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	LOCAL ATTRACTIONS   Narrandera This BEAUTIFUL, tree-lined, gracious rural town, with its historic buildings and streets - which are famed for their London Plain Trees - is located in the Riverina region of NSW, 562 km south-west of Sydney via the Hume and Sturt Highways and 430km from Melbourne via the Hume, the Golden Valley and the Newell Highways. This town of close to 5,000 people has been declared an urban conservation area by the National Trust. The area was occupied by the Wiradjuri Aborigines prior to white settlement. The place name is said to derive from a local Wiradhuri clan called the 'Narrungdera'. This word in turn is said to mean 'jew-lizard', 'place of the goanna or lizard', or 'caught frill lizard'. Captain Charles Sturt passed through the district in 1829, he and his party were probably the first white people to do so. There is a memorial to the explorer just west of the Newell Highway and north of the bridge over the Murrumbidgee as you enter the town from the south. Noted poet John O'Brien wrote his verse collection "Around the Boree Log and other verses (1921)" during his 27-year stint in Narrandera where he went by his real name, Father Patrick Hartigan, parish     Things to see & do :   Narrandera's Historic Walk A pamphlet outlining a walk that takes in the town's heritage buildings is available from the visitor's centre in Narrandera Park, on the Newell Highway. Narrandera has many beautiful buildings and this Walk is thoroughly recommended. Narrandera Information Centre - this Centre is situated within the grounds of the Narrandera Park - which is a very popular park for tourists as well as locals. This is a Must Do! Narrandera Golf Course - you will be pleasantly surprised at the excellent golfing facilities here - an absolutely First Class Golf Course - one of the top five Country Courses in NSW. You will be most welcome - cost of a game is approximately $15.00. Parkside Cottage Museum Adjacent to the park, on the highway, is the Parkside Cottage Museum (02-6959 1372), housed in a century-old building. Hankinson ceramic fountain The Hankinson ceramic fountain in Memorial Park (East St) was made by Royal Doulton. It is one of only two known to be in existence. Lake Talbot Holiday and Aquatic Centre Just a 5 minute drive south-east of town is the award-winning Lake Talbot Holiday and Aquatic Centre complex with a 100-m waterslide, the extra-steep Rampage Slide, a variety of pools, terraced lawns, barbecues and waterskiing/boating facilities. The Lake Talbot Complex is also a must see! The Bundidgerry Walking Track The reserve along the river has been declared a regeneration area for a disease-free colony of koalas. The best time for a walk is early in the morning when there is plenty of wildlife about - kangaroos, parrots, currawongs, magpies, galahs, willie wagtails and kingfishers. This is another must do! John Lake Centre Located at the Inland Fisheries Research Station where the aquatic inhabitants of the inland river systems are studied in an attempt to reverse the decline of native fish. This very interesting Station is open to the public on Monday to Friday from 10.30am. Other Activities in the area: 40 km south-east is Berembed Weird, built in 1910 to divert water from the Murrumbidgee River into the main canal of the Murrumbidgee Irrigation Area. There are barbecue and picnic facilities. Griffith Wineries - Griffith is home to many world class wines - take a trip (approximately 1 hour's drive via Leeton), and bring home a crate!! Hay - Shearer's Hall of Fame - This is approximately a 2 hour drive from Riverina Retreat. Darlington Point - Altina Wildlife Park - approximately 20 minutes away. Narrandera also hosts a number of festivals: The Camellia Show is in August, the TREE-mendous Festival in October, the Agricultural Show in September and the John O'Brien Folk Festival in mid-March. Contact the visitor's centre for information about farm hosting and farm holidays if you are looking for a first-hand look at farm life.   Tourist Information       Narrandera Tourist Information Centre Narrandera Park Newell Hwy Narrandera NSW 2700 Telephone: (02) 6959 1766 Facsimile: (02) 6959 2788 Email: tourist.centre@narrandera.nsw.gov.au