ROOM FOR MUSIC FESTIVAL FANS AND LOVERS OF AN AUTHENTIC COUNTRY EXPERIENCE

Caravan parks are full and camping grounds are filling fast, but accommodation is still available for last minute visitors attending Australia’s largest music festival – the Toyota Country Music Festival Tamworth 2015.

As the final weekend for the festival approaches, the number of visitors to the region is increasing and they are preparing for an action-packed finale with the Toyota Concert in the Park, Toyota Country Music Cavalcade, Best of the Buskers Concert, the Golden Guitars – Country Music Awards of Australia and the Closing Concert complete with a spectacular fireworks display.

Some local hotels and motels still have rooms available with the choice in range varying from 2 stars right up to 4 stars for those who prefer a little bit of luxury for their country music capital experience.

Current information about accommodation availability can be sought from the Tamworth Visitor Information Centre, located at the corner of New England Highway and 2 Ringers Road, Tamworth, adjacent to the Big Golden Guitar Tourist Centre. Also check out tcmf.com.au for further information.

For those visitors who have already secured their accommodation and picked through the Official Guide to plan their gig list, below are some interesting experiences on offer in the Tamworth region - from outdoor scenic activities to heritage and cultural wonders.

The Tamworth region offers pristine waterways, National Parks, spectacular dams and experienced adventure operators. Within an hour-and-a-half of Tamworth’s CBD, visitors can make a morning or a day of canoeing the pristine Namoi River, bush walking or rock climbing in the beautiful Warrabah National Park.

Those with half or a full day to spare can take a scenic drive out along the Peel River through the Dungowan Valley and explore the historic gold mining village of Nundle, just 40 minutes from Tamworth. This quaint village offers Festival visitors a plethora of experiences including a fully functioning woollen mill, boutique retail stores and a rare rocks, gems and minerals collection.

Mix great food and music at The Peel Inn and DAG Sheep Stations, which both have a jam-packed gig guide for the Festival.

For those wanting to explore, take an hour or so trek up the nearby Kamilaroi walking track or to Flagstaff Mountain.

Manilla ranks among the world’s best locations for paragliding, sky sailing and hang-gliding. And for those looking for a real taste of country, why not try Leconfield jillaroo and jackaroo school along with horse-riding trails to suit all levels.

For families, Lake Keepit offers endless activities to keep children entertained, including a water park and boat hire and slightly closer to Tamworth, try Chaffey Dam. Trout fishing at one of the specialist trout farms located within an hour of Tamworth’s CBD offers a perfect day of family adventure – and the Arc-en-ciel Trout Farm almost guarantees a fish on the line.

There are numerous lookouts across the region, like Adam's Lookout in Barraba, the Hanging Rock Lookout near Nundle, the Moonbi Lookout, the VJ Byrnes Lookout at Manilla and the Oxley Lookout in Tamworth.

Tamworth PowerStation Museum will be firing on all engines from Thursday 22 to Saturday 24 January (9am to 4pm), with the two John Fowler steam-driven engines being the only two of their type operating in the world.

With Tamworth the first town in the Southern Hemisphere to have municipally funded electric street lighting, it recently won an IMAGinE Award from Museums and Galleries of NSW for its celebration of the 125th anniversary of electric street lighting in Tamworth (November 9, 2013).

“This is a rare occasion to experience the thrill of the sights and sounds of these powerful engines from a bygone era and a unique experience to see the light bulbs light up one by one when the engines get going,” said acting Museum manager Pam Brown.

The Museum is also home to a fascinating and significant collection, including 20th century electrical appliances, technical instruments and a pictorial history about the early development of electricity. For enquiries: Tamworth PowerStation Museum, Peel St, Tamworth ph. 6766 8324 (entry fee applies).

If it’s a native animal experience you’re after, Tamworth’s Marsupial Park offers visitors an up-close experience with animals like kangaroos, peacocks, cockatoos and emus. Children can enjoy the sandpit and play equipment, with BBQ facilities and bathrooms for families - and entry to the park is free.

For budding artists, Tamworth offers a unique range of art galleries and museums like the Tamworth Regional Gallery, established in 1919 and one of the oldest regional galleries in New South Wales.

Weswal Gallery stocks and supports local, regional and national artists and has an impressive range of distinctive and beautiful Australian designed and unique hand-made jewellery, ceramics, glass, and fine woodwork.

Volcania Art Glass at Nundle will provide you with an experience full of country warmth and charm. Opening in 2014 the gallery features an exquisite collection of handmade art glass, leadlight and stained glass.

The Manilla Heritage Museum is located 40 minutes from the heart of the country music capital. Local history buffs have been collecting stories, documents, artefacts and memorabilia since 1972.

The Tamworth region is an outstanding area for bird watching too, featuring some 238 species of birds found in the area.

The 10-day Toyota Country Music Festival Tamworth is the biggest in the country, and lauded as one of the top music festivals in the world.

The Toyota Country Music Festival Tamworth 2015 runs until Sunday 25 January. It is proudly supported by the NSW Government through its tourism and major events agency Destination NSW.

Keep up to date with all the latest Toyota Country Music Festival Tamworth information, and share your experiences of the festival through the official social media channels:

· Facebook: www.facebook.com/tamworthcountrymusicfestival
· Twitter: @TCMF_Official
· Instagram: @TCMF_Official
· Official Hashtags: #TCMF2015, #GoldenGuitars, #FanzoneCM