Is this Australia’s best-kept secret?

THE nation’s best hidden town has just been revealed by a travel magazine. So forget Australia’s “more obvious gems”, this is where you should be instead.

WONDERING where to go these summer holidays?

Australia’s best-kept secret spot has just been named in the Australian Traveller Magazine Readers’ Choice Awards.

Wait! Turns out they couldn’t decide on just one winner, instead it’s a tie between the Mudgee region and Orange, both located in New South Wales.

According to Australian Traveller, they are both gorgeous towns that are “all too often overlooked for NSW’s more obvious gems”.

Beautiful Orange.

Mudgee, which is nestled away approximately 3.5 hours drive from Sydney, is apparently the ultimate weekend escape. Nearby Gulgong, Kandos and Rylstone are also part of the broader Mudgee region, where travellers flock to in their hunt for great food, wine, art and sightseeing options.

YOUR SAY: Which destinations are our best-kept secrets? Tell us below.

Lonely Planet describes Mudgee as a “quaint little grid of a town with vineyards on its edge and rolling hills wherever you turn”.

The gardens at Evanslea B & B (Bed and Breakfast) in Mudgee.

“The wineries come hand in hand with excellent cuisine, making it a popular weekend getaway where gastronomic exploration is central to the experience.”

Meanwhile, the travel guidebook said Orange is a “dedicated food-and-wine hub with four distinct seasons — and a food festival for each.”

It also praised the town’s parks and gardens.

A former church, now a private home in Millthorpe, near Orange.

Mudgee Region Tourism Incorporated CEO Cara George said the area is becoming increasingly popular.

“While it is no secret to us, we are thrilled to hear that the rest of Australia is appreciating the Mudgee Region and all it has to offer,” Ms George said.

“This has been reflected in visitor numbers in the last two years, with an increase of approximately 9 per cent (45,000 visitors). The Mudgee Region provides a sensory feast of food, wine, culture and more, and it only continues to grow, however the region continues to maintain its country charm and friendly welcoming nature.”