Location and Travel Information
Location (Google Map at bottom of this page !)
Manilla is located 345kms north of Sydney by air and is 220kms inland from the east coast.
Mt Borah is 12kms NW of Manilla S30*40’45” E150*36’22”.
Travel Information :
Road (Detailed Directions are at bottom of this page)
From Sydney (459kms) via F3 Freeway to Newcastle/Maitland, New England Hwy (NR15) to Muswellbrook and Tamworth, then Fossickers Way (MR95) to Manilla. Travel time approx 6hrs (includes 1 hr from Central Sydney to F3).
From Brisbane via New England Highway (Warwick, Armidale, Tamworth, Manilla) 622kms, 7hrs. Via Cunningham Hwy and Fossickers Way (Warwick, Ingelwood, Texas, Yetman, Bingara, Barraba, Manilla) 530kms, 6hrs.
Tamworth > Manilla is 45kms, approx 25mins driving time.
Manilla > Mt Borah is 12kms, approx 10 minutes driving time.
Be careful when using web based maps such as Google and WhereIs for driving directions !!!! Not all routes shown are the shortest ones - always check a real map first !!!!!! Full driving directions from Sydney, Brisbane, Melbourne and North Coast NSW are at the bottom of this page !
Bus :
Greyhound operates daily services from Sydney, Brisbane and Melbourne to Tamworth via its national network : www.greyhound.com.au
There is a local bus service between Manilla and Tamworth on weekdays only. Bus # 443 : Dep Tamworth 10.40am (Kable Av) and 3.50pm (Train Station), Dep Manilla 7.32 am and 11.25am. Check web site for updated timetable info : www.tamworthbuslines.com.au
There is also a Manilla to Tamworth daily bus service available via Country Link (see below) that Dep Tamworth Railway Station 4pm and Dep Manilla 10am every day.
Train :
CountryLink has a 1x daily train/bus service each way between Manilla and Sydney via Tamworth. Departures are around 10am, arrive 5pm (7hrs) both ways. A bus is used for the Tamworth to Manilla section. www.countrylink.nsw.gov.au . Pick ups to accomodation at Mt Borah can be arranged by contacting Manilla Paragliding 02 67856545.
Air :
Tamworth has a major regional airport and currently has up to 5 daily return QANTAS-Link Q400 turbo-prop commuter services to/from Sydney (45mins) www.qantas.com . Prices are from A$120 one way if you book ahead on the internet. There are also 2 daily return flights to Brisbane (70mins) with www.brindabellaairlines.com.au . Prices are from A$168 one way via internet bookings. Tamworth Airport Pick ups to accomodation at Mt Borah can be arranged by contacting Manilla Paragliding 02 67856545.
Manilla to Mt Borah Transport :
There is no public transport between Manilla and Mt Borah. Pick ups to Manilla Paragliding's cabin and camping accomodation at Mt Borah can be arranged by contacting Manilla Paragliding 02 67856545.
Mt Borah Take Off Pilot Transport :
The Borah Basher runs on flying days all summer XC season (Oct-April) providing transport up and around Mt Borah. Cost is $5 per ride. Free for competitors during events. Regularly departs Godfrey’s in the mornings from aroud 10am.
Car and Bus Hire, Car and 4WD Sales :
Tamworth also has all 5 major national, and 2 local, car hire companies present with a variety of types available including cars, station wagons, 4WD’s and mini-buses. It is cheaper to rent cars from Sydney as they have unlimited kms, the Tamworth ones generally only have 200kms/day free.
There are a number of cheap non-national ones in Sydney. BUT beware of a company in East Sydney (near Kings Cross) called “Bayswater Car Rentals“ - they are really cheap but have a record for being dishonest with damage to cars which then pay for with your credit card after going home !!!
Manilla Paragliding has 2x Toyata Hiace mini buses (12 seats) for hire to groups - please contact Godfrey on 0267856545 or email click here.
