We’re excited to announce that visitors and locals can now experience four new nature Soundtrails in New England High Country’s national parks, adding to the region’s five existing Soundtrails.
Delivered through the Soundtrails mobile app, utilising GPS tracking technology, this immersive audio experience triggers stories on location, connecting listeners emotionally and physically to a place through storytelling.
The new Soundtrails, include the Wollomombi Falls Soundtrail near Armidale and the Apsley Falls Soundtrail near Walcha, both in Oxley Wild Rivers National Park, along with the Coombadjha Walk Soundtrail in Washpool National Park east of Glen Innes and the Bald Rock National Park Soundtrail north-east of Tenterfield.
These experiences capture and preserve the unique local stories, and historical, geographical and cultural significance of four of our region’s popular nature trails and provide an opportunity to educate listeners in an interactive, modern way.
They offer a ‘Ranger in your Pocket’ experience; hearing stories from scientists, elders, rangers and artists providing a greater point of interest for the visitor.
To listen to the new national park Soundtrails simply download the Soundtrails app to your smart device (available from the App Store or Google Play). Select the Soundtrail you would like to experience. Once on location follow the map trail in the app and GPS will track your device, triggering stories as you walk along the trail. The stories can be listened to remotely by selecting the shaded areas on the map.
This project, delivered by the New England High Country (NEHC) tourism group in partnership with Soundtrails and New South Wales National Parks and Wildlife Services (NSW NPWS) is an Australian Government Bushfire Recovery initiative and aims to draw visitors back to the region, provide local communities with fulfilling local experiences and support the region’s visitor economy.
The New England High Country (NEHC) tourism group are committed to strengthening the destination’s nature-based tourism offering and promoting the destination, having collaborated for almost 10 years. The group is staffed by Council marketing, tourism, and events personnel at each of the member Council’s including Armidale Regional Council, Glen Innes Severn Council, Inverell Shire Council, Tenterfield Shire Council, Uralla Shire Council and Walcha Council.
Read the full announcement made by Deputy Prime Minister and Member for New England, Barnaby Joyce here.
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