Old rail wagons filled with rocks at the entrance to Kandos

Kandos (including Ilford)
Small industrial town famous for its association with the production of cement
Kandos is a small industrial town of some 1800 people located in the Capertee Valley, on the lower slopes of Coomber Melon Mountain. It is 231 km north-west of Sydney, 87 km north of Lithgow, 55 km south-east of Mudgee and 762 m above sea-level.

The town came into existence about 1913 when a cement works was set up to take advantage of local supplies - limestone being conveyed from the quarries by means of an enormous aerial ropeway. In fact the original name - Candos - was an acronym based upon the names of the six directors of the first company.

The Rylstone-Kandos Show is held in February and fishing is popular along the Cudgegong, Capertee and Turon Rivers.

Things to see:  

Tourist Information
The local source for tourist information is the Bridge Service Station on Ilford Rd, tel: (02) 6379 4004.

Kandos Bicentennial Museum

Kandos Bicentennial Museum
Kandos Bicentennial Museum is located in an old Methodist church at 22 Buchanan St. Its many exhibits provide an insight into the region's industry and social history. From the museum there is a good view of the massive aerial ropeway which the cement company uses to convey limestone from its quarries. The museum is open on weekends and public holidays from 10.30 a.m. to 4.30 p.m. and on Fridays from 3.00 p.m. to 4.30 p.m. To arrange openings at other times ring (02) 6379 4057 or (02) 6379 4595.

Lookout
To access the town lookout, head south out of town along the main road (Ilford Rd) and turn right just beyond the aerial ropeway.

Turon Technology Museum
The Turon Technology Museum is located at Ilford which is 17 km south-west of Kandos, on the road between Lithgow and Mudgee, tel: (02) 6358 8434.

Windamere Dam
Windamere Dam, on the Cudgegong River, is located about 19 km north-west of Kandos. It was completed in 1984 to meet irrigation, stock and domestic demands. The main drawcard for recreation seekers is the fishing, though sailing and waterskiing are also popular.

Cudgegong Waters Park, located just off the Mudgee Rd at the southern end of the dam, has cabins, campsites, barbecue areas, on-site caravans, a concrete boat ramp and a kiosk selling bait, lures, ice, groceries and petrol.

There are plentiful stocks of golden and silver perch, with lesser numbers of Murray cod and catfish. The numerous fishing spots are outlined in a brochure about the dam which is available at Cudgegong Park or at the Mudgee Visitors' Centre.

Dunns Swamp
Dunns Swamp is located within Wollemi National Park. It was formed by the trapped water of Kandos Weir, established in the 1920s when the Cudgegong River was dammed to provide water for the Kandos cement works. It is an ideal spot for bushwalking, camping, canoeing, swimming, li-loing, birdwatching, fishing and picnicking.

To get there head north-west out of town for 7 km, turn left at the T-intersection then right after another 3 km on to the Narrango Rd. En route you will see, to the immediate east, Mt Coricudgy (1255 m above sea-level).After about 22 km turn left into Dunns Swamp Access Rd which leads to a picnic and camping area.

From this point there is a short wheelchair-friendly walking track which leads to an Aboriginal site that features hand stencils which may be as much as 7000 years old. Numerous other less distinct walking tracks surround the lagoon (as outlined on a National Parks and Wildlife Service brochure relating to the swamp).

The flora and fauna is plentiful, including platypuses and kangaroos, and the world-heritage listed sandstone pagodas provide excellent views of the park.

Sites cannot be booked. There are barbecues but wood supplies are limited so it may be best to take your own. There are pit toilets but no showers or drinking water (if you are using dam water boil it first). For further information ring the National Parks office at Mudgee, tel: (02) 6372 7199.

Mountilford Winery
16 km west of Kandos the Ilford Rd reaches a T-intersection with the Lithgow-Mudgee Road. Turn left and it is a short distance to the small settlement of Ilford. Mount Vincent Road heads east off the Lithgow-Mudgee Road to Mountilford Winery which is situated at an elevation of 1000 metres. It produces gewurztraminer, sylvaner pinot noir and offers accommodation and fine mountain scenery. The cellar door is open from 10.00 a.m. to 4.00 p.m. daily, tel: (02) 6358 8544 or contact them at mtilford@lisp.com.au

	Motels
	Fairway Motel Cnr Ilford Rd & Henbury Ave Kandos NSW 2848 Telephone: (02) 6379 4406 Rating: **1/2
	Kandos Motel 4 Angus Ave Kandos NSW 2848 Telephone: (02) 6379 4030
	Hotels
	Kandos Hotel 2 Angus Ave Kandos NSW 2848 Telephone: (02) 6379 4030
	Railway Hotel Ilford Rd Kandos NSW 2848 Telephone: (02) 6379 4403
	Bed & Breakfast/Guesthouses
	Bill's Bunkhouse Running Stream via Kandos NSW 2850 Telephone: (02) 6358 8282
	Lue Station Lue via Kandos NSW 2850 Telephone: (02) 6373 6452 Facsimile: (02) 6373 6465 Rating: ***
	Mountain Valley Roo-Treat Clandulla Kandos NSW 2848 Telephone: (02) 6379 4318 Facsimile: (02) 6379 6180 Rating: ***1/2
	Tabrabucca Lodge Sydney Rd Ilford Via Kandos NSW 2850 Telephone: (02) 6358 8414
	Wombat Hilltop Sydney Rd Running Stream via Kandos NSW 2850 Telephone: (02) 6358 8211
	Cottages & Cabins
	24 Dabee Rd 24 Dabee Rd Kandos NSW 2850 Telephone: (02) 94281680 or 0428 518 380
	Loquat Cottage Sturt St Kandos NSW 2850 Telephone: 0427 509 048
	The Winery Cottage at Mount Ilford Winery Mr St Vincent Rd Ilford Kandos NSW 2850 Telephone: (02) 6358 8544
	Yates Cottage Sydney Rd Kandos NSW 2850 Telephone: 0427 794 168
	Restaurants
	Henbury Sport & recreation Club Henbury Ave Kandos NSW 2848 Telephone: (02) 6379 4101
	Kandos Hotel 2 Angus Ave Kandos NSW 2848 Telephone: (02) 6379 4030
	Kandos RSL Club 20 Dangar St Kandos NSW 2848 Telephone: (02) 6379 4304
	Railway Hotel 37 Ilford Rd Kandos NSW 2848 Telephone: (02) 6379 4493
	Cafés
	Cherrys Cafe 20 Angus Ave Kandos NSW 2848 Telephone: (02) 6379 6166
	Clock Stop Cafe 37 Angus Ave Kandos NSW 2848 Telephone: (02) 6379 4180
	Coffee on the Avenue 54b Angus Ave Kandos NSW 2848 Telephone: (02) 6379 4017