Unmissable Highlights on a Road Trip From Sydney to Orange

Make the journey to Orange as incredible as the destination with these must-sees along the way.

Meandering through the World Heritage Blue Mountains and on through the beautifully sun-bleached Australian rural landscapes of the central west, the 3.5-hour drive from Sydney to Orange is punctuated with worthy stops to divert your attention. You could easily make the journey in one go, but you’d miss out on the treasures of heritage towns, delicious food and spectacular scenery along the way. Here are the best places to revive and help you into a minibreak mood before you roll into Orange.

Sydney to Katoomba: 1 hour 45 minutes

You’re setting out for Orange on a sojourn of wining, dining and fun-timing, but you needn’t hurry it along. Slow it down, stretch it out and take the whole day to arrive by enjoying the scenery and charming towns en route, after all, you’re passing through the beautiful Blue Mountains. Escaping the clutch of Sydney traffic is the hardest part of any road trip, but once you’re free of the city limits, the towering eucalypts and gentle curves of the Great Western Highway will give way to a getaway state of mind. Lean into it and stop in Katoomba to enjoy this historic mountain town’s dramatic scenery and a handful of must-see highlights.

Echo Point Lookout

You’ve been on the road for almost two hours now, so get blood pumping to your legs again with a stop at Echo Point Lookout for sweeping vistas of the Jamison Valley and the Three Sisters. While you’re here, fortify for the next part of the journey at the Milkbar, where you can cradle a good coffee and a breakfast roll or crumbed brisket bagel.

Bowery

If you’re pulling into Katoomba in time for brunch or lunch, placate your growing hanger with a stop at casual eatery Bowery . Straddling two meal times, the menu wanders from a sweet brioche French toast to a more filling osso buco or roasted sesame poke bowl. Set in a former church, the vast dining hall and courtyard make for an ambient spot to stop.

Mountain Culture Beer

Katoomba’s beloved brewpub is a must-visit for those in the vehicle not sharing the driving. Although those who are teetotalling will still relish the break to clasp two hands around a generously stuffed burger. If you are partaking in a drink, the craft brewery has plenty of interesting beers to try, such as the Status Quo Pale Ale to the Moon Dust Stout and a range of seasonal brews.

Round Walking Track Katoomba

A short stroll through the rainforest is a truly lovely way to ensure you’re relaxing into a minibreak. You needn’t lace up hiking boots for this concise 1.2-kilometre loop , but you’ll still be treated to a highlight reel of the area’s big-hitter sights, such as the Three Sisters and Witches Leap Waterfall.

Scenic World

If you have a little more time up your sleeve, go big at Scenic World to get right to the heart of the Blue Mountain’s gob-smacking beauty. The Scenic Skyway will glide you across the Jamison Valley, the Scenic Cableway will take you 510 metres down to the valley floor and back again, and the Scenic Railway, the steepest in the world, will descend 310 metres at a 52-degree incline. An Unlimited Discovery Pass will give you access to all attractions, all day.

Katoomba to Bathurst: 1 hour 20 minutes

While Bathurst was the site of the first Australian gold rush, these days, the rush more readily comes from motor racing on Mount Panorama. But away from the engine revving, Bathurst, founded in 1815, remains a beautiful and historic town well worth a stop on your itinerary. Set to the west of the Blue Mountains and on the south bank of the Macquarie River, it has both heritage grandeur and a rural casualness.

The Hub

If you’ve arrived with a need to fill your tank, head to The Hub Espresso Bar and Eatery to refuel. Grinding the beans of Fish River Roasters to make aromatic coffee, this is the place for your caffeine fix. Breakfast is until noon, after that, settle into lunch classics of toasted panini, BLTs and salads outside in the leafy courtyard.

Bathurst Regional Art Gallery

Take an artful detour at this excellent gallery that is well-endowed with a collection of more than 3000 works, from painting and sculpture to photography and ceramics. You’ll find the names of some notable Australian artists gracing the walls, such as James Gleeson, Grace Cossington Smith and Lloyd Rees, while the gallery also hosts feature and touring exhibitions.

