A Canberra Girl’s Guide to Mudgee
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Whether you’re swirling a glass of local shiraz, browsing boutiques on Market Street, or learning the art of chocolate making, this nest in the hills delivers. Here’s your Canberra Girl’s Guide to Mudgee.
Mudgee is a wine region with more personality than your average cellar door, where heritage buildings line the streets, award-winning restaurants showcase local produce, and the pace of life slows to something wonderfully unhurried.
Just four and a half hours from Canberra, Mudgee offers the perfect long weekend escape for those craving good food, great wine, and that genuine country town charm that makes you want to extend your stay. The name itself comes from the Wiradjuri word “Moothi,” meaning “nest in the hills” – and once you’re settled in, you’ll understand exactly why.
Image: Destination NSW
Make a long weekend of it to give yourself adequate time to explore everything from art workshops in vineyard settings to award-winning chocolate makers and some of the state’s oldest wine bars. Here’s your guide to eating, staying, and playing your way through Mudgee.
EAT
Mudgee’s food scene punches well above its weight for a regional town of its size. Whether you’re keen for a pub meal or refined paddock-to-plate dining, you’ll be spoilt for choice.
Gigi’s
Inside Gigi’s Restaurant in Mudgee. Credit: Destination NSW
Farm to table gets the Mudgee treatment at Gigi’s, located on-site at the beautiful Clairfield Hotel.
This relaxed and elegant spot celebrates local seasonal produce with an incredible menu of regionally-inspired food that changes with the seasons.
Whether you’re popping in for breakfast, settling in for a leisurely lunch, or enjoying dinner with friends, the house-made cocktails and carefully selected local and international wines make every meal feel like an occasion.
With its focus on showcasing the region’s bounty, a visit to Gigi’s is practically mandatory for any Mudgee trip.
Alby & Esthers
Alby & Esthers. Image: Destination NSW
Tucked up an inviting alleyway, you’ll discover Alby & Esthers – a picturesque grapevine-covered courtyard and circa 1873 stone terrace oozing character and charm, with varied seating options both indoor and out.
Heaving with locals, this is the kind of place where breakfast turns into a lingering affair – don’t leave without trying one of their signature toasties!
The Barn at Blue Wren Farm
Framed by verdant lawns and lush vines, The Barn offers a relaxed dining experience focused on simple, seasonal, and utterly delicious food.
The wine list has been carefully curated to highlight the amazing wines produced in Mudgee and the wider region, complemented by an array of boutique beers and other drinks.
It’s regional dining at its finest – unpretentious, flavourful, and deeply connected to place.
Roth’s Wine Bar
Roth’s Wine Bar, Mudgee. Image: Destination NSW.
One of the state’s oldest wine bars, Roth’s has been serving up local drops for over 100 years, and it’s still going strong.
With more than 100 wines available by the bottle to drink or takeaway, plus a weekly selection of wines by the glass, Roth’s is the perfect place to sample Mudgee’s top vineyards.
The menu features woodfired pizza and tapas, accompanied by live music every Friday and Saturday night.
The Zin House
Image: Destination NSW
Set on the organic and biodynamic Lowe Family Wine Co property, The Zin House is headed by Chef Kim Currie and has recently transformed its dining approach.
Previously known for set menu long lunches, the restaurant is relaunching in early 2026 as Zin – Food & Wine with a fresh concept. The new format features a Mediterranean and Middle Eastern-inspired tasting menu with shared dishes, paired with wines from the estate.
It’s destination dining that showcases the region’s organic produce in a more relaxed, accessible style – perfect for a leisurely afternoon in the vineyard.
Oriental Hotel
For something more casual, the Oriental Hotel is elevated classic country dining. The sprawling spot occupies a prime corner block and offers various indoor and outdoor dining and bar spaces with a huge selection of pub faves.
Enjoy boutique beers on tap, plus a large selection of local wines. Their Gin Bar is a particular highlight – choose your gin, mixer, and garnish for a perfectly personalised drink.
PLAY
From artistic adventures to a shopping strip bursting with boutiques – not to mention enough wineries to fill a week or exploration – there’s plenty to do.
Mudgee Arts Precinct
Mudgee Arts Precinct, Mudgee. Image: Destination NSW.
