Wingham

History & heritage 

Take the Wingham Heritage Walk, a 5km path through the historic town centre and beyond to the river. The self-guided walk takes around two hours to complete and includes the school of arts (1907), the post office (1884, the courthouse (1938) and the police station (1909). A brochure with the route can be obtained from the Historical Society Museum in Farquhar Street. 

Explore Wingham’s eventful and sometimes dark history at The Wingham Museum overlooking the central park, with a wide range of artefacts from its past. Most notably, the museum houses the original cell where Aboriginal bushranger, Jimmy Blacksmith, was housed following his capture by local settlers – an event made famous by author Thomas Keneally in his book (and subsequent film) ‘The Chant of Jimmy Blacksmith’. 

Manning Valley Historical Society and Wingham Museum, Wingham

Nature walks 

Walk from town to the Wingham Brush Nature Reserve, a rich and rare rainforest that is home to a colony of grey-headed flying foxes and fig trees. A wheelchair-accessible boardwalk links to several walking tracks through the nature reserve. 

Wingham is a great base for visiting nearby natural attractions. Take a scenic 50-minute drive north to the spectacular Ellenborough Falls, one of the Southern Hemisphere’s longest single-drop waterfalls. In the Tapin Tops National Park, the Rowleys Peak lookout provides panoramic views after a heart-pumping 45-minute trek to the top. 

Ellenborough Falls near Elands, Forster

Festivals

In October the three-day Wingham Music Festival is a celebration of artistic expression, culture, and community. Featuring local and established musicians, the festival takes place in the historic Wingham Showground.

Wingham Music Festival, Wingham - Credit: Merryl Kemp Photography

Fresh produce 

The countryside around Wingham has rich farmland amid rolling hills. For tasty local produce, try Bent on Food, a cafe, restaurant and shop. The Wingham Farmers Market is on the first Saturday of the month and the Hub Markets Wingham on the third, both offering fresh locally grown produce.  

Bent on Food, Wingham

Where to stay 

Accommodation options include motels, guesthouses and farm stays. Surrounded by ancient rainforests and eucalypt forests, Dingo Tops campground makes for a beautiful and secluded site to base yourself for explorations in Tapin Tops National Park. 

BellbirdHill Bed and Breakfast, Wingham - Credit: Peter Trood

Getting there  

By car, Wingham is three hours and 45 minutes north from Sydney and a two hours from Newcastle Airport, which services all the major Australian cities. Coaches and trains also run from Sydney, via Newcastle. You can make this a memorable stop on a North Coast road trip.