Art on display inside Bathurst Art Gallery — Find more than 3000 works on display at the gallery. (Image: Destination NSW)

Abercrombie House

Bathurst isn’t short on marvellous buildings and a stroll through the centre of town will reveal a long and architecturally significant history, such as the Victorian-style courthouse. But rather than admire from the street, why not step back in time with a tour of the stately Abercrombie Hous e? Although privately owned by the Morgan family, this 50-room, 1870s Scottish mansion is regularly open for tours and self-guided tours. Rather incongruously placed in rural Australia, this building is astonishingly well-preserved and worth a visit. You can even enjoy a high tea here on certain dates.

Bathurst to Orange: 50 minutes

If you still have time up your sleeve on the final leg of your journey, there are stops between Bathurst and Orange that deserve your time. Although, the delights of your destination await. Perhaps you’re eager to get cosy by a cottage fire at a snug and stylish Airbnb, sip a much-longed-for glass of pinot noir at a cellar door, or make your reservation at one of Orange’s incredible restaurants. Whatever you don’t manage to fit in on your inward journey, be sure to earmark the below for when it’s time to retrace your steps home.

Group enjoying a tour of vineyards with Orange Wine Tours in Orange — It’s time to enjoy the spoils of Orange with a wine tour. (Image: Destination NSW)

Millthorpe Village

The very idea of a proverbial country village brought to life, Millthorpe is nothing short of adorable . Sweet and welcoming, it’ll have you fantasising about the rural life you always suspected you were made for. Just 20 minutes southeast of Orange, it’s an easy slip off the main route to wander the main street lined with heritage buildings. From vintage shopping to produce-driven eateries and generally beautiful streets, it seems wonderfully uninterrupted by ordinary life.

Larder and Home

If you simply can’t wait to get to Orange for a bite and a cup of good coffee (or a glass of vino), pull into Lucknow, where you’ll find Larder & Home . Owned by the same people behind Orange’s much-adored Byng St Cafe, settle in here by the banks of Summer Hill Creek for Allpress coffee, wood-fired pizza and a well-edited list of local wines.

Highland Heritage

As you enter the outskirts of Orange, toast to your adventures from Sydney by stopping in at Highland Heritage , one of the first cellar doors you’ll see as you drive toward town on the Mitchell Highway. Prime your palate for a weekend of wine-tasting here, where cool climate wines are made in one of Orange’s oldest vineyards. Open from 10am to 5pm, it’s a lovely way to begin (or end) your tour trip.

Aussies might think they know what Port Stephens is all about – but it’s time to take another look.

You might’ve driven through this NSW coast town. Maybe even stopped for fish and chips or a quick dip. But spend a long weekend in the new Port Stephens , and you’ll seriously regret not doing it sooner. We’re talking treks across beaches, reef dives and up-close time with rescued koalas.

All in all? It only takes a day before you see Port Stephens in a whole new light, and not much longer until it’s locked in as your favourite family destination.

1. Stockton Sand Dunes

Port Stephens incredible Stockton Sand Dunes are the largest moving sand mass in the Southern Hemisphere. They shift like an endless magic trick across the Worimi Conservation Lands , a 4200-hectare coastal co-managed by the Traditional Owners.

Tear over them in a 4WD. Rev through valleys soft as melting ice cream on a quad. Carve down 30-metre slopes on a sandboard. However you choose to cross them, you’re guaranteed a seriously wild ride.

Four rugged 4WDs kick up trails of golden dust as they charge across the sweeping desert landscape. — Chase thrills across shifting sands. (Image: Destination NSW)

2. Scale Tomaree Head Summit Walk

A short climb through bushland opens up to the coastal drama of Tomaree Head . Spot Zenith, Wreck and Box Beaches. See the Fingal Island lighthouse and offshore rookeries where Australia’s rarest seabird, the Gould’s petrel, nests.

History buffs can’t miss the WWII gun emplacements. And if you’re hiking between May and November, bring binoculars. Travelling whales might just be breaching below.

