Peak Hill: Mining Trails, Nature and History

Peak Hill combines insights into historic and more recent mining operations with nature trails, regional history and things to do in the surrounding area. This lets you choose different focuses for your stay, such as self-guided walks, a stroll with views of the Hervey Ranges, or a discovery tour of historic photographs and memorabilia.

Mining Trails and Walks in Peak Hill

The Peak Hill Open Cut Experience offers walking trails and lookout points with views of historic and more recent mining operations. Mining history is also explored at the Peak Hill Gold Mine Experience, which includes historic mine workings and more recent mining operations. If you are interested in the development of mining, you can encounter the subject in more than one way: on the trails and at the lookout points of the Open Cut Experience, as well as among the different workings of the Gold Mine Experience.

Self-guided walks at the Peak Hill Open Cut Experience are available daily from 9 am to 4 pm. Guided group tours are also offered year-round by arrangement, subject to guide availability. These tours are intended for groups of 20 or more and must be booked in advance. When planning, it is therefore important to consider whether you would like to take the walk independently or arrange a guided tour for a group of sufficient size.

Nature Walks and Trips to the Surrounding Area

The Peak Hill Flora and Fauna Nature Walk is about 1,400 metres long. The Hervey Ranges can be seen from a wooden footbridge. Along the way, visitors may spot rock wallabies or kangaroos, as well as a variety of plant species. This nature walk offers a different focus from the mining trails, with the landscape and wildlife observation taking centre stage. The approximate trail length gives you a helpful point of reference when planning different experiences for your trip.

Nearby, Goobang National Park lies between Peak Hill, Parkes and Molong. Activities there include scenic lookouts, bushwalking, bush camping, picnic areas, mountain bike trails and four-wheel-drive tours. The range of options extends from spending time outdoors to active adventures on two or four wheels. Which of these appeals to you can help shape your plans for your stay.

Bogan Weir is 7 km from Peak Hill. Activities there include picnicking, birdwatching, camping, canoeing, barbecuing and fishing. These activities offer more ideas for a day trip, especially if you would like to spend some time by the water as well as exploring the trails and historic sites.

Harness Racing and Silo History

Peak Hill has a long connection with harness racing. Races were held at the Peak Hill Showground as early as the beginning of the 20th century, and Peak Hill still hosts numerous harness races today. If you are interested in local event traditions, this offers another aspect of the town’s history. Be sure to check specific dates separately when planning your trip.

Peak Hill is also linked to the history of grain transport: in 1918, it became the site of Australia’s first upright bulk wheat silo. The six-cell silo complex and a weighbridge were completed in Peak Hill in 1927. The silo can be seen from Lindner Avenue, which runs parallel to the railway line. These historical details offer another perspective on the town’s development, distinct from its mining operations.

The Peak Hill Visitor Information Outlet also houses Peak Hill Country Crafts and the Open Cut Gallery. The Open Cut Gallery & Peak Hill Country Crafts shop displays historic photographs and memorabilia. These images and objects complement the impressions you can take away from visiting the mining sites and seeing the silo.

Shape Your Stay Around Your Interests

When choosing a holiday rental, consider which experiences you would like to define your stay: the mining trails and silo history, the nature walk, or trips to the surrounding area. If you would like to combine several of these, the range of options makes it easy to plan a stay in Peak Hill around your interests. For those travelling together, the different options also give you plenty to discuss as you decide which experiences to include in everyone’s plans.

More destinations: Griffith City, Denman, Red Rock, Erowal Bay, The Pocket, Goolgowi, Jagumba, Chullora.

For the broader travel overview: New South Wales.