Overview
Join a Discovery ranger on a family-friendly spotlight tour under the stars at Hill End Historic Site. It’s a fascinating night out between Bathurst and Mudgee.
- When
- 2 October 2026, 6.30pm to 8.30pm
- 9 October 2026, 7.30pm to 9.30pm
Meet 15 minutes before each tour starts.
- Accessibility
- No wheelchair access
- Grade
- Easy. We’ll take an easy 1km to 2km walk on unsealed paths with gentle hills. Suitable for adults and kids over 5. All children must be accompanied by an adult.
- Price
- Fees per person: Adult $20. Concession $17. Child $14. A 10% family or group discount applies for 4 or more people. Terms and conditions apply.
- Meeting point
- Outside the Hill End Heritage Centre.
- What to
bring - Clothes for all weather conditions, drinking water, raincoat, snacks, torch
- Bookings
- Bookings required. Phone the Hill End Historic Site Office on 02 6370 9050 for more information or book online.
Get to know this historic village and its leafy surrounds in a new light as the sun sets and we search for signs of nocturnal life. You could spot microbats, possums, owls, kangaroos and wallabies on this easy 2km stroll.
Then, step back in time as your Discovery ranger brings Hill End’s gold rush days to life with fascinating tales and local legends. Don’t forget to bring your torch.
Local alerts
For the latest updates on fires, closures and other alerts in this area, see https://www.nationalparks.nsw.gov.au/things-to-do/guided-tours/hill-end-spotlight-tour/local-alerts
Operated by
- NSW National Parks & Wildlife Service
Park info
- in Hill End Historic Site in the Country NSW region
Hill End Historic Site is always open but may have to close at times due to poor weather or fire danger.
Visitor info
All the practical information you need to know about Hill End spotlight tour.
Getting there and parking
Hill End Heritage Centre is located next to the General Store as you enter Hill End Historic Site. To get there:
From Bathurst (allow 1.5hrs)
- Turn off the Great Western highway onto Gilmour St at Kelso
- Follow Sofala Road for around 45km
- At Sofala, turn left onto Hill End Road and continue for around 37.5km to Hill End Historic Site
From Mudgee (allow 1.25hrs)
- Head north, towards Gulgong on the Castlereagh Highway
- Turn left onto Hill End Road and continue for around 69km to Hill End Historic Site
Road quality
- Sealed roads
Vehicle access
- 2WD vehicles
Parking
There is free parking outside the General Store and along the main street.
Maps and downloads
Accessibility
Disability access level - no wheelchair access
Learn more
Hill End spotlight tour is in Hill End Historic Site. Here are just some of the reasons why this park is special:
A past to cherish
Artists have long gravitated to picturesque Hill End. Since the Second World War the scarred landscape has drawn artists such as Jean Bellette, Russell Drysdale, Margaret Olley, John Olsen, Ben Quilty, Jeffrey Smart, Donald Friend, and Brett Whiteley to capture the striking scenery on canvas. The Hill End Artist in Residence Program is currently on hold but it ran for over 70 years between the 1940s and 2022. Take a walk in the same landscape that has moved so many contemporary artists to make the pilgrimage to Hill End. Be sure to visit Bathurst Regional Art Gallery if you’re in the area.
The gold rush hit nearby Bathurst in 1851 and Hill End, swept up in the frenzy, was settled in 1852. It wasn’t until almost 20 years later, however, that large-scale mining began. After most of the mining population had moved on, it was the Gold Centenary Celebrations in 1951 that were the catalyst for Hill End being recognised for its significant heritage value.
- Capertee and Hill End 4WD camping tour Explore the stunning sights of Capertee, the Turon River and Hill End on a 4WD camping adventure with Adrenalin Offroad Centre.
- Cornish Quartz roasting pits The quartz roasting pits are a short drive from Hill End and are a significant historical remnant of Australia’s earlier mining heritage.
- Craigmoor House Step back in time at heritage Craigmoor House in Hill End Historic Site. Home to the Marshall family for nearly a century, this lovingly preserved building has fascinating tales to tell about life in a mining town during colonial times.
- Denningtons Cottage Denningtons Cottage is a heritage miner’s cottage built in 1858 in Hill End, and now home to ceramic artist studio.
- Hill End gold 4WD adventures Hop on board a comfortable 4WD vehicle and enjoy a thrilling journey over rugged 4WD trails as you explore the Hill End and Sofala goldfields region. These excursions with Simmo’s Offroad Tours are a great way discover fascinating gold rush history and heritage.
Mine for gold
Ever wondered how gold is separated from the rock it’s found in? Or want to know what a steam boiler or battery stamp’s used for? Hill End is full of places where you can learn all about mining gold. Visit the Colonial Gold Mining Company’s roasting kilns and battery buildings, enjoy a barbeque at the grounds of the Historic Hill End Hospital, check out the impressive collection of carriages and work machinery from the gold rush era housed close by, and don’t forget to book one of the many tours available while you’re there to make the most of your visit.
- Bald Hill tourist mine Bald Hill tourist mine in Hill End is closed to school groups and guided tours while NPWS seeks expressions of interest from commercial operators interested in offering this service.
- Beaufoy Merlin lookout Beaufoy Merlin lookout offers spectacular views and an excellent vantage point to see the true scale of former mining activities. It’s also great for photography.
- Hill End Heritage Centre Hill End Heritage Centre's interactive museum displays and historic information are the perfect introduction to any visit to Hill End Historic Site.
Plants and animals protected in this park
Animals
-
Superb fairy wren (Malurus cyaneus)
The striking blue and black plumage of the adult male superb fairy wren makes for colourful bird watching across south-eastern Australia. The sociable superb fairy wrens, or blue wrens, are Australian birds living in groups consisting of a dominant male, mouse-brown female ‘jenny wrens’ and several tawny-brown juveniles.