Drive beyond the haze of the Blue Mountains, and it won’t be long before you reach the open plains and abundant farmlands of the Central West. From the slopes of the Central Tablelands out to the western flats, here you’ll find delicious produce, excellent wine and fascinating stories aplenty.
Book in for lazy winery lunches, produce-laden tours and long hikes at the foodie hubs of Orange and Mudgee. You’ll be leaving these famous wine regions with a packed car boot, laden with local food and a rattling half-dozen bottles.
There’s also the lively student city of Bathurst, with its impressive heritage and need for speed when it comes to car racing. Discover the captivating stories of Cowra, once the site of a daring escape by Japanese prisoners of war.
Delight kids and family alike with a day out at Dubbo’s very own African safari, or with a trip to the iconic ‘Dish’ out in Parkes to learn more about the stars that shine so bright out here.
The food and wine town of Mudgee on the Cudgegong River has it all: cellar doors to visit, colonial-era buildings to see and local brews to try. Get back to nature here on nearby bush, wetland and rainforest trails.
Renowned for its vineyards and fruit orchards, the Central Tablelands town plays the bountiful host for any gourmet long weekend. Peruse its elegant boutique high street shops, tramp over snow-covered fields in winter and go cherry picking in spring.
Take a walk on the wild side at the Orana region city of Dubbo, a family-favourite that’s home to an African Plains-style safari adventure, heritage architecture and millions of stars that you can spy at the town’s observatory.
Australia’s oldest inland city is young at heart, with a burgeoning student population and thrilling motorsport races at Mount Panorama. Check out the remnants of its gold rush heritage and the toothsome inhabitants of its fossil and mineral museum.
Famous as the site of a former Prisoner of War Camp Site during World War Two, today the country town is home to a peaceful Japanese Garden and annual Cherry Blossom Festival, as well as vineyards, art exhibitions and gold rush history.
Sample the best of the region’s cool-climate wines at any of the cellar doors in Orange. Don’t miss the European heritage Rowlee Wines, the family-run De Salis Wines (with its beautiful Blanc de Blanc sparkling), and the petting zoo at the Heifer Station Wines woolshed.
Over in Mudgee, start exploring one of Australia’s oldest wine regions at the Lowe Cellar Door, a certified organic and biodynamic vineyard. Check out the vintage motorcycle on display at Robert Stein winery, and the stunning family-owned De Beaurepaire Wines, with its French-style wines.
Make like The Lion King on the open plains of Taronga Western Plains Zoo. With lions, meerkats, giraffes and zebras, a visit here feels like an African safari.
There’s lots of Australian wildlife to discover as well. Among the ridges of Nangar National Park, you might spot swooping wedge-tailed eagles, as well as roos and wallabies as you take the Mount Nangar walking track.
If you find yourself at Orange on a warm day, Lake Canobolas has ‘beaches’ from which you can launch yourself into its waters, as well as picnic areas where you can set up a late lunch.
What better way to see the mountains and vines of Mudgee, than from the sky? Book a Mudgee hot air balloon tour at sunrise to take to the air, before having a champagne breakfast.
At Dubbo, visit the old gaol lockup. Dating back to the 19th century, today a trip here will see you interact with theatrical performances and explore the historical grounds. At Bathurst, there is high tea at the heritage Abercrombie House, a Scottish-style mansion from the 1870s.
In spring, walk up Cowra’s Sakura Avenue, to see the cherry trees blossom. It’s between the Japanese Garden and the site of the old Prisoner of War Camp, which housed Japanese prisoners in World War Two.
To get to Central West NSW by car from Sydney, you’ll need to cross the Blue Mountains. It’s a two-hour trip to Lithgow in the foothills, two hours and 45 minutes to Bathurst, 2.5 hours to Oberon, 3.5 hours before you reach Orange or Mudgee, four hours to Cowra, and five hours to Dubbo.
NSW TrainLink runs daily services from Sydney to Lithgow. Take this and jump on one of the coach services that go to Mudgee or Orange, or simply fly direct to Mudgee, Orange or Bathurst airport.
In winter the thermometer in the Central West drops, and you’re in with a shot of seeing snowflakes fall in Orange. In summer, temperatures out in Mudgee and Orange can reach the high thirties.
Spring and autumn are pleasant in between, with plenty of festivals to boot. Catch the Mudgee Food and Wine Festival in September, Orange’s Wine Festival in October, Bathurst 1000 motorsport race in November, and F.O.O.D Week festival in April.
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