Five must-visit spots in Mudgee
The food and wine haven of Mudgee has some top shopping, dining and drink offerings.
Just three and a half hours out of Sydney, the regional town has a fantastic wine region, stunning scenery, great eating and wonderful shopping and art. We have rounded up some of the best destinations that can be enjoyed in the winter when the weather is cold and crisp as well as in the hot summer months, when being outside is always the desired option.
1. Three Tails Brewery & Smokehouse
Occupying Mudgee’s former post office, the popular Three Tails Brewery & Smokehouse has added a different flavour to the town’s food and drink scene since its 2020 opening.
In an industry dominated by big corporations, owners Mick Ash and Johnny Latta have hung their hats on offering only independent beverages, from beers and spirits to wines and soft drinks.
Featuring a Brooklyn-themed bar and two kitchens serving Texan-style barbecue and tapas-inspired options, the brewery has an impressive 21 local and international craft beers on tap and regularly releases new brews.
In addition to its wine list centred on Mudgee drops, Three Tails has collaborated with local winemakers to offer special brews such as Two Worlds Collide, a rose lager that combines its bestselling Lewis Street Lager with a Robert Stein shiraz juice; 13 Lewis St.
2. Good Day Lifestyle Co
Stroll down Perry St and it’s hard to miss the former Salvation Army citadel with its eye-catching pink doors, now home to Good Day Lifestyle Co’s lively collection of homewares and fashion. “Welcome to my castle of colour,” owner Emma Baker sings out as customers enter the store, built around her dual love of good design and bright shades.
A former fashion designer, Baker made the move from Sydney to Mudgee in 2020 and launched the store two years later after identifying an opening for a brighter, quirkier style of decor items and clothing.
From bed linen and tableware to formal dresses, Good Day’s range features companies such as Kip&Co, Sage and Clare, and Bonnie and Neil, as well as Sydney designer LAU. Baker says the store’s name describes the feeling she wants customers to leave with. “I want people to walk out and be like, ‘Oh, that was just so much fun, I feel so happy’”; 19-23 Perry St.
3. Althea by Zin Bakery
It’s easy to see why Kim Currie is often complimented on the beautiful appearance of her artisan bakery, Althea By Zin, as well as its delectable food.
The pale grey and green shopfront opens onto honey-hued timber flooring, where an oriental runner leads to a bounty of goodies. Step inside and you’ll be embraced by the aromatic blend of fresh sourdough, golden pastries and roasted coffee.
Currie, executive chef of The Zin House at Mudgee’s Lowe Winery, opened the business in 2021, naming it after her mother, who inspired her love of baking.
Head baker Marek Delacre, who was raised in a small town near Bordeaux in France, says bestsellers include his almond and plain croissants and Danish pastries with delicious toppings such as white peaches and berries.
Also in demand are the Roman pizzas, quiches and sausage rolls made with produce from the Lowe Family Wine Co’s organic and biodynamic farm and other Mudgee suppliers; cnr Church and Horatio streets.
4. Mudgee Arts Precinct
Set back from the heritage buildings that line much of Market St, the Mudgee Arts Precinct has become a popular addition to the town since its 2021 opening.
Built beside the gracious former Cudgegong Shire Council building, the precinct’s modern design has received an Australian Institute of Architecture award, while its calendar of exhibitions is also winning plaudits.
The precinct opened with a showing of work by Archibald Prize-winning Mudgee man Guido Maestri and renowned artist Ben Quilty. Until April 28, Julian Meagher’s oil paintings of the Mudgee region are on display, capturing the transition between night and day.
Visitors with an appetite for more than art will appreciate that the precinct is home to the visitor information centre, which sells an enticing range of local products, from soaps to honey and chocolate; 90 Market St.
5. Coco Mudgee
Located in a sweet spot on central Market St, Coco Mudgee is a mecca for chocolate lovers, and features more than 30 Australian brands, including owner Courtenay Trethowan’s Coco Mudgee creations.
A former nurse, Trethowan started making chocolate in 2021 after deciding to realise her lifelong dream of owning a store dedicated to the sweet treat. She says the shop’s bestseller is a blood-orange dark chocolate, although her personal favourite is her pistachio and cranberry combination.
The shop also stocks a range of country-style homewares, art works and culinary offerings that include the creations of other Mudgee businesses such as Pebbly Path Rocky Road. Shoppers can pick up a takeaway hot chocolate or espresso at the coffee bar to sip while they explore the wares; 85 Market St.
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