For an exhilarating ride soaring through nature, the gorges surrounding Armidale are best experienced by helicopter.
My heart skips a beat as we descend into a gaping chasm in the earth; Dangars Gorge, whose sheer cliffs guard a lush, meandering valley below. Far below, as the butterflies in my stomach keep reminding me. I’d watched that seemingly arbitrary hole in the earth – the edge of the New England gorge country – rapidly get bigger as the tiny two-seat helicopter in which I am a passenger soared across the plateau of golden brown farmland to this starkly contrasting, verdant abyss.
If you haven’t already been let in on the secret, Armidale, sits on the doorstep of some of the most beautiful national parks in the country. Characterised by dramatic gorges, towering waterfalls, snaking rivers and ancient and pristine subtropical rainforest, the national parks of New England High Country are a sight to behold. And there is no better way to take in the full scope of this majestic landscape than by helicopter.
We drop into the gorge where, after enough rain, water tumbles over Dangars Falls, and follow the winding track of the gully, our path flanked by ancient sandstone cliffs. Never short of bravado, I had bravely (or was it foolishly?) asked the pilot to take the doors off the chopper under the guise of taking a nice photo, but secretly what I had in mind was adrenalin.
And didn’t I underestimate how much of that I would experience! As the little helicopter soared over ridges and into gorges, I held my breath in delighted nervousness. Precious little stood between me and the rainforest below, where giant, Gondwana-era Antarctic beech trees thrive as they would have eons ago, and I had such fun soaring over that Jurassic landscape.
The Fleet Adventures pilot pointed out features of the landscape as we flew, including the very sweet ‘Heart of New England’, where converging rivers have carved the shape of a heart in the mountains. He also advised me to keep an eye out for a herd of cattle roaming free, lost for several weeks by a dismayed local farmer. Small town ideals and a strong sense of community run strong in Armidale, even at sky level.
Unfortunately we didn’t spot the rogue cows, but we did enjoy a very pretty aerial view of Armidale as we headed back to the airport, its European trees glowing shades of orange and red in the late autumn afternoon light.
Fleet Adventures runs a range of scenic helicopter flights from its base at Armidale Airport, including the half hour ‘Gorge Discovery’ flight that I experienced (from $295 per person with three passengers), plus longer scenic flights including the popular 10 gorges ‘Wilderness Flight’, a ‘Wilderness Picnic Adventure’ and even customised flights.
Fleet Adventures are located at 10541 New England Hwy, Armidale, NSW.
