Things to do
Teeth of Kissing Rock - large boulder formation on Lyrebird Ridge, Anketell Forest
Around Anketell Forest
Around the northern New England Tablelands (and a little over the edge)
- National Parks and Nature Reserves
within 30min – 90min drive - Wineries
Mushrooms on the Saddle Track
Anketell Forest on foot
Walk, stroll, meander, wander. Enjoy miles of private bush tracks amongst the 2000 acres of Anketell Forest. Walk to splendid Eagle Rock and find rare species in its sub alpine crevices. Take an eastern range track and spot the naturally bonsaied Port Jackson Figs growing from thin narrow cracks on the sides of huge granite boulders.
Rainbow over Lyrebird Ridge
Come for the flowering of the rock-orchids, the wild flowers in spring or the blossom of the Tablelands wattle and grevillia. Enjoy the rich deep colours of autumn, the crystal clear nights of winter followed by its frosty mornings, and the warm days of summer.
Handmade hardwood easels are yours to borrow or buy.
Paint!
Natural beauty abounds at Anketell Forest in any season. It’s like a huge stone sculpture garden made by nature, softened by a special sub-alpine tablelands forest mix of stringybarks, boxes, swamp gum, tea tree, and many flowers and ground covers. A favourite is the twisted-limbed applegum trees that wave pompoms of vibrant green. Rock crevices become whole ecologies when looked at up close. The sky is big above you, each corner of each track presents a new view, roos stop and stare and scratch themselves. Small seasonal rock pools hold a myriad of life. There is much to paint and sketch in Anketell Forest.
High quality 12oz art canvases are available. Framed and stretched on the property and made to order at competitive prices. Just give Steve a few hours notice of the dimensions and he’ll whip one up for you.
Borrow one of our handmade Anketell Forest hardwood easels. Free to use during your visit while you think about having one made to your specifications to take home. Or make your own easel with Steve’s assistance – see below.
Get a few friends together for a painting weekend. The Shearing Shed facilities are perfect for group art activities. If you wish, local qualified art instructors are available to run a program for your group. Enquire for group art retreat options and prices.
From Log to Living room
It is very satisfying to find and take a fallen tree, mill it, and then make a piece of solid timber furniture that will last for a century. You can be part of this experience by commissioning some handmade Anketell Forest furniture.
We will pick the right log from amongst the fallen timber on Anketell Forest – a nice piece of cyprus pine perhaps for a hall table, a trunk of stringybark for a bookcase, or maybe an old applegum bough for a beautiful jewellery box.
After milling the log on-site, Steve will use your specifications or his imagination to make your heirloom piece.
The larger the piece, the longer the time to source, mill, and put the timber pieces together. A hall table from a seasoned log can be made from log to livingroom in two days, a 12 seater dining table needs longer, particularly if the timber needs to season. Delivery can be arranged.
National Parks and Nature Reserves
1. Bald Rock – 60 mins north
2. Basket Swamp – 60 mins north
Bolivia Hill – 10 mins east
3. Boonoo Boonoo – 60 mins north
9. Gibraltar Range – 75 mins east
Girraween – 70 mins north
12. Kings Plains – 60 mins west
24. Torrington – 25 mins west
26. Washpool – 75 mins east
Wineries
There are many vineyards in the Granite Belt of Queensland (45-90min north on the New England Highway) and on the northern New England Tablelands of NSW. Here are a few within a half hour drive from Anketell Forest.
Wellington Vale Wines, Deepwater (Est 1997 – off New England Hwy sth of Tenterfield) – Semillon, Riesling, Pinot Noir. Recently finished growing. Cellar door by appointment. Ph: 02 6734 5226
Splitters Swamp Vineyard, Bolivia (Est 1996 – off New England Hwy, sth of Tenterfield) – Merlot, Shiraz, Cabernet Sauvignon. Tastings by appointment. Ph: 02 6737 3640
Kurrajong Downs Vineyard, Tenterfield (Est 1996 – off Bruxner Hwy, east of Tenterfield) – Semillon, Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, Merlot, Shiraz, Cabernet Sauvignon. Vineyard, cellar door, and restuarant. Ph: 02 6736 4590
Doctors Nose Wines, Tenterfield (Est 1996 – Old Racecourse Rd, Tenterfield) – Semillon, Verdehlo, Sauvignon Blanc, Shiraz, Petit Verdot, Tempranillo. Cellar door and restuarant. Ph: 02 6736 3113
Deetswood Wines, Tenterfield (Est 1996 – Washpool Creek Rd, Tenterfield) – Semillon, Chardonnay, Voignir, Pinot Noir, Merlot, Shiraz, Cabernet Sauvignon. Vineyard and cellar door. Ph: 02 6736 1322
Wright Robertson, Glencoe (Est 1999 Certified Organic – “Waratah Ridge”, New England Highway, Glencoe) – Chardonnay, Pinot Gris, Pinot Noir and Shiraz with a small area of Riesling. Cellar door. Ph 422 203 817 or 02 6733 3220