Barraba
Only 45 kilometres north of Manilla is the town of Barraba... a true hidden gem of the New England North West and part of the well known 'Fossickers Way'.
Situated on the Manilla River, the Barraba district offers an array of fantastic fishing, water sport locations and recreational areas. Barraba lies 499 metres high in the heart of the Nandewar Range. Visitors can bushwalk or 4WD along the Barraba Track to the summit of the spectacular 1510 metre high Mount Kaputar, passing through rugged rainforest and spectacular mountain scenery to arrive at the plateau of an extinct volcano.
Barraba is a famous bird watching region and was the first area to produce its own Bird Routes in Australia. The Bird Routes utilise old droving roads now known as travelling stock routes and all 14 are signposted. Over 190 species of birds have been seen in the Barraba region, with the endangered Regent Honeyeater the most sought after by twitchers.
Barraba is also the home of the endangered Boronia ruppii, a rare plant species only found in the Barraba district and is also home to some of the most westerly Remnant Rainforest in the state.
A visit to Barraba wouldn't be complete without a visit to Horton Falls which cascades 83 metres to the valley floor. Located in some of the most remnant rainforest in western NSW you can camp in natural bushlands, relax with a swim or bushwalk through nature.
If you are passing through town at the right time you may be able to take part in any number of annual events held in Barraba. Annually in November, ‘The Barraba International Festival' celebrates a different global culture. The Barraba Festival is a celebration of music, markets, street theatre and parades and in December, Upper Horton holds one of NSW's largest rodeo and sporting events.
Visit Barraba any day of the week and you are sure to enjoy the surrounds of this welcoming town. Experience the mystique of Barraba's history of bushrangers, experience the Heritage Walk, visit the Fuller Gallery and The Clay Pan and sample local arts and crafts or take a step back to the early 1890's with a visit to the Barraba Historical Museum.
