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.

Whales breaching, fires crackling and slow-cooked feasts that make the cold so cosy, one might wish it lasted longer. Winter is no time to stay at home in NSW.

When the mercury drops, winter in NSW comes into its own. Beaches are quieter, the air is crisper and hearty food tastes even better when there’s ice on the windows.

Winter here isn’t for hiding away. It’s for long walks, deep baths, deeper reds and the kind of fireside lounging that feels simultaneously indulgent and entirely deserved after a day of exploring. From whale-watching up north to moodily lit bushwalks and pastry pilgrimages, we’ve mapped out your new favourite season.

a beach winter in nsw — From coastal walks to tasty delights, winter in NSW is a time to get out and about.

The Tweed

In winter, the NSW north coast has a front-row seat to one of nature’s greatest migrations. From May to November, humpbacks cruise past the Tweed coast between Antarctica and the Great Barrier Reef. Spot them from the Cabarita Beach headland or get up closer with a boat cruise.

Inland, find the Tweed Regional Gallery & Margaret Olley Art Centre , which is home to a rotating cast of big-name exhibitions (including Monet).

Later, grab a table at Bistro Livi , where the modern Spanish menu features whipped salt cod on toast and spanner crab with curry butter and spelt flatbread. Stick around to poke through the artist studios and indie boutiques of M|Arts Precinct .

visitors at Tweed Regional Gallery & Margaret Olley Art Centre — Browse the art. (Image: Destination NSW)

The next day, jump aboard the Indigenous Lunch Cruise with Tweed Escapes. You’ll cruise upriver listening to yarns from local Indigenous guides, stop at the Minjungbal Aboriginal Cultural Museum and tuck into lemon myrtle-crusted snapper.

Next, drive out to Farm & Co to pull apart some juicy smoked lamb shoulder with green olive tapenade while gazing out over the macadamia fields and avocado groves of this working farm.

End the day at Mantra on Salt Beach where you’ll enjoy beach access, a heated rock spa and a lagoon pool.

dining room at Bistro Livi — Taste modern Spanish at Bistro Livi.

Blue Mountains

The cold season is hands down the best time to visit the Blue Mountains. Temperatures are perfect – sunny enough for hikes, and crisp enough at night for snuggling up.

For a trip that equally soothes and stirs, start with a meditative meander through the national park’s eucalypts and Australian wildflowers. Brave the steepest passenger railway in the world, Scenic Railway , then hop the Skyway aerial cable car for unrivalled Three Sisters views.

Thaw out at the Japanese Bath House in South Bowenfels. Soak in steamy outdoor onsens filled with natural mineral water and mountain views, wander the rose and zen gardens, or sip hot drinks in the tea house.

group leader at Blue Mountains Stargazing — Rug up for Blue Mountains Stargazing. (Image: Destination NSW)

Afterwards, head to Ates in Blackheath, where everything revolves around a 150-year-old ironbark-fuelled oven – like the wood-roasted duck with nectarines and Szechuan spice. Or visit Tempus Katoomba , which leans experimental and sustainable, serving up dishes like braised fennel with cumin, spiced yogurt and Aleppo pepper.

Rug up and head into the night with Blue Mountains Stargazing . Sessions are guided by astrophysicists, helping you understand what you’re looking at as you look into deep space.

Wrap it all up at Fairmont Resort Blue Mountains – MGallery Collection . There’s a whiskey bar in the basement (and crackling fires that make a dram taste even better), indoor and outdoor pools and a day spa. Kids will love the mirror maze and ice rink, too.

dishes laid out on table at Fairmont Resort Blue Mountains — End the day with delicious meals at Fairmont Resort Blue Mountains. (Image: Destination NSW)

Southern Highlands

Good food and wine by the fire, experienced between sifting through second-hand treasures, is a winter vibe in Bowral.

Start with a lap around Dirty Janes , an antique and vintage market. Recover from your shopping frenzy at Bendooley Book Barn , where floor-to-ceiling shelves and a roaring fire set the tone for an afternoon of red wine or hot coffee.

When it’s time to eat, head to Hickory’s Restaurant & Bar , Peppers Craigieburn Bowral’s onsite restaurant. Try the crispy pork belly with Granny Smith crisps and apple gel, or ocean trout with wakame, lemon gel and pickled radish.

couple looking through Dirty Janes in bowral — Wander the antiques at Dirty Janes. (Image: Destination NSW)

Another option, Onesta Cucina , does Italian with flair. For something more casual (with cocktails), Flour Bar swings between brunch and dinner, with an onsite bakery, over 400 wines and a hidden deli in the old bank vault.

Later, clamber Mt Gibraltar , where trails wind through eucalypt forest to views over Bowral and Mittagong.

Stay at Peppers Craigieburn Bowral , a century-old estate with open fires, elegant lounges and a nine-hole golf course.

woman and her dog winter in nsw at Peppers Craigieburn Bowral — Stay cosy at Peppers Craigieburn Bowral.

Penrith

Shake off winter inertia with an adrenaline boost out in Penrith. Kick things off with a kayak paddle on the Nepean River with Horizon Line, or head to Cables Wake Park , where cold-weather wetsuits take the edge off a wipeout.

For something a bit more cruisy, opt for the Nepean Belle Paddlewheeler for slow-floating views and a hot cuppa.

kayakers on the nepean river in penrith — Head out on the Nepean River. (Image: Destination NSW)

Refuel at Marcel Bar & Bistro , where reimagined European comfort food – like seafood risotto in bisque with little neck clams and Moreton Bay bugs – is king. Then check in at the Pullman Sydney Penrith , the area’s first international five-star hotel, to enjoy your well-earned rest.

Start planning your NSW winter getaway at all.com.

Unmissable highlights on a road trip from Sydney to Orange