How to get there: Scone is nestled in the picturesque Upper Hunter and is 152 kilometres (about 21/2 hours) from Newcastle along the New England Highway.
What to take: Your camera is a must and good walking shoes. The area is ideal for picnics, so a rug and a picnic basket would be handy, plus binoculars.
Who should go: Horse enthusiasts, wine lovers, anyone with an appreciation for nature, anglers, bushwalkers.
What to see: Burning Mountain nature reserve 20 kilometres north of Scone, Glenbawn Dam, Barrington Tops, historic Belltrees Homestead, beef cattle studs, horse studs.
What to do: Numerous tourist drives and bushwalks, walk along Kelly Street (originally known as the Great North Road) and admire the historic buildings and shopfronts, fish at Lake Glenbawn, hire a lakeside cabin, visit world class thoroughbred studs.
Where to eat: Airlie House Restaurant, Stabledoor Bakery, Crowded House Cafe. Or grab a counter lunch at one of the town's hotels dotted along the main street.
Best kept secret: Glenbawn Dam. Renowned for its recreational fishing, walking trails, camping and caravan areas, the dam is an underused recreation area that few people outside the Hunter even know exists. It is one of the very few inland waterways in NSW that actually has water in it. The dam is just a short drive from Scone's town centre.
SCONE is the horse capital of Australia and just a few weeks ago the townsfolk cemented that position by staging a horseback protest in the town over a proposed coalmine for the area.
World-class thoroughbred studs are dotted around the town, which is renowned for its major yearly event, Scone Horse Week, held each May.
About 1000 members of the town's horse fraternity, ranging from pony club members to horse breeders, saddled up last month to protest against the Bickham Mine proposal near the town, which residents claim will contaminate waterways and spoil the landscape.
Scone has a population of about 5500 people.
It is the centre of one of the most visually attractive areas in NSW, surrounded by mountains, valleys and creeks, as well as beautiful, undulating farmland. There are lots of opportunities for sightseeing, picnics and bushwalking.
Scone Visitor Information and Wine Centre, located opposite Elizabeth Park (home to the landmark mare and foal statue), is your first stop.
It can provide visitors with a list of local attractions, dates for special events and information on accommodation and meals.
The town has an active historical society, with an excellent museum located in part of the original law and order complex. The museum is open on Sunday afternoons and Wednesdays.
Scone has a thriving economic base centred on a wealthy equine and agriculture industry.
All breeds of horses are represented in the Upper Hunter and almost every weekend you can see a variety of horse sports or exhibitions.
About two kilometres west of Scone, along the Bunnan Road, is the Australian Horse Park. It is the home of the Scone race track, the Hunter Valley Equine Research Centre and the Hunter Institute of Technology Campus specialising in equine and rural studies.
Historic Belltrees is about 40 minutes drive from Scone along the Gundy Road. You can look through the chapel, museum, shearing shed, stables and the homestead itself.
About 20 kilometres west of Scone on the New England Highway is Burning Mountain, which is the site of an ancient burning coal seam.
There is a marked 4.6 kilometre walk through the bushland. The track is marked out and is easy to follow and there are small signs giving you brief information about the area.
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