Candelo

Travelling inland along the valley of the Bega River, the road ambles through rich dairy and beef country before arriving at the historical village of Candelo. The town remains a meeting place and through fare for travellers and, increasingly, musicians and artists. Set on the banks of the Candelo River and with a population of just 300, you’ll be surprised by the local fare and busy events calendar. On the first Sunday of each month, the town hosts one of the region’s oldest markets and there are regular music festivals, open recordings and performances at the historical town hall and St Peter’s Church. The famed Candelo Village Festival occurs every two years and is a celebration of music, arts, crafts and village life. Although bullock teams no longer pass through town and there is little need for blacksmith's shops, a walk along these streets conjures up images of a past way of life. Candelo today still retains many of its nineteenth-century old buildings, offering a warm and open reception to travellers. Venturing further afield, Candelo is surrounded by beautiful old forests and clear waterways. In South East Forests National Park you can take bushwalks through old-growth forest, go boulder hopping through the network of waterways, picnic by a creek or take exploratory drives along the forest trails.