The rural service town and holiday centre of Gloucester is well known as the gateway to the magnificent Barrington Tops area in the Upper Hunter Region of new South Wales. Gloucester is located on the banks of the Gloucester River, about 260 km north-east of Sydney. Gloucester services the local rural businesses that include cattle grazing, dairying, wineries and various mixed farming activities in the surrounding district. Cheese, tourism and mining are very important in the area. The Barrington Tops National Park offers a huge array of attractions and recreational activities, including trout fishing, horse-riding, kayaking, canoeing, mountain bikes, bushwalking, picnicing and camping. Some of the other activities and events in the region are: # The Bucketts Scenic Walk offering panoramic
views of the valley # Gold Panning at the Mountain Maid goldmine # Shakespeare on Avon event held in May each year # The Mountain Man Trichallenge held in September # Bushwalking and camping in the magnificent wilderness of Barrington Tops National Park # Strolling through the Community markets on Saturday # Enjoying Trout fishing in the local streams and rivers# Hiring a kayak or canoe and exploring the rivers and wetlands that feature diverse flora and fauna and a wide range of habitats.