Armidale is a small city (population 24,500 in 2018) in the New England region of the Australian state of New South Wales and is Australia's highest city in terms of altitude. The picturesque city is noted for its colonial-era architecture, centres of education and culture and the nearby wilderness and gorge country.
Photos: Wikimedia Commons contributors.
Armidale is a place of four seasons. The winters are very cold, with snow sometimes falling in the winter months and overnight temperatures below freezing. The old English-style gardens in the area blossom in spring, as the firs, willows and oaks in town and in the University of New England grounds sprout new leaves. In autumn, the town celebrates the changing colours of the trees with an Autumn Festival, which includes a street parade down the main boulevards. But it is summer that is arguably the best time to visit Armidale.
The historic centre of Armidale is small enough to be easily covered on foot. However, some attractions (the University and the New England Regional Art Museum) are on the outskirts of town, making access difficult for the less-mobile traveller. A bus service (Edwards) does run frequently between the town centre and the University, but the best way to explore the town and surrounding countryside is by car. Car hire is available on arrival at the airport. Taxi services are also widely available. Getting between the town and the university is an easy cycle, with bicycle lanes on the roads and quiet traffic.
1 New England Regional Art Museum, 106 - 114 Kentucky St, ☏ +61 2 6772 5255. Home to the Howard Hinton collection. Visit the area's historic churches around Central Park, including the magnificent Saints Mary & Joseph Catholic Cathedral, impressive St Peter’s Anglican Cathedral, and somewhat smaller St Paul’s Presbyterian Church. 2 Saumarez Homestead. Fully furnished 30-room 1906 house with pleasant gardens. House can only be entered with guided tours run on weekends and public holidays. (updated Apr 2018) City views from Drummond Apex Lookout 3 Central Park, 125 Dangar St. A park with well kept gardens and pine trees. (updated Nov 2020) 4 Black Mountain.
Stroll in Armidale's many parks and gardens. Swim at the heated outdoor pool on Dumaresq Street from October to March. Work out at the excellent sporting facilities at the University of New England. Join the free daily heritage bus tour at 10AM from the Visitors Centre Catch a movie at the Belgrave twin cinemas [1]. Feed the deer and kangaroos at the enclosure at the University. 1 Armidale Pine Forest (Piney), Rockvale Road, ☏ +61 2 6777 4100. Peaceful forest with many walking and mountain biking tracks. (updated Jan 2020) Armidale Self-Guided Heritage Walk.
1 The Armidale Ex-Services, 137 Dumaresq Street, ☏ +61 2 6772 1366. Mon-Thu 10AM-11PM; Fri Sat 10AM-midnight, Sun 10AM-10PM. This club has a reasonably-priced range of meals and drinks. (updated Dec 2016)
Armidale perhaps enjoys a livelier nightlife than many towns of its size, due to the large university student population from UNE. It has a selection of nearly 10 pubs to choose from. Each one has a nickname with the locals and students, and knowing the name on the door of the pub won't help you in conversation. Moving between two or three pubs in a night is not uncommon, and running into the same people at another pub later on happens. New England Hotel (in the centre of town, right on the main mall). Blow the froth off a couple of coldies. 1 The Welder's Dog, 120 Marsh St,, ☏ +61 421 600 849. Craft beers with experimental flavours. (updated Jan 2020)
Guide content from Wikivoyage contributors (CC BY-SA) — abridged; the full article has much more.
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