A Canberra Girl’s Guide to Bathurst
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Bathurst has a reputation for high-octane thrills – but scratch the surface and you’ll find a town that’s equal parts sophisticated and surprising.
One of New South Wales’ biggest and most beautiful regional towns, Bathurst has long been recognised as a hotspot for motorsport enthusiasts thanks to the Bathurst 1000 – but it also offers a stunning escape for those looking for a destination that fuses heritage with art, culture and food.
Just over three hours’ drive from Canberra (perfect for a long weekend away), from the best places to eat to where to try local wines, here’s your Canberra Girl’s Guide to Bathurst.
STAY
Bishop’s Court Estate
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Tucked away next to the Hogwarts-esque St Stanislaus’ College, Bishop’s Court Estate is a boutique hotel unlike anywhere you have ever stayed, or ever will. A destination in its own right, the luxury lodging is private and intimate, with only six guest rooms that all pay tribute to its history as the residence for the first Anglican Bishop of Bathurst.
Originally built in 1870, Bishop’s Court Estate has been owned and operated by Christine Le Fevre for over 20 years, who transformed the building – and the acre of parkland it sits on – into an elegant escape using her background as a luxury hotel interior designer.
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Inside the two-storey property, the fit-out is eclectic, styled with what looks like a thrown-together nonchalance that actually artfully balances colours, shapes and arrangements. Bookshelves groan with books, Memory Blocks by Vancouver-based artist Sid Dickens are artfully scattered on walls alongside historical photographs, and European-inspired furniture invites guests to sit and linger over champagne and chocolate. A glance at the gardens will have you thinking that you’re in Provence, and the Chapel has been converted into a dining room that wouldn’t look out of place in Baz Luhrmann’s Romeo + Juliet.
The Chapel.
But Bishop’s Court Estate isn’t just a bed for the night.
While the venue is undoubtedly beautiful, it’s Christine herself who makes the experience of staying there so special. Not only is she one of the most interesting people you will ever meet, but she truly values country hospitality, going above and beyond to make guests feel pampered and at home all at once.
From serving a two-course gourmet breakfast in the morning to hosting Golden Hour drinks, she masterfully creates a connection with (and between), the guests, turning Bishop’s Court Estate from a hotel to an experience.
Make sure to take up Christine’s offer of a drink and ask her about her life – from how Bishop’s Court Estate became the boutique hotel that one racing club has booked out in perpetuity for the Bathurst 1000, to some of the celebrities that have stayed there, your jaw will be on the floor.
Golden Hour drinks.
EAT
Breakfast, brunch and lunch
With breakfast provided by Christine at Bishop’s Court Estate, there aren’t many reasons to leave the comforts of the Victorian Mansion in the morning.
Always starting the meal with a fruit parfait, followed by their Breakfast Stack (a poached egg on a bed of baby spinach on toasted rustic bread topped with crisp, shredded maple-cured bacon) and served with fresh orange juice along with your choice of tea and coffee, it’s hard to find a café to rival the offering.
However, there’s no such thing as too much coffee.
The Hub is a popular espresso bar that’s always bustling with locals. Serving their own coffee blend (roasted locally by Fish River Roasters), a quick glance at the menu reveals breakfast and lunch dishes highlighting high quality and fresh produce from the area.
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Bathurst River Café is also worth visiting, if you know where to look. Nestled along the Macquarie-Wambuul River, it’s a hidden gem that offers enchanting views. Serene and secluded, you can easily picture yourself here sipping on a coffee while trying one of the many handmade cakes.
Dinner and drinks
Bathurst might be known for its high-octane image, but this is a city serious about its food – especially when it comes to an evening out.
Packed with hip bars and edgy eateries, there’s almost an overwhelming amount of choice. But when we asked the locals, it was Bootleg that kept topping every list. Serving modern Australian food in a heritage 1840s building, the menu here is share-style and spans freshly made in-house pasta and charcoal-cooked meat.
Bootleg. Supplied
Driven by seasonality, the highlights of the snacks and small plates included the pork crackling (with smoked paprika and lemon zest), and the octopus served with hazelnut nduja and anchovy romesco, green chilli, basil puree and balsamic.
When it came to the pasta, the pan-fried gnocchi with pumpkin puree, pickled beetroot, buffalo bocconcini and sage butter was voted the best dish of the night by the whole table, while the gluten-free pork and fennel ragu served with borlotti and lemon was fresh and rich.
As for mains, a steak is always a good choice and the side of roasted carrots with hommus, quinoa, freekeh, rocket and parsley is a must-try. Make sure to book a table on the enclosed balcony for views of the town while you work your way through their extensive wine list.
Well-established favourite Church Bar was also recommended by many locals but we decided to try Norma Joan – one of Bathurst’s newest restaurants. Inspired and named after his grandmothers, Owner and Executive Chef Michael Madden has created a relaxed fine dining venue that is focused on flavour.
