Nundle: Finders Keepers
A great camp, noodling opportunities, an awesome pub and Australia’s sole Woollen Mill: Nice woolly one Nundle!
Nundle is probably one of the best known places in Australia. Nearly everyone I know has either been there, or it is on their list for the near future. But what makes Nundle so special? The people, the things to do and the place to stay.
Camping Up
Fossicker Tourist Park is one of those lovely parks that caters for your needs without going over the top.
Their camp kitchen is neat and tidy and leads out to the BBQ area and huge fire pit. The amenities blocks are excellent and I can certainly vouch for the disabled amenities as I used them when I stayed there. A fractured ankle needs some special care!
Accommodation
11 x 2 bedroom 2 bathroom cabins – overlooking the creek outside the park
1 budget cabin with ensuite
55 powered sites
Memory Maker
Some interesting things are happening at Fossickers. Ben and Laura Pratt bought it a couple of years ago. Before that they had been working up in the northern areas of Australia. Ben’s last job was at El Questro when Discovery Parks had bought it.
One of the reasons to move to Nundle was that their kids were growing up and, while School of the Air was good, they wanted the kids to go to a real school. The kids couldn’t be closer to their Nundle school if they tried, it’s about 50m away!
Plus Ben has plans for this park. He doesn’t want to change the atmosphere, he just has a vision of things that can be done to make it more memorable than it is. They have started renovating the cabins – looking gorgeous. Plus he thinks the Camp Kitchen could be a bit bigger. The EV Charger station is already up and working, and much appreciated by those who use it.
Tried & Tested
One way they make sure everything they are doing, and already have on the park, is to try them out. They don’t just walk around and try, they set up the tent, break out the fishing rods, and do a back to basics camping time with the kids. I was really delighted to hear that the kids love the back to basics and don’t care that there isn’t a TV or tablet they can use. That’s really making sure what you offer is what people want.
Fond Memories
We were in Nundle for a very special reason. Some members of the Retreat Caravans Family Group were spending a few days there, and we went along to say hello. Family Group is the perfect name for this Group, we felt like we were visiting family that we hadn’t seen in a while but always enjoyed being with. We had such a good time it was hard to say goodbye!
Nundle Woollen Mill
Nundle isn’t very big at all. But its size has nothing to do with its friendliness, and things to do and enjoy.
Nundle Woollen Mill is probably the best known feature in Nundle. It’s the last working woollen mill in Australia. They get the base products and create the softest wools you can imagine. I’m a crochet and knitting fan, so good wool is important to me. I came away with some specialist wool, a 50/50 mix of merino and bamboo. Oh, and I can’t forget the plum long cardigan.
The Peel Inn
The Peel Inn Hotel has a very well deserved reputation. The meals are superb. I had the chicken parma, which was delicious, while Peter silently and contentedly worked his way through the floater pie. Whatever you have off their menu, this pub has all the character of a well loved, popular pub.
Touring Highlights
Add in the lovely cafes, shops including an antique shop that has more antiques than you would think existed. Gold mining museum, a couple of ‘boutiques’ with an op shop difference.
Outside of town is a trip up to Hanging Rock, which has sort of fallen off, but the history of Ashton’s Circus is part of that area. The things those elephants had to do to get the circus up the hills to the area it wanted to set up in.
And, of course, you can always go fossicking!
We loved our few days in Nundle, we never seem to stay long enough no matter how many days we stay.