ARSENIC & OLD MATE THUNDERBOLT

THE RUGGED GRANITE COUNTRY OF NORTHERN NSW HAS BEEN HOME TO BUSHRANGERS, MINERS AND PASTORALÍSTS. THE NATURAL SCENERY ALONE IS SPECTACULAR, AS IS THIS REGION'S HISTORY

- KEV SMITH

THE Granite Belt in northern NSW is known for its wineries, Celtic culture and cool, crisp air. But did you know there’s a great drive where you can explore historical mines, spectacular scenery, checkout local bushranger hideouts along the way, plus great campsites tucked away?

With very cool winters on the tablelands and stifling summers, I decided to explore the region northwest of Glen Innes in early spring hoping for a little colour and to miss the extreme temps that frequent this area. Glen Innes is a funky little town with boutique gift shops, great bakeries, and heritage-listed buildings and has most of the services that you would find in larger towns.

There are several tourist drives that run around the town, and a great drive is tourist drive number 11 but with a twist. After restocking supplies and fuel at Glen Innes, the road northwest towards Emmaville is a nice introduction to the area’s wonderful grazing land. It’s a typical English-looking area with tree-lined windbreaks defining fence lines, sheep-filled paddocks, plus boutique wineries offering tourists wine tastings. The road to Emmaville is tar for its 40km length, but as it leaves the flat fertile grazing land it twists and weaves its way over several ranges where you need to be on the lookout for feral goats, ’roos and deer beside the unfenced road.