Upper Hunter

This region breeds champions and hides a mystery in the same stretch of hills, Scone earning its "horse capital of Australia" title with real stud farms open for tours. Saddle up yourself and ride the rolling high country at your own pace, or meet the region's strangest resident: Burning Mountain, an underground coal seam that has smouldered since the Bronze Age, older than any other known coal fire on Earth. Walk the trail to its smoking vents, then cast a line at Lake Glenbawn. Some fires just refuse to go out.