Wineries
Let’s start with some of the best attractions in Orange – its wineries!
The area around Orange has a long history with agriculture, but it wasn’t until the 1980s that wine began to be seriously produced here. Since then, it has become one of the most acclaimed wine regions in New South Wales.
Because of its altitude, this is considered to be a cool-climate region so the shiraz isn’t as bold as the Barossa, for example. But this means a bit more focus on the details and the textures, with chardonnay being one of the most popular varietals here.
Cellar doors
There are about 40 wineries in the Orange region and about 30 cellar doors that you can visit. They offer a range of styles and experiences, so I definitely recommend going to more than one.
One of the best-known cellar doors in Orange is Philip Shaw, recognised for its elegant wines and tasting area in a restored late-1800s blue stone barn.
Borrodell Estate has one of Australia’s highest vineyards so it’s interesting to try their wines. Also have a look at Swinging Bridge, which has a few experiences you can book online in advance.
One of my favourite wineries in Orange is Ross Hill Wines, which is proudly carbon neutral and offers a daily behind-the-scenes tour to learn more about that. I also think the wines are excellent.
And for something elegant, the modern complex at Printhie Wines provides a contemporary and stylish tasting room and a hatted restaurant, where you can taste the range of sparkling wines that it’s famous for. (Printhie also offers a wonderful private picnic experience amongst the vines.)
Wine tours
Many of the Orange wineries are in easy reach of the city centre by car, so you won’t have to drive long distances to visit them (Philip Shaw is about 5 minutes from the centre and Ross Hill is 10 minutes, for example).
But maybe nobody wants to drive because they want to join in the tastings? Or perhaps you’d like an expert to choose the wineries for you and explain some details about the region.
If that’s the case, there are a few good local operators who can organise wine tours of Orange.
With a range of durations, you’ll find standard and personalised offerings from Orange Wine Tours or Winery Experiences Orange.
To add in some local food as well, Country Food Trails has winery tours that can also extend to some of the nearby towns.
Or if you’re keen to feel the wind in your hair, Orange Trike Tours has some fun wine tours accompanied by the roar of a Boom Mustang trike.
Breweries and distilleries
It’s not just wineries in Orange. If you prefer a beer… or something a bit harder… you’ll find that here too.
Badlands Brewery is the best-known craft brewery and produces about 15 new beers every year. Head out to its taproom to grab a drink, a tasting flight, or a bite to eat.
Considering the region’s history of apple growing, it’s probably not surprising that there’s a cider house here (what’s surprising is that there aren’t more!). Small Acres Cyder makes British style cider and has a cosy cellar door.
And then there are a number of boutique distilleries focusing on gins but also making some interesting spiced rums and even single-malt whiskey. I’d suggest taking a look at Parrot Distilling Co or Jones & Smith Distillery.
City centre
With more than 40,000 residents, Orange is a busy population centre, which means the city centre has a lot going on.
Of course, a lot of that ‘going on’ is just your usual shopping and day-to-day living. But along the main streets of the centre and in the surrounding suburbs, there’s a lot worth seeing as a visitor.
Orange Regional Gallery
This is one of my top suggestions for the best things to do in Orange. The Orange Regional Gallery is one of the top regional galleries in NSW – mainly because of the impressive touring exhibitions it offers.
The permanent collection is relatively small, with about 1600 pieces, mainly consisting of Australian works since the 1920s. You may not know a lot of the artists’ names (there aren’t many famous pieces), but it’s a good and diverse series of artworks.
But make sure to see what temporary exhibitions are showing when you visit Orange. On my last trip, for example, there was a fantastic collection of Brett Whiteley pieces that would’ve been a hit in any capital city.
Orange Regional Museum
Right next door to the gallery, the Orange Regional Museum is also worth a visit – and they’re both free, so you might as well pop in to one if you’re going to the other.
The focus of the museum is the history of Orange and the broader Central West region. I like the way it does this through ordinary objects that are then explored to talk more about significant events or big personalities.
Along with this large permanent exhibition about the region’s heritage, there are normally a couple of smaller shows at the same time that focus on more niche topics.
Orange Heritage Trail
Orange was officially founded in 1846 but it was just a village then. A small gold rush brought wealth to the settlement in the 1850s, but then from the 1860s it was agriculture that helped this food bowl blossom.
From as early as these boom periods in the middle of the 19th century, impressive public buildings were constructed in the city centre. Many of them still stand, others have been rebuilt, plus there have been more additions over the decades.
If you want to explore some of the most important structures, you can follow this suggested heritage trail that’s been put together by the Orange Visitor Information Centre.
