The Wanderer - October 2018 by Griffith City Council

e g l u d n I

IN GRIFFITH

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FEATURE: GRIFFITH, NEW SOUTH WALES

Named one of Australia’s best country towns this year by the Weekend Australian, it’s easy to see why Griffith, NSW, is on the radar of so many travellers, especially foodies WORDS BY GWEN LUSCOMBE PICS BY GRIFFITH CITY COUNCIL

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ocated about 450km north of Melbourne, 570km southwest of Sydney, 790km east of Adelaide, and 350km west of Canberra, Griffith sits just off the Sturt and Newell Highways. “Griffith is a bustling, vibrant regional centre,” says Griffith City Council Marketing and Promotions Officer Paige Campbell. “It’s a great place for travellers to stop and explore, but allow a few days to really immerse yourself in the culture and experiences.” With its bustling town centre full of shops and eateries, Campbell says it’s a destination that’s become attractive to travellers and RVers. AUSTRALIA’S FOOD BOWL “One of Griffith’s endearing features is Banna Avenue – the tree-lined main street. It stretches four blocks and is loaded with fabulous dress and shoe shops, homewares, barbers, bakers, and beauticians. It is also home to excellent Italian cafés serving delicious crispy-based pizza (be sure to try the rocket

toppa), house-made gnocchi, and gelato. You’ll also love the friendly country town vibe – it’s the people that make Griffith a wonderful place to visit,” she says. “When travellers arrive in Griffith for the first time, they are surprised by the scale and diversity of agriculture – not for nothing is the region known as Australia’s Food Bowl. The region’s farmers grow rice, prunes, oranges, almonds, walnuts, wheat, barley, and grapes – and lots of it,” she adds. “They also produce cotton, jojoba, tomatoes, broccoli, melons, olives, and chickens. The weekly Sunday market is a great place to meet the local growers, yarn to a farmer, and stock up on eggs, gnocchi, and pasta sauce, freshly picked oranges, strawberries, relish, honey, jam, and vegetables.” With so much produce coming from the region, it might also come as a surprise that it’s also the country’s largest wine region, with so many kilometres of trellised vines they could lap Australia’s

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FEATURE: GRIFFITH, NEW SOUTH WALES

Clockwise from left: A bustling main street is always a good sign for new arrivals; “We’ve golden soil and wealth for toil’; a sunbaking chook made of oranges? Sure, why not?; plenty of chances for the tin-lids to get involved, too

coastline three times. Griffith wineries, including some of the most recognised Australian brands such as Yellowtail and De Bortoli Noble One, export more than $800 million of wine per year. The abundance of local produce is also celebrated here regularly, with several events taking place throughout the year, including Griffith Spring Fest. This event is

held from 1-20 October and includes quirky events such as giant citrus sculptures, where you can see 70 unique sculptures crafted from approximately 100,000 oranges. There’s also open gardens and more, ending with the long lunch at the Piccolo Family Farm on October 21. There’s wine and food markets, farm gates, and so much more to bring in the culinary crowds.

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PLENTY TO OFFER THE TOURING MARKET “Griffith is an RV Friendly Town and offers a range of accommodation to cater to the touring market,” says Campbell. “Two caravan parks operate in Griffith, offering good amenities and quiet locations. Council also provides limited free camping at The Willows, a park adjacent to the main canal – the irrigation system which supplies water to our farmers and town.” Campbell says visitors often enjoy the walks along the canal past the Centenary Sculptures, crafted during the centenary in 2016 from 20 tonnes of granite by seven

internationally-acclaimed sculptors. City Park is another visitor hotspot, especially for those travelling with families, as there’s a splash-pad area, playground, and equipment including a double flying fox, gym facilities, and the tallest climbing frame in the Southern Hemisphere. And if you’re travelling with your pet, Campbell recommends crossing the bridge to the Community Garden into the off-leash dog park. “It’s just a short walk from the main street for supermarket supplies, coffee or dinner. There is also free camping permitted at Lake Wyangan if you are craving space and water views,” she adds.

Additionally, one of the national parks in the region, Cocoparra, is just 20 minutes from Griffith and boasts several well-maintained walking trails, clean BBQ areas, and great birdwatching locations. Campbell says that no matter what time of year you visit Griffith, there’s always something interesting and delicious to discover. AN ALL-SEASONS PARADISE “The region offers something different to see and experience each season. Summer is busy, as grape harvest is in full swing with machines harvesting at night to use the cooler conditions

Clockwise from top left: Fresh produce is available all over town; persimmons by the box; outdoor food and wine events occur all year round – THE WANDERER OCTOBER 2018 – 44

FEATURE: GRIFFITH, NEW SOUTH WALES

Clockwise from top left: Prunes ripen on the branch; Italian migrant influences are still much in evidence; local wines will surprise many palates; working up an appetite isn’t too hard

and fruit quality,” she says. “Autumn is delightful, the days are warm and invite you outdoors to explore the many wineries – several offering cellar door-only releases and interesting Italian varietals such as Nero D’Avola and Montepulciano. Winter in the region is mild – the nights may be cold and the mornings frosty – but the days advance into sunshine and blue skies. Perfect for walking, birdwatching and lunching outdoors,” she adds. “Late winter, early spring, the region transforms into a sea of brilliant yellow with canola crops marching across the landscape. Spring is a glorious time of year. The vineyards pop with colour, the birds are in song, the skies are big and blue, and the days are a little longer, excellent for getting outdoors and exploring.” Foodies are certain to enjoy sinking their teeth into all there is to offer here, as the food scene in Griffith grows with more and more restaurants popping up all over town. Griffith, settled by Italian immigrants in the early 1900s, has an enviable reputation for excellent Italian cuisine in particular. But if you really want to enjoy all that Griffith has to offer, Campbell suggests taking a personalised tour of the area to best appreciate the produce and essence of the region. “Three tour operators tailor tours to meet your particular interests. Whether you are keen to

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FEATURE: GRIFFITH, NEW SOUTH WALES

Griffith, NSW

go sightseeing, learn some history, culture or taste the local produce – there’s a tour for you. Tours need to be arranged in advance so be sure to call the Griffith Visitor Information Centre on 1800 681 141 to secure a booking.”

JOURNEY PLANNER GETTING THERE Griffith is easy to reach and well connected by major roads. If heading in a north-south direction, take the Kidman Way – the backtrack to the outback – and a sealed route through the centre of NSW. The Burley Griffin Way is a great east-west route, connecting the ACT to Griffith and linking through to the Sturt Highway taking you through to SA. MORE INFO https://www.griffith.nsw.gov.au/cp_ themes/visit/home.asp

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