Frequently changing the menu to match the season, the food is made with the freshest, locally sourced, and in-season ingredients – but there are some must-try mainstays, like the potato scallop served with kangaroo tartare and the steak frites (think: 400g sirloin topped with the very addictive Norma de Joan butter).
Two of the dishes from Norma Joan.
We also tried the roasted pumpkin with housemade dukkah and pumpkin jus, and the Blakeney Pork Tomahawk with pan verjus and apple jus, before finishing the meal with a lime cheesecake. Well worth every bite.
PLAY
Bathurst Heritage Trades Trail
As Australia’s oldest inland European settlement, Bathurst is overflowing with history, but the Bathurst Heritage Trades Trail is perhaps the best way to experience it.
An annual event, the trail honours the trades and traditions that have shaped the region and its rich history. Showcasing rare and lost trades and crafts, you’ll see everything from blacksmithing to lace making, whip cracking and even antique velocipedes. With over 100 local artists, makers and creators, you can even get hands-on with trade workshops.
Plus – to make the most of the weekend – there is a “Heritage Trail’ to explore, complete with a free shuttle bus running to each of Bathurst’s premier heritage venues; including Abercrombie House, Chifley Home and Education Centre, the Bathurst Rail Museum and many more.
A wholesome, community event, for anyone interested in learning about the town, it’s worth popping into your calendar.
Bathurst Regional Motor Museum
When travelling to Bathurst, a visit to the spiritual home of Australian motor sport is a must.
Located on Mount Panorama – next to the iconic track – the Bathurst Regional Motor Museum dives into the history of the sport, showing original trophies, race suits, leathers, race footage and photographs. Also constantly rotating through exhibitions, they always have something new for visitors to see, including many legendary race cars that have raced on the Mount Panorama Motor Racing Circuit.
Credit: David Roma
Open to the public most of the year, you can even take a lap of the circuit while visiting the museum. We did – twice. The first time was in our car, but the second was extra special because Museum Coordinator Brad Owen was kind enough to take us on a hot lap in a 1970s race car.
Usually an experience they just reserve for Father’s Day due to the wear and tear on the cars, even as someone who doesn’t know Peter Brock from Garth Tander, the experience was jaw-dropping.
Safely going the 60km/h speed limit, it felt completely different to driving in a modern car, and as Brad took each corner, he would explain how fast the Bathurst 1000 drivers would be going – with the top speed at 300 km/h. A must-do experience if you ever get the opportunity, it’s as close to experiencing the 161-lap endurance race at Mount Panorama as I’ll ever get. Not only did I leave with a smile on my face, but I also have a newfound respect for race-car drivers.
Renzaglia Wines
Home to a growing wine industry, there’s a handful of wineries to visit in Bathurst, including the popular Renzaglia Wines. Located a 25-minute drive from town in the village of O’Connell, this is a boutique, family-run winery that’s made a name for itself for its experimental approach to winemaking.
Run by third-generation winemaker Sam Renzaglia, the wines are made with grapes from one of the three vineyards they manage (as well as from some sourced from Orange and Mudgee), and they use a variety of vessels for the fermentation process – including concrete, amphorae, and glass. They also don’t add yeast, sulphur (until before bottling), tannin, sugar, or acid, and the results are what they describe as ‘spontaneous’ wine.
Overlooking the beautiful rolling hills of the Wambuul Valley, Renzaglia Wines is open for tasting by appointment only on Saturdays. Offering a unique wine-tasting experience, I highly recommend the Resiling and Pinot Noir; both best enjoyed with one of their grazing boards.
Bathurst Grange Distillery
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Nestled on a historic and heritage listed farm, Bathurst Grange Distillery is a worth a visit for anyone who loves a good G&T.
Established as a working farm in 1823, Grange has hosted many well-known figures in its history (including Charles Darwin and Brett Whiteley), and the Jones family has been on the land since 1972. Producing award-winning gin and whisky since 2014, the distillery is surrounded by views of the wetlands and grazing fields, and is home to miniature ponies, sheep, bees and alpacas, as well as a 100-year-old graveyard with the graves of the West Family – the original owners of the property.
Making their gin with locally sourced ingredients (including some grown on the farm), they serve drinks in the old tin shed, which has been transformed into a modern drinking spot with a hint of rustic charm.
Book yourself the tour and tasting to fully appreciate the generations of work that have made Bathurst Grange Distillery what it is today – and with plans to open a new 120-person capacity kitchen, keep an eye out for all the special events they plan on hosting in the future.
And more
Also home to gorgeous boutique shops, the Bathurst Chocolate Boutique, and many more amazing places to eat (pop Annies Ice-Cream and Matt Moran’s The Rockley Pub on your list), this is just the beginning of Bathurst’s sophisticated side.
Go to bathurstregion.com.au to plan your Bathurst holiday.
The author travelled to Bathurst courtesy of Destination NSW. Her opinions remain her own.
Feature image: Visit Bathurst.