Going down Byng St, you’ll see many of the highlights, including the courthouse, the town hall, and churches.
Coming back along Kite St will take you past a number of houses that are considered important heritage sites that have been well protected. Then you’ll turn back into the centre where you’ll find the pubs and the post office!
Cook Park
If you follow the whole heritage trail, you’ll go through Cook Park, but I wanted to give it special mention as one of the main landmarks in Orange.
It was designed in 1873 with a traditional Victorian style and the Union Jack in its path layout. A lot of that original plan remains, including a heritage building called the Bastick Cottage that now displays local handicrafts.
Aside from the heritage, you’ll also find duck ponds, an aviary, and lots of places for picnics or play. It’s a good spot for families or if you just want a bit of fresh air in the city centre.
Botanic Gardens
For even more open space, just head a couple of kilometres from Cook Park to one of the more residential areas of the city. It’s here you’ll find the Orange Botanic Gardens, which packs a lot into its 17-hectare site, with a range of attractions, including some hidden gems.
After you come through the main entrance, the grassy slope leads down to the lake past a series of sculptures, with the rose garden on the other side.
There are the Exotic Display Gardens, an apple orchard, a section of rhododendrons, and even the ‘largest group of deciduous trees in the world’ on Maple Hill.
You can walk around the main trail through the gardens and see the highlights in about 30 minutes, but you’ll likely want to spend a bit longer if you want to explore all it has to offer.
Culture
There’s much more to Orange than just its buildings. The cultural heritage here goes back thousands of years and, even since the colonial days, there have been some nationally important stories that have come from here.
Indigenous Cultural Adventures
The Wiradjuri people are the largest Aboriginal group in New South Wales and their country covers a huge swathe of land across the Central West.
There are countless Wiradjuri traditions to learn about, but Gerald Power tries to share some of the most important ones for Orange with his Indigenous Cultural Adventures.
He offers full cultural tours that head out on country to see ceremonial sites and other significant landmarks. But he also does shorter sessions focusing on bush tucker, where you can taste some of the native ingredients and see what Gerald can do with them.
He’ll even run his full cultural tours just for a couple of people. “As long as I have a chance to share, that’s good,” he tells me.
Banjo Paterson
As the most famous of all Australia’s bush poets, Banjo Paterson has left us with some iconic works. His most famous Waltzing Matilda is almost an unofficial national anthem, while The Man from Snowy River is another that’s still popular today.
Why am I mentioning all this? Well, because Banjo Paterson was from Orange and there are a number of sites relevant to his life that you can visit.
A good place to start is Banjo Paterson Memorial Park, which was part of the original Narrambla Estate where he was born. Amongst the monuments is a series of granite plaques with excerpts of his poetry.
In the city, the Holy Trinity Church is where he was baptised, while 95 Byng St is where his widow lived after he died in 1941 (aged 76).
You can then go to Emmaville Cottage in the Botanic Gardens to see the building that was moved from his birthplace and restored here.
And finally head out to Yeoval, the little village where Banjo Paterson grew up. There’s a bronze statue here in is honour and a bush park named after him that now has a series of artworks.
Fruit picking
I talked a lot earlier about the wines of Orange, but before there were grapes growing here, the orchards were dominating the agricultural industry. In fact, they still are.
The main fruit grown here is apples, but you’ll also find pears, and quite a few stone fruit like plums, peaches, and cherries.
A few places offer the ability to pick your own, so you can head in with a bucket and fill it up with fruit that you’ve chosen and taken off the trees yourself.
I have a great time at Hillside Harvest, a family-run orchard with large sections growing five types of apples and two types of plums ready for picking when I’m there. (It’s also much cheaper than buying fruit at the supermarket!)
During cherry season, which happens towards the end of the year, a good spot to go for picking is Stockman’s Ridge, where you can taste some wines too!
Nature
You won’t need me to tell you how gorgeous the landscapes of the Central West are – you’ll be dazzled by them as you drive around Orange.
But there are a few particular spots that are highlights, if you want to do some hiking or have a picnic, for instance.
Mount Canobolas
Did you know that the tallest mountain between the Blue Mountains and the west coast of Australia is right here in the Orange region?
Mount Canobolas, about 1395 metres high, is an extinct volcano that offers stunning panoramic views from the summit, which you can drive to… or hike up to.
As well as the Summit Walk, there are some other good walking trails, including the Snow Gum Track. A really popular walk is to Federal Falls, where water will cascade down the steep rock face after rain.
It’s only about 30 minutes’ drive from Orange to the top of Mount Canobolas (also known by its Indigenous name of Gaanha Bula). I think it’s worth the trip because it’s got lot to offer beyond walking and views. The birdwatching is also excellent here and the landscapes are particularly colourful when the wildflowers come out in spring.
