join one of several fascinating tours on offer here. Discover the building’s unique history and construction on an Architectural Tour, or go behind the scenes on a Backstage Tour. See a show from an ever-changing program of theatre, dance and music in one of the venue’s many impressive performance spaces, then head to the Opera Bar to take in the front-of-house harbour view as you enjoy seasonal fare and a refreshing drink.
Appreciate the striking art deco façade and waterfront location of the Museum of Contemporary Art (MCA), across the water from the Sydney Opera House at Explore the diversity of Australian modern art as you view highlights of a collection of more than 4,000 works, including a significant body of works by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander artists. Take time out and digest the wonderful works you’ve just seen as you enjoy panoramic views across Sydney Harbour from the museum’s rooftop café.
Feel far away from the bustle of the city centre as you enter the Domain parklands next to the Royal Botanic Garden Sydney and make your way to the Art Gallery of New South Wales, the leading museum of art in the state. Step back in time to view colonial and 19th-century Australian works and European masters, as well as a dedicated gallery of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander art. Then explore Sydney Modern, the AGNSW’s dynamic new addition, to discover site-specific works by leading Australian and international artists.
Royal Botanic Gardens, Sydney Credit: Destination NSW
Friends enjoy a tour in the Royal Botanic Gardens, Sydney
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Royal Botanic Gardens, Sydney Credit: Destination NSW
Friends enjoy a tour in the Royal Botanic Gardens, Sydney
Museum of Contemporary Art Australia, The Rocks Credit: Destination NSW
Friends arriving outside the Museum of Contemporary Art Australia in The Rocks, Sydney...Artwork: Moon in a Dew Drop.Artist: Lindy Lee
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Museum of Contemporary Art Australia, The Rocks Credit: Destination NSW
Friends arriving outside the Museum of Contemporary Art Australia in The Rocks, Sydney...Artwork: Moon in a Dew Drop.Artist: Lindy Lee
Immerse in art in cutting-edge galleries
Lose track of time as you explore a myriad of inner-Sydney art galleries. Delight in a dip into one of the world’s most significant collections of Chinese contemporary art at the White Rabbit Gallery in Chippendale, on the fringe of the city centre. Be intrigued by the selection from philanthropist Judith Neilson’s collection of almost 3,000 works created in China since 2000 by around 750 artists, before taking in the tranquil vibe at the gallery’s Teahouse as you snack on handmade dumplings and fine Chinese and Taiwanese tea. (You can also plan ahead and enter the ballot for tickets to cutting-edge performances at Phoenix Central Park, Judith Neilson’s risk-taking cultural centre a short walk from White Rabbit Gallery.)
Lean into the grand scale of Carriageworks, a multi-arts centre housed in expansive former railway workshops in Eveleigh, a five-minute drive or around a 15-minute walk from White Rabbit Gallery. Keep an eye on Carriageworks’ events page for visual arts exhibitions and new performance works.
Take your time exploring the many art galleries dotted around the hip inner-city suburb of Surry Hills. Enter the fascinating world of significant Australian artist Brett Whiteley at Brett Whiteley Studio, tucked away in a side street off Crown Street, one of the main streets running through Surry Hills. Take in the singular atmosphere of the late artist’s former home and workplace, with its unfinished paintings, art equipment, books and graffiti wall of quotes and images, and view one of the changing exhibitions of the artist’s works.
Find yourself challenged and stimulated by the conceptual and design-driven art at independent Surry Hills gallery China Heights, then take the short walk under the train tracks to 4A Centre for Contemporary Asian Art in Haymarket. Learn about the Asian diaspora in Australia via contemporary art at this fascinating gallery run by the non-profit Asian Australian Artists’ Association Inc.
Thrill to a sense of discovery as you find leading commercial art galleries tucked away in the leafy streets of Paddington in Sydney’s inner east. Roam the side streets of this fashionable suburb to find the likes of Saint Cloche, where gallery director Kitty Clark fosters the city’s emerging artistic talents; Roslyn Oxley9 Gallery, one of the most influential commercial art galleries in Australia; and Olsen, founded by Tim Olsen to represent the late John Olsen, one of the country’s greatest painters, and showcase contemporary Australian artists.
White Rabbit Gallery, Chippendale Credit: Destination NSW
Women walking through an exhibition at the White Rabbit Gallery, Chippendale.
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White Rabbit Gallery, Chippendale Credit: Destination NSW
Women walking through an exhibition at the White Rabbit Gallery, Chippendale.
Brett Whiteley Studio, Surry Hills Credit: James Horan; Destination NSW
Brett Whiteley Studio in Surry Hills
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Brett Whiteley Studio, Surry Hills Credit: James Horan; Destination NSW
Brett Whiteley Studio in Surry Hills