The Mid-Western Region’s cultural home delivers an exhibition program that features artistic excellence from the community and beyond.
The Mudgee Arts Precinct serves as a starting point for many tourists visiting the region, whilst the gallery space is equally enjoyed by visitors and locals alike.
Icons of Pop Art: Warhol and Lichtenstein is currently on loan from the National Gallery of Australia, and on show until 15 March 2026. This landmark exhibition offers a rare opportunity to see some of the most iconic names in international art without leaving regional New South Wales – how often do you get to see Warhol and Lichtenstein surrounded by vineyard country?
A world of wine
Lowe Wines. Image: Destination NSW.
The Mudgee Wine Region is home to some of Australia’s oldest vineyards as well as the nation’s highest! With over 35 Cellar Doors offering a choice of the 44 grape varietals grown in the region… where to begin?
Explore the region’s wineries and cellar doors and plan your visit here!
Rosby Wines
Rosby Wines. Image: Destination NSW.
For those wanting to immerse themselves in Mudgee life and culture, Rosby is a working vineyard property where two passions – art and wine – have entwined to create a sanctuary for those seeking a more creative experience.
Rosby runs a series of art workshops and exhibitions to nurture artists in the community and boasts a permanent art gallery alongside the cellar door.
There are few things more delightful than sipping on a glass of wine in the sculpture garden, overlooking the vineyards.
Mudgee AIR (Artist in Residence)
Keep an eye out for Mudgee AIR – the Mudgee Artist in Residence program – which welcomes 14 of Australia’s best independent artists to paint and create simultaneously.
This year’s inaugural festival saw selected artists spend the week at accommodation properties in Mudgee, creating works that were displayed at Rosby Wines – it’s a wonderful celebration of creativity meeting regional hospitality.
Spencer Cocoa
Meet the maker at Spencer Cocoa. Image supplied.
For dessert (or let’s be honest, any time of day), Spencer Cocoa is a must.
Established in 2013, this award-winning chocolatier makes “bean to bar” chocolate using cocoa beans grown on the island of Malekula, Vanuatu. In Mudgee, the cocoa is roasted, stone-ground and tempered into lively and delicious chocolate.
Join a tour for a hosted insight into how bean-to-bar chocolate is made—you’ll discover the chocolate’s origin story and taste freshly roasted cocoa nibs and Spencer Cocoa’s range of Single Origin Dark, Milk and White Chocolate.
Retail Therapy
Good Day Lifestyle Co. Image: Facebook.
Mudgee’s shopping scene punches well above its weight for a country town, with Market Street and the surrounding blocks offering a delightful mix of boutiques and specialty stores.
Start at Good Day Lifestyle Co on Church Street, housed in a charming historic space and bursting with colourful fashion and homewares that live up to its cheerful name, while Eunoia brims with bright statement pieces and shoes.
Wander to Willow Collective on Market Street for wardrobe staples and statement pieces, or pop into KRYSTIES Boutique – a curated haven of quality Australian brands like Country Road, MIMCO, and Witchery, housed in a gorgeous 19th-century building that once was a Westpac Bank.
For homewares enthusiasts, The Inside Shop on Church Street has everything from cookware to bed linen, while Cherry Red bursts with Australian and international designer brands. Don’t miss Mainly Mudgee for locally sourced products, including olives, honey, and handmade sweets.
Mudgee also has a range of markets where local producers and artisans gather to showcase their wares.
STAY
The Clairfield Hotel, Mudgee
The Clairfield’s lush wellness facility, Jila. Image: supplied.
Nestled at the quiet edge of Mudgee’s vibrant town centre, The Clairfield is a boutique stay with an array of impeccably appointed rooms and luxury suites.
Inspired by the clear fields of Mudgee, the hotel brings warmth and personality that makes guests feel immediately at home.
With their beloved Gigi’s Restaurant and Jila Wellness on-site, The Clairfield is unpretentious and approachable – the perfect base for exploring the region while enjoying some serious creature comforts.
Other options
From quaint countryside huts to boutique hotels, luxury homesteads to historic hotels, you will find plenty of accommodation in Mudgee to suit all budgets.
Go to visitnsw.com to plan your NSW holiday.
The author travelled to Mudgee courtesy of Destination NSW. Her opinions remain her own.