Lake Canobolas
Much closer to town, only about ten minutes’ drive from the centre, you’l find Lake Canobolas at the foot of the mountain.
The tranquil lake is a great place for picnics, birdwatching, or just generally to relax – and it’s also a popular spot for a bit of activity.
There are walking and cycling tracks, and the lake itself is perfect for kayaking or stand-up paddle boarding. Sometimes there are rental options here in the summer holidays but unfortunately there’s nothing permanent.
Borenore Caves
They don’t get a lot of attention, but Borenore Caves are a bit of a hidden gem, about 20 minutes’ drive from Orange.
The limestone caves are set amid quiet bushland and have impressive formations that you can access along easy walking paths. The most famous once is called Arch Cave but there are other options here.
As well as the natural beauty, the area is rich in Indigenous heritage so you’ll learn a bit more about that as you explore the reserve. Keep an eye out also for bats and native birds.
Food & drink
The food scene here gets better and better every year, so there are a lot of good places to eat in Orange.
If you just want somewhere nice for a meal in between activities, you’ll find that. But there are also restaurants here that may be the highlight of your trip.
Cafes
Although it’s just on the edge of town, I think The Agrestic Grocer is one of your best choices for breakfast or lunch. The menu is always changing, offering up some unusual dishes like okonomiyaki, although there’s always a focus on local producers
In the city centre, Byng St Local Store has great coffee and a good food menu, while you can also try Factory Espresso for coffee and Anything Grows for fresh food surrounded by plants.
Restaurants
For a bit more of a restaurant atmosphere, there are lots of fantastic options for lunch and dinner.
The international selections are particularly good… but I’m not talking about your typical country town Chinese. I think you’ll be really impressed with Raku Izakaya for Japanese, Mr Lim for Korean and pan-Asian, and Lucetta for Italian.
At the even more upmarket end, there’s the hatted Schoolhouse Restaurant, which serves modern Australian and has a la carte or set menu options.
Bars
And of course there are also some great places to drink in Orange… other than all the wineries I’ve already mentioned.
For a great country pub, head to The Gladstone… which also has a really good Thai street food restaurant, I’m told.
At the small wine/cocktail bar called Hey Rosey, you may feel like you’re in a sharehouse the way it is decorated from op-shops. But the drinks are top-notch and the food is really special, with the head chef previously at an award-winning wine bar in Sydney.
And if you want to focus on wine but haven’t had a chance to get to any of the cellar doors, then Ferment brings them to you. This fun little bar has a big collection of wines from across the Orange region so you can do a tasting right from the city centre.
Nearby towns
Although I think there are enough things to do in Orange itself to fill a couple of days, venturing out to some of the nearby towns is great fun and offers an even quieter experience
Millthorpe
There aren’t many places in Australia where the entire town centre has been classified by the National Trust, but that’s what you’ll find in heritage-listed Millthorpe.
Just 20 minutes’ drive from Orange, there are a few good reasons to come – the first being to see the gorgeous streets with their 19th-century facades. But the other reasons lie within these historic buildings.
There’s the shopping, with charming art galleries and boutique stores. And there’s the food – I would suggest grabbing lunch at Millthorpe Providore or trying the five-course set dinner at the acclaimed Tonic.
You can also do wine-tasting here. Check out the Tamburlaine cellar door for an interesting collection of organic wines. Or you can explore more of the history at the Golden Memories Museum that’s spread across several buildings.
Carcoar
Another nearby town that’s known for its history is Carcoar, which is very small but has more than 30 heritage-listed buildings surrounded by gorgeous landscapes of green hills.
The courthouse and the old railway station are highlights of this heritage collection, but there are also five museums that allow you to explore the town’s past.
And along the streets are quaint shops selling handmade crafts and vintage treasures. For a classic country pub experience, pop into the Royal Hotel, or grab something to go at the Village Grocer across the road.
Canowindra
And I also want to mention Canowindra, a real gem of the NSW Central West, which is about 45 minute’s drive from Orange.
Like the other two towns I’ve already told you about, Canowindra also has gorgeous 19th-century facades, but the continuity of them down the main street really makes you feel like you’re stepping back in time.
The Age of Fishes Museum is one of the main attractions and definitely something unique, while there’s good food, wine tasting, and lots of interesting characters.
You can read all about it in my guide for things to do in Canowindra.
But perhaps the main attraction for many people here is the hot air ballooning. If you’re happy to get up early, sunrise is a beautiful time to float across the region.
