The four best ways to have the ultimate indulgent winter weekend in Orange.
You have to embrace winter. There’s so much beauty to be found in the cooler months, so much to celebrate when the days grow shorter and the weather turns cold.
There’s so much beauty to be found in the cooler months.
This is a time to curl up by a fire with a good drink, to sit in a warm restaurant and enjoy a beautiful meal, to stroll through gorgeous countryside and enjoy the crisp, clean winter air. And there’s no better place to do any of those things in the cooler months than Orange.
Whether you’re choosing a rural retreat, a gourmet weekend, or a luxurious getaway, winter in Orange is the perfect time to cocoon, indulge and enjoy.
Winter in Orange is the perfect time to cocoon, indulge and enjoy.
Choose your ideal Orange Weekend away:
1. The Old Convent – This historic stay
2. The Oriana – The retro retreat
3. Millthorpe – The village experience
4. Yallungah – The luxury escape
The Old Convent, Orange – The historic stay
No doubt there was plenty of hardship endured by the original inhabitants of The Old Convent. You, however, will experience no such thing. This boutique homestay, in a set of four buildings about 10 minutes outside Orange, offers a mix of history and luxury, with incredibly good food thrown into the mix.
The Old Convent is just as the name implies: a former convent and schoolhouse. Accommodation options begin with The Cottage, the heritage-listed original convent that was once home to Australia’s only saint, Mary McKillop – it’s now fitted out with lush beds, a deep bath and modern kitchen. There’s also Willow House, a more modern option that’s perfect for families, and The Nun’s Room, a double bedroom attached to the original convent, with all the creature comforts.
The Old Convent is run by Josie and Jeffrey Chapman; Josie is an accomplished chef who serves up homemade breakfasts to guests, and she can be hired for other catering during your stay. This is the ideal place to curl up somewhere warm, enjoy a glass or two of wine from a nearby vineyard, and relax.
Visit oldconvent.com.au.
Enjoy a glass or two of wine from a nearby vineyard and relax.
The Oriana, Orange – The retro retreat
You might think you know the great Australian motel: tired decor, basic facilities, those little slots in the door for your lukewarm breakfast to be slid in each morning. But then, you probably haven’t been to The Oriana, in downtown Orange. The Oriana began its life back in 1968 as a classic country motel, but since coming under new ownership in 2017 it has been transformed into a retro luxury getaway, a 4.5-star property with arty, brightly decorated rooms across a range of price points.
The Oriana is a retro luxury getaway with arty, brightly decorated rooms. (Image: The Oriana)
For those indulging in a winter getaway, one of the biggest drawcards will be the multiple food and drink offerings in this modernised property. Begin with a cosy dinner in The Peacock Room, with its menu of classic European dishes, or choose Bela Vista Bar, a cocktail salon and supper club with a classy, upmarket atmosphere. Hearty breakfasts, meanwhile, will banish any thoughts of those tray meals of old, and set you up for a long day of cold-weather exploration.
One of the biggest drawcards will be the multiple food and drink offerings in this modernised property. (Image: The Oriana)
Visit orianaorange.com.
Millthorpe – The village experience
Here’s the plan in Millthorpe, a charming village about 20 minutes outside Orange: eat, drink, read, stroll, sleep, repeat. There’s nothing else you need to consider. This is the perfect base for winter exploration and enjoyment, where you can wander outdoors if the weather is good, or hunker down somewhere cosy to enjoy high-quality food and wine if it isn’t.
Head to the charming village of Millthorpe, about 20 minutes outside Orange.
For a small village, Millthorpe has a lot to offer visitors, including a raft of gastronomic attractions. This is the home of Tonic, a hatted restaurant full of country charm, which has been true destination dining since its inception in 2003. There are also multiple cellar doors to explore, including Tamburlaine Organic Wines, Slow Wine Co and Angullong Wines. Those with a sweet tooth should also call past Millthorpe Chocolates Cafe and Dolce Sweets and Treats.
Millthorpe also offers ideal winter hideaways, with boutique accommodation in historic bluestone stables at Boambee Stables, a former school at Back to the Reef, and a rural manor at Godolphin.
This is the home of Tonic, a hatted restaurant full of country charm.
Visit millthorpevillage.com.au.
Yallungah – The luxury escape
Perhaps winter, to you, is the time to indulge in a little luxury, to enjoy the finer things in life. In that case, Orange’s gorgeous, 4.5-star Byng Street Boutique Hotel has you covered. This property is built within a stunning, Federation-era homestead known as Yallungah, a vital part of Orange’s history. Having recently been restored to its former glory by owners Thomas and Kristen Nock, Yallungah has become Byng Street Boutique Hotel, an absolute must-stay for anyone chasing classic luxury.
Byng Street Boutique Hotel is an absolute must-stay for anyone chasing classic luxury. (Image: Byng Street Hotel)
The 22 rooms here are beautiful and unique, each thoughtfully designed and housed within a modern or heritage wing, with all the comforts needed for a warm winter stay. The hotel also has a spacious guest lounge with floor-to-ceiling windows so you can curl up with a coffee and catch the morning sunshine. The Yallungah Dining Room, meanwhile, serves two-course a la carte breakfasts to set you up for a day of exploration through Orange’s wineries, art galleries, boutique shops and restaurants.
This property is built within a stunning, Federation-era homestead known as Yallungah, a vital part of Orange’s history. (Image: Byng Street Hotel)
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