Bathurst, NSW: Why this town is the hidden gem of the Central West

Over the hills and not far away sits a corner of NSW that is thriving. After a recent visit, it’s clear why.

It’s no secret that when winter arrives, Aussies tend to flee the city in search of a cosy escape perhaps by a log fire, close to a winery or within reach of a few hiking trails.

And while Sydneysiders tend to head north to escape the winter chill, more and more and venturing inland in search for a sprinkle of luxury that won’t break the bank or require an airport visit.

Earlier this year, Wotif announced their ‘best of’ list for 2024 — with a string of destinations from the coast to the country named, all offering the perfect mix of great value and experiences.

Bathurst, and the entire Central NSW region, is soaring in popularity.

Rounding out the top five across the country was Australia’s oldest inland colonial settlement of Bathurst, with the township’s “wealth of history and heritage” alongside its growing food, wine and culture scene widely noted.

The Central NSW region has seen a significant jump in visitation and tourism dollars, with Destination NSW trends indicating a rise of almost 4 per cent to the region along with a spend of around 2.6 billion across 2023 alone.

Abercrombie House, the Bathurst region’s grand heritage treasure and private home of the Morgan family, is open regularly throughout the year for guided and self-guided tours.

So if you’re going to make the 2.5 hour drive from the CBD and over the mountains into ‘Gold Country’ — here’s the best way to do it.

Where to Stay

For the absolute perfect combination of farmstay and a little luxury, you cannot go past a weekend at Rest Private Escape at Boxgrove.

With six beautifully appointed studios, two being fully wheelchair accessible and pet friendly, the cabins overlook the rolling hills of the 170-acre farm (and all the cute cows that call the property home).

After winding down the dirt driveway and through a few small lanes of grapevines, the cabins are hard to miss.

The property contains six stunning cabins, all with uninterrupted views of the countryside.

Cosy, eco-friendly and containing everything you could possibly need for a couple’s weekend away — the cabin contains a kingsize bed, alongside a small kitchenette and dining table for a late-morning breakfast or midafternoon tipple as the sun sets.

Nothing like sitting around the fire as the sun goes down.

The cabins are stocked with plenty of coffee pods and some locally sourced produce to make breakfast at home.

In winter, Bathurst knows how to turn on the chill — so along with an airconditioning unit to keep your cabin toasty warm, there’s also a fire pit allocated to each cabin. And with the cold nights come the clear skies, which make for perfect stargazing conditions.

Each cabin has a cosy set up, with ample windows showing off the stunning property.

But the real highlight for me (especially on a clear night) was filling up the twin outdoor bathtub, pour a very large glass of red (be sure to grab a bottle of shiraz from local standout Renzaglia) and enjoy the serenity.

The highlight of the cabin was this twin bathtub. The ultimate spot to watch the night sky.

If you’re a little prone to feeling the cold, there’s also a luxurious deep-set bathtub inside each bathroom — with a floor to ceiling window so you can catch the views from the comfort of your cabin.

You won't find a better place to have a bath

The cabins are perfectly appointed to kick back and relax.

The property itself was established in the early 70s, and has rolled through family hands ever since. Also working as a wedding venue, it’s hard not to find a corner of the farm you won’t like. And the best part? It’s just 2.5 hours from Sydney.

A friendly cow or 30 to greet you each morning.

The farm spans over 170 acres, with plenty of places to take a leisurely walk.

Given the property is about a 10-minute drive from the centre of town, you are well and truly enveloped in silence while staying at Rest Private Escape.

There’s plenty of leisurely trails to meander through the farmland, and the cows are friendly enough to stop and say hello.

Prices start from $490 per night for an access studio cabin, or $550 per night otherwise.

Where to eat

Bathurst is abundant with plenty of great places to nestle in and have a good feed, cup of coffee or a local wine. A bit of an institution for lunch (or dinner) is Church Bar and a hangout in the courtyard of an afternoon.

Church Bar in Bathurst has a great courtyard space. Picture: DNSW.

The standout pizzas at Church Bar were the Brewongle and the Peel. Picture: DNSW.

Serving up some of the best pizza I have had in a long time, you cannot beat the cosy interior of an old Anglican Church hall. There’s plenty of open fire places and nice lengthy wine list. But the stand out really is the pizza on offer – you cannot go past a ‘Brewongle’ or a simple serving of the ‘Peel’.

For breakfast, locals often gather at The Hub which is on Keppel Street.

Serving their own blend of coffee, Fish River Roasters, the menu is simple but well executed. A chilling 1 degree on my visit had me leaning towards a bowl of pear and maple porridge, which went down an absolute treat.

For a sweet treat, slip into Annie’s Ice Cream Parlour which has been serving locals and visitors alike for 25 years.

The Hub is an institution, serving up simple but well executed breakfast and lunch fare.

This bowl of pear and maple porridge from The Hub warmed the soul.

Annie's Ice Cream is a locals favourite. You cannot go past the Sofala Gold!

For some of the best pizza in town, grab a table at Church Bar.

This is the real deal when it comes to ice cream, with all the favourites on offer. But for something truly delicious and loved by almost everyone who passed through the front door, opt for a scoop of the Sofala Gold — you won’t regret it.

What to do

Who doesn’t love coming face-to-face with a life-size T-Rex. Well, until my visit to Bathurst — I didn’t think I would either.

Spend a few hours at the Australian Fossil and Mineral Museum, which is actually just a few short steps from the courtyard at Church Bar — making it a great spot to visit post lunch.

Come face-to-face with a T-Rex in Bathurst.

The museum is a great way to spend an afternoon especially if you have kids in tow. The life-size dinosaur skeletons along with the interactive displays will keep them busy for hours.

The mineral display features some of the finest and rarest specimens of mineral crystals and fossils from around the world, with over 5,000 objects on show, with fossil section containing a display of every major stage of life on Earth.

The museum is a great way to spend an afternoon especially if you have kids in tow.

For me, the highlight was coming face-to-face with the 10½ metre long and 4½ metre high Tyrannosaurus rex.

Now, if there’s one thing Bathurst knows how to do well it’s using local produce to create something spectacular.

A drive about 15 minutes out of town (make it 25 if you decide to do a lap of Mount Panorama) and you’ll come across the delightful grounds of Bathurst Grange Distillery.

This was truly a highlight during our stay in Bathurst, with some of the best local gin I have tried in some time.

The museum has fossils from every major stage of life on earth.

Before heading out to Bathurst Grange Distillery, swing by Mount Panorama for a view across the city. Picture: Supplied

The gins use some locally sourced ingredients, including roses from the property garden.

The Bathurst Grange Distillery is a great place to spend an afternoon.

The distillery is less than a 15 minute drive from town.

Using his grandmothers roses to infuse the gin, Toby Jones is the creator of the distillery’s spirits using ingredients grown on the farm. His son Nick, who ran our tour, is super passionate about working with local producers to create distinctly Bathurst flavours.

And the whole atmosphere — from the baked Camembert shared plates, to the hazelnuts Nick had roasting on the fire, to the friendly Shetland ponies keen to entertain the kids — the whole vibe will have you coming back time and time again.

This journalist visited Bathurst as a guest of Rest Private Escape at Boxgrove.