There are many trails, in this great state of ours. But there are few as pretty as the canola trail! Spanning the NSW Riverina towns of Junee, Coolamon and Temora, the canola trail comes to life during springtime, when the yellow canola flowers are in full bloom — and it’s a sea of yellow, as far as the eye can see! Driving past stunning fields of yellow is reason enough to visit but the trail is also riddled with fascinating stops.
Start your trail tour in the little town of Junee, where lies the Junee Roundhouse Railway Museum — the site of the former Junee Locomotive Depot which played an integral part in Australia’s railway history. Today, the museum boasts an impressive collection, including one of the last working train turntables in the country. Other highlights include an 1891 steam engine and an old mail cart.
Just down the road, in Coolamon, you’ll find another museum — The Coolamon Fire Museum — owned and run by former firefighter, Chris Berry. The collection features over one hundred fire fighter hats, from across the globe, as well as a range of fascinating fire- fighting memorabilia, some of which dates back hundreds of years.
Just across the road from the fire museum is The Rustic Pantry, where you can settle in for brekky, brunch, lunch, or just coffee and cake. The café also sells a range of homewares and local products and condiments. Coolamon is a town full of history, and if you want to stay somewhere ‘historic’, just check in to Sweet Briar B&B and Cottages. Located in an old bank, built in the 1800’s, the B&B consists of three stylish rooms, in the main house, and two external, self-contained cottages in the landscaped gardens.