Manilla has a budget car sales yard “Royal Auto’s” just behind the Royal Hotel with great deals to purchase cheaper cars, 4WD’s and vans from A$1000 ! ph : 02 6785 1943 (ask for Alan).
There is also the backpackers car market which operates daily in Kings Cross, Sydney for those that want to buy a car there and who know about what to look for (ie: they have bought cars before).
Manilla Taxi Service :
Special rates can be pre-arranged for Tamworth pick-ups and transfers to Mt Borah (approx A$160 one way). Ph 02 67 851385 ; Mobile (24hrs) 0429 851385
Driving directions to Manilla Paragliding/Mt Borah
From Sydney (approx 5hrs) :
Take F3 Freeway in the direction of Newcastle, then New England Highway to Tamworth.
In Tamworth arriving from Sydney (approx 45mins to Mt Borah):
- Arrive at 1st set of traffic lights - turn right towards town centre.
- Drive over Peel River Bridge
- Drive through Traffic Lights (2nd set)
- At 3rd set of lights (Peel St – shopping street with Palm Tree’s) turn left.
- Drive north 45kms on Peel St / Fossickers Way > Manilla
From Manilla (approx 10mins) :
- Drive through town and then head (direction Barraba) north over the Namoi River Bridge
- 200m after bridge, turn left into Boggabri Rd (you will see a paraglider graphic left pointer sign - IMPORTANT - DO NOT drive straight ahead to Barraba and Upper Manilla like most Car GPS Navi units tell you to do !!!!!)
- Drive 1km
- Just after Manilla River concrete bridge turn right into Wimbourne Rd (you will see a paraglider graphic right pointer sign)
- Drive 11kms (its gravel after 6kms)
- Count 2 big creek dips on the way – go slow they are badly designed !
- Just after the 2nd big dip (gully crossing) 11kms turn right into Manilla Paragliding sign posted driveway.
- NOTE : Mt Borah access road is 50m further along Wimbourne Rd on left.
Wimbourne Rd continues on to Upper Manilla (7kms) and meets with the Fossickers Way to Barraba.
From Brisbane (approx 7hrs) :
Refer to a map and drive via the following towns : Warwick, Inglewood, Texas, Yetman, Warialda, Bingara, Barraba – once in Upper Manilla turn RIGHT into Wimbourne Rd (there is a smiling paraglider man sign pointing) – drive 7kms on the gravel road (keep LEFT and go over the cattle grid at the first Y intersection and turn RIGHT at the T intersection at 4kms), at 6kms turn LEFT into the well signposted MPG driveway (Mt Borah is on your right).
From North Coast NSW (approx 7hrs Byron Bay) :
Refer to a map and drive via Grafton, Ebor (Waterfall Way), Armidale (New England Hwy), Bendemeer then once in Moonbi (at the bottom of the Moonbi Hills decent) just after the 50km/h sign turn right into Moonbi Gap Rd (for 10kms towards Moore Ck area), then turn LEFT at T Int, drive 6kms then turn RIGHT towards Moore and Attunga. Turn RIGHT towards Attunga and Manilla on Fossickers way.
From Mid North Coast NSW (approx 3.5hrs Coffs Hr/Port Macq):
Coffs Harbour > Drive to Armidale on Waterfall Way then as above (Moonbi etc)
Port Macquarie > Drive to Walcha and Bendemeer on Oxley Hwy then as above (Moonbi etc)
From Melbourne (approx 14hrs) :
Freeway to Seymour, then LEFT on Goulburn Valley Hwy > Shepparton, Tocumwal, then Newell Hwy > Narrandera, Forbes, Dubbo, then RIGHT on to Golden Hwy > Dunedoo, after 8kms LEFT on Black Stump Way > Coolah, Tambar Springs, Mullaley, then RIGHT on to Oxley Hwy > Gunnedah, then RIGHT towards Tamworth (still Oxley Hwy), 29kms turn LEFT toward Lake Keepit and Manilla. Once in Manilla’s main shopping street as noted above (over Namoi River Bridge direction Barraba 200m then left etc).