How to spend the ultimate girls’ weekend in Bathurst and Orange
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Luxury penthouses, stunning wineries and some of the best shopping, full stop. This is what awaits when you plan a trip to Central NSW.
Canberra gals know that during summer the coast might be king, but once the temperature drops, there’s nothing more decadent than spending a weekend in the countryside. We’re talking cheeseboards at wineries, long dinners by the fire in cosy restaurants and discovering your favourite new homewares brand somewhere unexpected.
Here’s how to spend the perfect weekend in Bathurst and Orange – from our own experience!
THURSDAY, 6 PM
It’s been a long week as my friends and I pile into the car and head north on a Thursday night, excited for a weekend of autumnal splendour in Bathurst and Orange. We begin to relax as we wind our way past the small towns, all of us surprised to discover it only takes just over three hours to get there – less than some coastal destinations.
We arrive in Bathurst too late for dinner at a restaurant, but realise that for whatever reason, this vibrant regional centre also seems to be the hub for hard-to-find American fast-food chains (hello, Taco Bell?) and head to iconic burger joint Carls Jnr., chuffed at finding a slice of Americana in such an unexpected place.
Cheeseburgers and strawberry shakes in hand, we pull up at our Bathurst accommodation, jaws on the floor. I almost drop my shake. Located in Bathurst’s historic district where everything is larger than life and made of deep red ‘Bathurst brick’, The Wool Store is a stunning four-storey New York-style loft conversion hidden just one street back from historic Machattie Park and a five-minute walk from the Bathurst CBD.
Converted from (you guessed it) a 1875 wool store, owner and local farmer Hamish Keith (more about him later) has lovingly restored this gorgeous building to house five apartments, including the truly mind-blowing penthouse we were lucky enough to stay in.
With an industrial-chic open plan layout featuring a full kitchen, dining space, lounges, pool table, fireplace, huge picture window and four bedrooms, The Penthouse was purpose-built for large groups and families and you can even book the entire building, with a capacity to sleep 20 across five apartments.
Not bringing your entire crew to Bathurst? Book one of The Wool Store’s smaller apartments for romantic New York vibes for two.
FRIDAY, 9 AM
On Friday morning we wake up and enjoy coffee in the sun-soaked Penthouse before checking out and making our way on foot to Dejorja & Co, an expansive boutique, florist and café.
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With a stunning array of clothing, accessories and homewares, at the front of the space you’ll find Dejorja Boutique & Homewares – a haven for fashion lovers (just try to leave without buying a stunning seasonal knit), while Florence Grace Floristry is a riot of colour where owner Leah crafts the perfect bouquet of fresh and dried flowers.
If you can tear yourself away from the shopping, say hi to Simon, the friendly and knowledgeable owner of the Crows Nest Café. Sitting at the rear of the space, nestled between flowers and homewares, Crows Nest gets bagels delivered fresh daily from Marrickville, offering a thoughtfully curated selection of light bites for breakfast and lunch alongside exceptional coffee, roasted by Simon himself.
Crows Nest Cafe.
My friends and I enjoy our breakfast in the sun outside while we pick Simon’s brain about what we can’t miss in Bathurst, and he recommends we stop by Reckless Brewing Co., Australia’s largest majority-owned and operated female brewery later in the day. Well, don’t mind if we do.
Farewelling Simon, we walk up to Gorgeousness Home, a truly mind-bending emporium of all things homewares and gifting. Founded by owner Bronwyn, Gorgeousness began as a fashion boutique but expanded into a giant store next door once she turned her discerning eye to homewares.
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Naturally, we also have a good long look around the original Gorgeousness Boutique next door too. With brands like Hammill and Co, Mimco, Talisman, Elm and more in a rainbow of colours as well as accessories, shoes, a range of coats befitting one of Australia’s coolest winter destinations and costume jewellery, you’ll want to leave ample time when you visit for browsing and trying on. My friend leaves with a vibrant oversized Scandi-style jumper while I purchase a heavenly perfume oil.
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For something a little different we also pop into Vintage Vibes Emporium, a must-do for vintage lovers. Come for the quirky and rare collectables in the window, stay for the world-class record collection in the back, featuring a turntable where you can listen before you buy. A treat for any retro enthusiast.
12 PM
It’s time for a refuel (how does time pass so quickly when you’re shopping?) so we head towards another of Simon’s recommendations, Enso Specialty Coffee Bar. Iced lattes and iced teas in hand, we browse handmade delicacies next door at Bathurst Chocolate Boutique (perfect as a ‘sorry I spent the weekend in the countryside and you didn’t’ present for partners left behind) then grab a scoop at the ridiculously adorable Annie’s Old Fashioned Ice Cream Parlour.
With its pink-striped awnings and 1950s interiors, Annie’s is probably the number one destination for kids in Bathurst but it’s pretty great for 32-year-old women too.
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3 PM
Five minutes drive from the CBD, Reckless Brewing is exactly as Simon promised – an exceptionally cool brewery and taphouse located in a converted mill that I can already tell is the spot to be on Friday nights.
Not only is Reckless kicking goals when it comes to female representation in brewing, but they also gained viral fame for their ‘Bogan Fuel’ beer (a rum and coke sour, if you would believe) last year.
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Brewed especially for the crowds that flock to Bathurst for ‘race day’ as the locals call it, my friend tried it and her feedback was ‘wow’. Speaking of race day…did you really visit Bathurst without a lap around the iconic Mount Panorama?
Offering thrills for car enthusiasts and stunning views across Bathurst and beyond for everyone else, we did a (sensible, 40km/h) lap around the mountain’s hairpin twists and turns for luck before we left Bathurst.