Friends enjoying a scenic walk along the Tomaree Head Summit Walk in Tomaree National Park, Port Stephens. — Climb Tomaree Head for jaw-dropping coastal views. (Image: Destination NSW)

3. Watch out for whales

You’ve seen the spouts of migrating humpbacks and southern right whales from shore. Set sail from Nelson Bay to see them up close. Cruise straight into the action, with tail-slaps, barrel rolls and all.

And they’ve got competition from the local show-offs. Port Stephens bottlenose dolphins leap and play. Some tours even spot pudgy fur seals, spending lazy days soaking up the sun on Cabbage Tree Island.

A whale’s tail on the sea’s surface. — Watch for ocean tails. (Image: Destination NSW)

4. Port Stephens Koala Sanctuary

Pop into the Port Stephens Koala Sanctuary to learn about the rescued koalas who climb, nap, snack and heal in this natural patch of bushland. Wander the immersive Sanctuary Story Walk to discover more about their habits, then head to the SKYwalk – a treetop platform constructed for spotting these eucalyptus-loving locals. Peek into the hospital’s viewing window, where sick or injured koalas may be resting in their recovery enclosures.

Not enough time around these adorable marsupials? Stay overnight in silk-lined glamping tents.

Koala sleeping in a tree at Port Stephens Koala Sanctuary, One Mile — See koalas in their natural habitat. (Image: Destination NSW)

5. Diving Port Stephens

Port Stephens has some of NSW’s best dive spots. At Fly Point, float through sponge gardens and coral castles thick with nudibranchs (AKA sea slugs). Halifax Park has blue gropers and crimson-banded wrasse, while Shoal Bay’s seagrass meadows hide pipefish, cuttlefish and octopus.

Accessible only by boat, Broughton Island is home to a vast array of marine (and bird) life. Snorkel with blue devilfish and stingrays at sites like The Looking Glass and North Rock. More experienced divers can head out with one of the many PADI-certified operators.

At nearby Cabbage Tree Island, expect to see shaggy-faced wobbegongs cruising along.

A couple suited up and ready to dive into adventure. — Suit up and dive into Port Stephens’ vibrant marine life. (Image: Destination NSW)

6. Irukandji Shark and Ray Encounters

Not quite ready to dive in? Irukandji Shark and Ray Encounters is the perfect way to spot local marine life without getting too deep. But there’s no obnoxious glass tank tapping here. Instead, this interactive aquarium allows guests to wade into natural-style lagoons that mimic the real thing.

Gently pat Port Jackson and bamboo sharks, hand-feed rays, and feel their sandpapery skin with your fingertips. It is all under expert guidance. If you want to go deeper, pop on a wetsuit and swim alongside tawny nurse sharks, white-tipped reef sharks and zebra sharks in the lagoon.

Family enjoying an animal feeding experience at Irukandji Shark and Ray Encounters, Anna Bay. — Meet the ocean’s friendliest faces at Irukandji. (Image: Destination NSW)

7. Fish the estuaries

Fishing fanatics will fall for Port Stephens hook, line and sinker. Here, one of the largest estuary systems in the whole state sees tidal rivers and mangrove ecosystems. Waterfronts are thick with oysters, and residential fish that might include anything from bream, whiting and flathead, to blue swimmer crabs, kingfish and longtail tuna.

If you prefer to choose your own adventure and fish offshore, you can hire a boat from one of the marinas and set your own course.

three men fishing on a boat in port stephens — Join a tour or chart your own fishing trip. (Image: Destination NSW)

8. Taste new Port Stephens flavours

With plenty of activity to fill your days, refuelling on delectable cuisine becomes equally important. And Port Stephens answers the call.

Pop into Holbert’s Oyster Farm for fresh-farmed Port Stephens rock oysters and Pacific oysters, Australian king and tiger prawns, as well as a variety of tasty sauces to try them with.

Take a group to Atmos for an authentic Greek experience over large shared dishes and Greek-inspired cocktails. Or feast on sea-to-plate, modern Australian dishes at the pet-friendly Restaurant 2317.

A plate of fresh oysters. — Slurp your way through the region’s best oysters. (Image: Destination NSW)

Start planning your Port Stephens getaway at portstephens.org.au .

Unmissable highlights on a road trip from Sydney to Orange