3. Tamworth

Leaving our friends at Port Macquarie, we swung though the village of Kendall and stopped in at the Colonial Herbal Company (the Norfolk Punch people) to say hi to our friends Blair and Rhonda Montague-Drake. If you are ever up this way, they have a lovely tea garden, gift shop and herb garden to browse through. I can personally recommend that you'll also want to taste the Celtica Herbal Elixir (a rich apple-honey non-alcoholic concoction reminiscent of port wine) and the light and tangy Ginger Bliss lemon and ginger beverage which is perfect for sipping over ice on a hot day. Pick up a few bottles for you and the kids to enjoy on the rest of your trip. If you're heading out to the desert areas, you might also pick up some Herbal Hand Balm which is excellent to prevent your cuticles from drying out. For coastal tours, their Aussie Mozzie Zapper is recommended.

The 40 acres of rainforest and herbs around the complex is designated as a wildlife refuge in accordance with an act of Parliament.

Heading out the back way from Kendall via Thunderbolt Way, we found the Oxley Hwy which took us onward to Tamworth - County Music Capital of Australia. Just outside town is a large music hall with a giant guitar - something like the Grand Ole Opry in Nashville. Here is our first view of the edge of the outback.

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