Discover Muswellbrook: Trails, Art and Special Places

Muswellbrook offers many reasons to explore: you can discover stories about Muscle Creek on an AR tour, encounter art in several forms and visit an unusual playground. Trails along the creek and through town complement the cultural offerings. You can shape your stay around whether you want to spend time outdoors together or focus on art and local themes.

Trails and stories around Muscle Creek

The Muscle Creek AR Tour starts at Simpson Park and follows the Muscle Creek Loop. At points marked with footprints, QR codes reveal stories about the history and environment of Muscle Creek. The tour combines getting out and about with insights into the creek and its surroundings. Those interested in nature and local history will find a distinct way to explore both topics here.

Separate from the tour, the 1.2 km walking trail along Muscle Creek runs from Simpson Park to Bell Street. Its specific length can help you fit the walk into your day’s plans. The Platypus Track is another option for a walk. It starts at the Olympic Park car park on Wilkinson Avenue and runs for 190 m behind the Muswellbrook Aquatic Centre.

Natural environment and public art

Muscle Creek helps protect the Hunter Floodplain Red Gum Woodland, a threatened ecological community. The creek is therefore not only a point of reference for walks and the AR tour, but also part of a natural environment worth protecting. If you are interested in the landscape, you can take this ecological aspect into account as you explore the area.

An artwork in the Muswellbrook Railway Underpass depicts the Hunter River and Muscle Creek. The underpass serves both as a practical pedestrian route and as an artistic introduction to the natural features of the Muswellbrook region. The Muswellbrook Reconciliation Mural in Simpson Park depicts the history of the Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal populations of the Upper Hunter. The two works offer different thematic perspectives: one through natural features, the other through the history of the population.

Smaller art spots also make their own mark. The Simpson Park Mosaic is on the side of the park’s community barbecue and was created as part of a youth participation project led by Upper Hunter Community Services. Big Blue in Blue Heeler Country is a bronze sculpture by Brett Garling: it is two metres high and weighs half a tonne. The work honours the working spirit of the Blue Heeler and its role in the pastoral life of the Hunter Valley.

Art collections and a striking playground

The Muswellbrook Regional Arts Centre is home to the Muswellbrook Shire Art Collection and the Max Watters Collection. It presents curated exhibitions drawn from collections, local and national art awards, and contemporary visual artists. Each year, the centre holds two art prizes: the national Muswellbrook Art Prize and the Mullins Conceptual Photography Prize. Art lovers can also shape their stay around the exhibitions and collections.

For a visit with children, the Highbrook Playground stands out for Larry The Lizard: the giant slide is 10 m high and 70 m long. The playground also has a learn-to-ride track.

When choosing a holiday rental in Muswellbrook, you can first consider which of these aspects of the area you want to shape your stay: trails by the creek and nature, art and local history, or a visit to the playground. These experiences offer different reasons to consider Muswellbrook as a travel destination.

More destinations: Whoota, Mathoura, Umina Beach, Colyton, Wiangaree, Rankins Springs, Casino and Guildford.

For the broader travel overview: New South Wales.