Hill End is a former gold mining town located in the Bathurst regional area of New South Wales, approximately 280km northwest of Sydney.

Hill End boomed for a short while during a mid nineteenth century gold rush, but today is home to just a handful of residents operating the town’s basic services, tourist facilities and museum.

Hill End is about a four-hour drive from the New South Wales capital and is well positioned for a weekend getaway for Sydneysiders.

As well as checking out the region’s gold mining and artistic history, there’s also some interesting 4WDing that can be undertaken in the region as well as a couple of great spots to set up camp for a night or two.

STUFF TO DO

4WDING is actually quite popular in the area, with the Bridle Track being a well known, if fairly gentle offroad drive that passes through some very pretty country between Duramana, to the north of Bathurst, right through to the Hill End town centre.

While the track begins as a narrow, sealed road, it’s unsealed dirt for much of its length and the last 20km are only wide enough for a single vehicle.

GOLD FOSSICKING or panning is a very popular activity with visitors to Hill End, with several older members of the local community running regular gold panning tours.

While metal detectors and fossicking are not allowed within the historical site in the town centre, there’s a designated fossicking area located just out of town down the Mudgee Road.

IMPORTANT INFO

LOCATION: Hill End is located approximately 280km northwest of Sydney and can be reached in around four hours drive, via the M2 Motorway and the Goulburn-Ilford Rd.

CAMPING is available in the Hill End area at The Village and Glendora campgrounds. Both campgrounds offer visitors toilets and showers, picnic tables, fresh water and barbeque facilities.

FUEL is available in Orange, Bathurst and Sydney.

MORE INFO is available at www.nationalparks.nsw.gov.au