Armidale is a small city (population 24,500 in 2018) in theNew England region of theAustralian state ofNew South Wales and is Australia's highest city in terms of altitude. The picturesque city is noted for its colonial-era architecture, centres of education and culture and the nearby wilderness and gorge country.
Armidale is a place of four seasons. The winters are very cold, with snow sometimes falling in the winter months and overnight temperatures below freezing. The old English-style gardens in the area blossom in spring, as the firs, willows and oaks in town and in the University of New England grounds sprout new leaves. In autumn, the town celebrates the changing colours of the trees with an Autumn Festival, which includes a street parade down the main boulevards. But it is summer that is arguably the best time to visit Armidale. Due to its altitude, the town is rarely humid, and even days where the temperature reaches 35°C are tolerable.
Armidale is one of the main centres located on theNew England Highway, an inland route that links theHunter Valley andSydney toBrisbane.
| Destination | Distance (km) | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Tamworth | 109 | 1 hr 15 min |
| Newcastle | 388 | 5 hr |
| Sydney | 519 | 6 hr |
| Brisbane | 465 | 6 hr |
Armidale is 485 km from Sydney via the scenic Thunderbolts Way through Gloucester andWalcha.
Armidale is also located at the start of theWaterfall Way to Raleigh, nearCoffs Harbour on the coast. This scenic route passes through the gorge country as the tablelands drop to the coastal region. Located along the way are three national parks, which are listed asWorld Heritage Areas by UNESCO and form part of theGondwana Rainforest of Australia.Dorrigo National Park encompasses the waterfalls that give the route its name. Driving time to the coast is 2½ hours.
DailyNSW TrainLink Xplorer services connect Armidale withTamworth, theHunter Valley and Sydney (8 hours - 8 hours 40 minutes, $68.08 and up as of early 2025).
There are discounts when tickets are booked early. When booked 14 days before departure almost 50% discount can be obtained. ISIC card holders are given 50% discount on all NSW TrainLink trains.
Services from Armidale to Coffs Harbour are operated three times weekly by Dorrigo Transit (3 hours, $90, Bookings Essential)
The historic centre of Armidale is small enough to be easily covered on foot. However, some attractions (the University and the New England Regional Art Museum) are on the outskirts of town, making access difficult for the less-mobile traveller.
A bus service (Edwards) does run frequently between the town centre and the University, but the best way to explore the town and surrounding countryside is by car. Car hire is available on arrival at the airport. Taxi services are also widely available.
Getting between the town and the university is an easy cycle, with bicycle lanes on the roads and quiet traffic.
(updated Apr 2018)(updated Nov 2020)(updated Jul 2022)TheNew England Institute of TAFE, Beardy St., Armidale.☏+61 2 6773 7700. A major campus specialising in agriculture, childcare, information technology and tertiary preparation for university entry. Also offers courses in music, biological science, multimedia, massage therapy, ecotourism, film industry (screen), tourism and hospitality, automotive, carpentry and joinery, and engineering.
TheUniversity of New England (UNE) is Australia's oldest regional university. The university has four faculties: Arts; Economics, Business and Law; Education, Health and Professional Studies; and The Sciences. UNE is also well known for its external teaching programmes. The university is a few kilometres from the centre of town, and its open for anyone to drive or walk through. However, its a country university, with lots of space and no monumental style buildings to speak of.
Armidale perhaps enjoys a livelier nightlife than many towns of its size, due to the large university student population from UNE. It has a selection of nearly 10 pubs to choose from. Each one has a nickname with the locals and students, and knowing the name on the door of the pub won't help you in conversation. Moving between two or three pubs in a night is not uncommon, and running into the same people at another pub later on happens.
The price of accommodation in Armidale can just about double during the university graduation periods. If you are not attending a graduation, then try to avoid these periods, for availability and cost reasons. It is also not a bad idea to stay in either Tamworth or Coffs Harbour during these periods for either lower prices or availability.
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