Scone

	SCONE
Mare & Foal Statue Elizabeth Park Scone Photo - Craigmhor Enterprises

LOCATION

Situated on the New England Highway Scone is

2 hrs north of Newcastle, 1 ½ hours south of Tamworth

Scone, known as the ‘Horse Capital of Australia’, is surrounded by

horse studs and National Parks

CLIMATE

Spring and Autumn are pleasant sunny days and cool nights.

Winter is brisk and invigorating with frosty mornings.

Summer has hot days with long pleasant evenings once the sun goes down

FACILITIES

Scone offers a great range of services and facilities including

	Hospital
	Medical Centre
	Library
	CBD
	Swimming Pool
	Scone Sports Complex – catering for many team sports such as touch football, netball, hockey, cricket and soccer.
	Scone Park – caters for rugby league, tennis, basketball and Skateboarding.
	Scone Bowling Club and Scone RSL Club have excellent lawn bowls greens.
	Scone Golf Club maintain a magnificent 9 hole golf course.
	White Park caters mainly for equestrian sports such as pony club, dressage, campdraft and rodeo.
	Visitor Information & Wine Centre
	Accommodation to suit all - 5 hotels, 5 motels, 2 caravan parks, B&Bs all in town and for those interested in a rural setting there are Country Houses, Retreats , B&Bs, self contained cottages - eg Lake Glenbawn Holiday Cottages, cabins and camping grounds

THINGS TO DO - PLACES TO SEE

IN & AROUND SCONE

Barrington Tops National Park

Scone is the North western gateway to the World Heritage Listed Barrington Tops Wilderness Area

The National Park is accessed via Gundy and Moonan and then taking the Barrington Tops /Gloucester Road

Variations in altitude mean you can see Sub-tropical rain forest and snow gums all in a days walk.

There are many different walking tracks and lookouts offering great views of the Hunter Valley and of the Wilderness area

One of the most unusual features of the area is a large sphagnum moss swamp called Polblue Swamp which is dissected by a channel of icy cold water.

The Park is also home to over 390 species of mammals, birds, reptiles and insects.

Photos NPWS & Tim Jopson


LAKE GLENBAWN	15 kilometres east of Scone nestled in the shadows of the Barrington Tops National Park. It offers visitors the opportunity to conduct a multitude of recreational activities. Through spring and summer when the lake water is high, popular water sports include canoeing, pleasure boating, sailing and windsailing, rowing, swimming and water skiing. Nature lovers and bushwalkers will appreciate the open woodland environment of the park which provides plenty of shady areas and habitats for around 100 species of Birds. photos - Upper Hunter Shire Council & Craigmhor Enterprises

Scone Historical Museum	The museum holds war memorabilia, collection of toys from those early years It also tells you about the history of Scone and the staff are always willing to help with any enquiries. Open Wednesday 9.30am till 2.30pm and on Sunday 2.30pm till 4.30pm.

Pay's Flying Museum	At Scone airport along the Bunnan /Merriwa Road there is the largest museum of actual flying Warbirds in Australia. Col Pay's collection includes many vintage models of which there are only a few left in the world. (Inspections by arrangement)

Horse Studs

Scone is known as the Horse capital of the World and why not when surround by over 40 Horse studs.

Take a drive on any of the Roads from Scone and you will drive past some of these studs and be able to admire the magnificent horseflesh.

Except on their Open Days (usually during the Scone Horse Festival ) the Studs are not open to the public

You can take a guided tour through some of the Worlds largest, most famous thoroughbred studs including Arrowfield, Coolmore, Darley, Emirate Park, Widden Stud and Woodlands. Booking can be made through Upper Hunter Tours.

Australian Stockhorse Museum	Scone is the Head Office for the Australian Stockhorse Society There is a collection of photos and memorabilia and history of this versatile breed developed specifically for Australian conditions and stock work Open 9-5 Monday to Friday

Visitor Information & Wine Centre	On the New England Highway opposite Elizabeth park It offers suggestions with attractions, dates for special events as well as accommodation and meals options. This facility offers an internet service for visitors as well as a wine tasting centre

SCONE FESTIVALS & EVENTS

Scone

and

Upper Hunter Horse Festival

Held in MAY every year over a 16 day period, the festival is a salute to the Horse.

There are events of interest to everyone - either as an observer or a participant

	Stock Horse demonstrations and sales
	Scone Cup Racing Carnival,
	Rodeos and Camp Drafting
	Thoroughbred Horse Sales
	Cocktail parties,
	street parade,
	country fair, a
	antiques,
	art exhibition,
	photographic competition and much more

OTHER

Events

There are many diverse events in and around Scone throughout the year

	Fishing Championships
	Archery Championships
	Polo Carnivals
	Polocrosse Carnivals
	Rodeos and Camp Drafting (nearly every weekend somewhere in the surrounding district - October to February)
	Regular Horse racing