How to spend the perfect 24 hours in Orange
Posted on
Good food, cool climate wine and some of the best boutique shopping around—Orange has all that and more.
After visiting once in 2022 for their winter wine festival and falling in love with their perfect combination of a rural community and cosmopolitan lifestyle, when the chance came up to go once again, I jumped at the opportunity—but this time it would only be for 24 hours instead of a few days. All the fun in just one day? Say less.
Just a scenic three-hour drive from Canberra (and with opportunities to stop in Cowra and Canowindra), here’s how to spend the perfect 24 hours in Orange, including where to eat, what to do and where to stay.
1 PM: Stretch your legs and explore the city centre.
View this post on Instagram
When you first get to Orange, your first point of call should be the Visitors Information Centre and the adjacent Orange Regional Gallery. Here, you’ll not only find out what’s happening around town (including local attractions, food suggestions, the best local shopping and more) but you’ll also explore some amazing exhibitions, which is a great way to start your getaway.
From there, the centre of town is an easy walk, and you’ll likely find a few spots to stop and eat or grab a coffee, depending on your desires. If you pop in on a Sunday afternoon (like I did), the boutiques will probably be closed, but there’s nothing like window shopping to narrow down where you’d like to go the next day.
3 PM: Check into Basalt.
View this post on Instagram
Located just a 15-minute drive from the centre of Orange and perched 1100m above sea level, Basalt Luxury Accommodation is the place to book if you’re looking for a private and unique experience.
Nestled above the rolling hills of a cherry orchard (and with distant views of Orange and the wider Central West region) here you’ll find three understated yet luxurious architecturally-designed studios that are self-contained—perfect for couples. With each offering unique views (and featuring rammed earth walls and timber detailing) it’s the little things that will captivate you—from the bathtub that overlooks the rolling hills to the complementary mini bar that includes local wine and snacks (including marshmallows for roasting in the outdoor fire pit, and chocolate covered nuts and berries), a smoothie and sparkling water in the fridge, fresh bread, jams, honey and even oats so you can make breakfast in the morning. If that wasn’t enough, Basalt has also partnered with Academy Coffee Roasters so you can grab yourself a free coffee on your way back into town.
And don’t worry—while the cherry trees might be bare in the colder months, the outlook is just as stunning. With fresh (and slightly brisk) country air coming in through the windows, everything you could want has been thought of, perfect for relaxing on the bed or in the bath and watching the world (and a few native animals) go by as the sunsets in the distance before you head out to dinner (or order takeaway, which is another handy service offered by Basalt).
6 PM: Dinner at Mr Lim.
While there might not be an obvious sign out the front, even on a Sunday night, Mr Lim is packed—and once you try the food it’s easy to see why this cosy yet vibrant venue is a favourite of the locals.
Offering a menu packed with local produce and influenced by Korean and Chinese barbeque-style food, every one of the six dishes we ordered evoked a moment of silence as we bit into it. From the fresh King Fish Sashimi to the best gluten-free fried rice I’ve ever had, every mouthful was more than delicious—it was exciting and dynamic. And washing it down with a Sake Martini is always a good choice.
The crazy part? The speed of the service was so fast that we almost couldn’t keep up. Within minutes of ordering, our entrees were on the table and no sooner had we resisted licking the bowls clean than our mains were in front of us, steaming hot. With only four staff members in the kitchen, it was incredibly impressive—and we were very full, happy, and back at Basalt for a cosy night in by 7:30 pm. Heaven.
9 AM: Check out and have brunch at Groundstone Café.
View this post on Instagram
First of all, leaving the blinds at Basalt open and waking up with the sunrise over the cherry orchard is a stunning way to start your day before checking out and hitting the town.
But before pounding the pavement, a filling breakfast is what you need. And after being there twice now, Groundstone Café ticks all the boxes. Located next to the Orange Regional Museum, they have a local first policy for all of their seasonal menu offerings—including the beer, wine and cider that’s also available to order.
Open seven days a week for breakfast and lunch, you can order options like The Feast (AKA the ultimate big breakfast), mind-bogglingly large homemade brownies or just a really good cup of coffee. Just a warning though: once you’re done here you might have to roll yourself down the street like I did.
10 AM: Retail therapy.
View this post on Instagram
Orange has no shortage of beautifully curated homewares and fashion boutiques. From possibly the most Instagram-worthy store in New Soth Wales (JUMBLED) to The White Place, Hawkes General Store, Chaos & Karma and the Eclectic Store, you’ll be sure to fall in love with something and take it home with you. All close by each other, get moving to walk off that filling breakfast and use your credit card wisely—it’s a little too easy to justify buying goodies from these stunning stores when you have an empty backseat.
1 PM: Hit the road.
Once you’ve had enough (or you have work the next day) it’s time to head back to Canberra. If you want a change of scenery from Cowra and Canowindra, returning via Millthorpe will offer you the opportunity to enjoy scenic views of 19th-century buildings, cobbled bluestone-lined streets and the chance to stop for a coffee from Millthorpe Providore.
And if you’re thinking about heading to Orange to eat, relax and shop but only have a short amount of time, my advice is just to go—you won’t regret a moment of it.
The author stayed courtesy of Basalt but all opinions remain her own.