From Sofala, a very narrow, bone-rattling unsealed road follows the Turon River towards HILL END, an even more important goldrush site located on a plateau above the Turon Valley, 86km from Bathurst.
In 1870, Hill End was the largest inland centre in New South Wales, a booming gold-mining town with a population of about twenty thousand, with 53 hotels, plus all the accoutrements of a wealthy settlement. Within ten years, however, gold production had faltered and Hill End had already become a virtual ghost town. It stayed that way until 1967, when the area was proclaimed a historic site and huge efforts were made to restore and preserve the town.You can pick up a leaflet at the NPWS visitors centre in the old hospital (daily 9.30am–12.30pm & 1.30–4.30pm), where there is also a small museum ($2), and take a self-guided walk around the village, or rent some equipment and try your hand at panning or fossicking. There’s an underground mine tour daily at 1pm ($4.50) and a gold-panning tour at 11am ($3).
You can stay in the Royal Motel here and eat in the restaurant. There is also a B&B, as well as camping areas run by the NPWS