5 PM
Our next stop is a special one. Remember Hamish, who owns The Wool Store? Well, that’s not his only stunning property. Hamish, it turns out, is a fourth-generation farmer, whose family has been running sheep on 105 hectares of verdant countryside between Bathurst and Orange called Wilga Station for decades.
In a previous life, Hamish and wife Mez lived in New York, where Hamish managed events and Mez worked for the UN. Now, they’ve taken over the family farm but brought a splash of New York City with them, in the form of two gorgeous accommodation options – The Shearer’s Hall and The Farmers Hut.
While both have received rave reviews from Country Style, Harper’s Bazaar, The Sydney Morning Herald and more, Hamish is most excited about what’s happening down the hill, taking us on a 4WD adventure down towards Evans Plains Creek, which runs through the property.
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Hamish explains that some time ago, he realised that the creek’s wide marble banks had shapes and curves that couldn’t be from nature and asked a series of Wiradjuri elders to see the site. The tears in the elders’ eyes as each one pointed out proof of their ancestor’s habitation told Hamish everything he needed to know, and the site is now designated as a site of Aboriginal significance.
We walk the site carefully as Hamish shows us where generations of Wiradjuri people fished for turtles, made baskets, bent wood for shields and slept on rocks warmed by the sun. It’s a special moment in a fast-paced weekend as we watch the water flow over this important piece of Australian First Nations history.
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While we’re not staying at Wilga Station, Hamish hosts us for dinner on the fairy-light-lit patio of The Shearer’s Hall after our tour and we barbeque up a special dinner pack that’s available for all guests who stay, featuring produce from Wilga and surrounding farms.
SATURDAY, 10AM
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We wake up in Orange, having checked into our accommodation at the freshly renovated Caleula Lodge.
Centrally located a stone’s throw from everything beautiful and delicious in Orange (meaning you can explore on foot – always a pleasure) and family-owned for 30 years, the lodge boasts a swimming pool for warmer months, spacious rooms and free Wi-Fi. The friendly staff make check in a breeze and we find it’s the perfect base for our Orange adventures.
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First stop is, of course, pastry so off we sprint to Racine Bakery, which my friend attests has one of the best croissants ever – the line we encounter upon arrival backs this up. Luckily it moves quickly and we have pastry, coffee and a seat out the front before we know it. And that croissant? Heaven.
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Like Bathurst, there’s no need to take the car as everything is within walking distance, so we amble up the leafy, autumnal streets of Orange with a long list of recommendations.
First is The White Place, a must-do for any trip to the area. The HerCanberra team and I first visited here in 2020 and fell in love with the shop’s unique layout within a historic home.
Boasting some hard-to-find brands like SOH Melbourne candles, Who Is Elijah perfumes, Leif bath products and clothing from Zoe Kratzmann, wander through the rooms to dream about how your own home could look with these stylish touches. Sigh.
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Next, a browse of labels like Morrisey, Nobody Denim, Camilla, Mollini and Viktoria and Woods at pink-toned Cint and homewares, gifts and collectables at Mary & Tex Curious Emporium before making our way up to Hawkes General Store where I fell in love with the curated selection of beautiful things from Australian and international labels. Expect minimalist jewellery from Scandinavia, hand-knitted socks from Japan, butter-soft knitwear from Cable Melbourne and striking coats from POM Amsterdam.
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12 PM
Lastly, no visit to Orange is complete without a long, leisurely browse at The Sonic, a former masonic temple that these days plays host to homewares, fashion and art mecca Jumbled as well as their cute as a button café, Gather, where we have a delicious lunch of granola, avocado toast, toasted sandwiches, juices and, of course, coffee.
Jumbled’s appeal doesn’t need to be explained once you’ve seen a photo of their space – colour and joy leaps from every vase, cup, dress, candle and piece of art.
Founder Pip Brett hasn’t just gathered a following – she’s created a cult (of which I am a happy follower). Plan to spend an hour and don’t be mad at yourself if you spend two.
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2 PM
It’s well and truly mid-afternoon by the time we leave. The Sonic so it’s time to see what lay beyond Orange’s city limits – namely, alpacas. Yes really.
Meet Heifer Station, a stunning vineyard with a chic cellar door, Instagrammable vines and, most importantly, a hobby farm of cute animals with even cuter names. Sitting at a picnic table with a cheeseboard under the shade of a tree my friends and I sip some delicious cool climate varietals before saying hello to a paddock of alpacas, Eddy and Freddy the goats, Tilly the miniature Shetland Pony and Truffle the pig.
Again, this is probably the winery that’s perfect for those with little ones in tow but hey, three 32-year-olds enjoy the heck out it too.
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6 PM
Our final stop of the day is to a beloved local for a very special new offering. Byng Street has served locals an array of delicious breakfast, lunch and coffees for more than a decade and now they’ve branched into dinner service.
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With an eclectic and delicious array of cosy, hearty dishes perfect for a crisp Orange autumn night, we dine on creamy three-cheese potato gratin, buttermilk fried chicken with apple slaw and ranch dressing, wild mushroom risotto with tarragon and parmesan and pan-seared lasagna with tomato and basil fondue. Naturally, local wines pair perfectly with this and it’s a short stroll over to our final stop of the day – Spilt Milk Bar.
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While Canberrans know Spilt Milk well thanks to their arrival in Dickson a few years back, the Orange store is the OG and there’s nothing quite like a scoop of something fresh to cap off a night as you stroll home.
SUNDAY, 10 AM
While our country adventure is almost over, we make sure to squeeze in one final iconic Orange spot on our way home.
A stone’s throw from our accommodation, Anything Grows is a nursery and café serving brunchy favourites in a lush secret garden atmosphere. The perfect way to fuel up for your drive home.
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The author’s accommodation and some meals were provided by Central NSW Tourism but all opinions remain their own.
