If you’re looking for a quiet and relaxing break in a stunning part of rural NSW, Orange is the perfect place. You’ll find far less people here than at the more well known Hunter Valley, and that tends to mean more personalised service.
The main reason to come is of course the incredible food and wine scene which definitely lived up to expectations.
Driving between the various wineries was really scenic and we loved that get back to nature feeling that it gave us. We travelled on a bit of a budget but we’d recommend coming with a bit of cash to really indulge, as we felt we missed out a little on the dining scene. Orange is the kind of place you want to get a lovely hotel and indulge in the amazing restaurants as well as fill your boot up with all those fantastic wines.
Here are all the best things to do in Orange.
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1 - Tour the wineries
2 - Federal Falls
3 - Visit Ophir
4 - Small Acres Cyder
5 - Arch Cave
6 - Indulge in local produce
7 - Pinnacle Lookout
8 - Sample locally distilled gin
9 - Visit Millthorpe
10 - The Falls Lookout
11 - Verandah Cave
12 - Mount Canobolas
13 - Picnic at the Botanic Garden
14 - See the wild kangaroos
15 - Lake Canobolas
16 - Learn about the local history at the Orange Regional Museum
The top things to do in Orange, NSW
1. Tour the wineries
The wineries are of course the major drawcard for Orange and there’s something for everyone from large slick operations, to small family owned businesses. You could easily spend your whole weekend driving from vineyard to vineyard and stopping where ever takes your fancy, but we have a few suggestions to start off with.
If you’re looking for one of the bigger more prominent wineries then we’d recommend Philip Shaw. They offer various tasting options; the cheapest being three reds and three whites for $10, up to the more expensive wines with food pairing (small plates) for $45.
Philip Shaw Winery
We went for the cheaper option and have to say it was really great. All the wines we tried were good and they gave us a couple of extra tastings too. Your tasting fee is refunded on purchase of a bottle which start at $22.
The staff are really friendly and knowledgable and are more than happy to chat but will give you space if you prefer sampling at your own pace. Philip Shaw is famous for its chardonnay but we ended up loving the reds more.
If you’re looking for a very small informal affair then we’d recommend trying Dindima. Unlike at somewhere bigger like Philip Shaw, you’ll very likely meet the wine makers themselves here. Tastings are free and you can try as many as you like.
Dindima Winery, Orange
There’s a variety of red, white and rose wine and bottles start at $18. We enjoyed the friendly atmosphere and the chance to have a chat about wine making in the area and how the last few harvests have been. The tasting room is tiny so come expecting a warm and informal experience.
For option number three we’d recommend heading over to Swinging Bridge Wines for the best view in Orange. Staff are really friendly and it’s a relaxing atmosphere to go with that amazing view! There are eight different wines to taste, a mix of reds and whites for a $10 fee.
2. Marvel at the spectacular Federal Falls
If you're lucky enough to be visiting Orange after some decent rainfall, then Federal Falls will likely be one of your favourite stops.
The waterfall thunders down the cliffside and you can get all the way to the base of the falls fairly easily. It's a magnificent spot and there are lots of large rocks to sit on, allowing you to relax and enjoy the spectacle.
The 4.2km loop walk does involve a steepish descent, but it's on well made track until the very end when it gets a little rocky. There are handrails installed on any of the bits that could potentially be a little slippery.
Here’s a more detailed guide to the track, including a shorter back route.
3. Check out the gold mining history at Ophir
Before visiting Ophir, what little we knew about Australia’s gold mining history was from our citizenship test revision, but learning about it in situ was a whole lot more interesting!
Ophir is where the gold rush in Australia began, and in its heyday, 2000 diggers lived there in a huge tent city. There is even someone still mining nearby today! You can explore the area and the mines on several self guided walking trails - just watch out for any open mine shafts and bring a torch.
We loved that you could explore independently and would recommend taking the 2km Bluff Tunnels Trail. If you don’t want to walk too far, the quartz mine and the Bluff Tunnel are only a few hundred metres from the car park and are the most interesting spots on the trail in our opinion.
Walking through the tunnels and shining the torch to look for gold specks really brought the area to life! We’d recommend reading the info panels at the car park first and then heading to the trail.
You can also visit the Obelisk which commemorates the discovery of gold here, and the old cemetery. You can camp at the site too and it’s a lovely spot by the creek, but there was very little shade and we saw people whose tents were fully exposed to the sun which didn’t look fun!
4. Taste award winning ciders
If wine isn't your thing - or you simply want to try something a little different - then we'd highly recommend a visit to Small Acres Cyder.
It was my first time doing a proper cider tasting and I loved trying all the different varieties and learning a little about the cider making process. The sparkling version was made using the same techniques as champagne!
The ciders themselves were the best I've tasted, and we've been to a fair few cider makers around NSW in the past year.
The tasting is relaxed and informal and the fee ($10) is refunded if you spend $25 or more, which you probably will once you've tried them!
5. Adventure into Orange's most exciting cave
Arch Cave might not sound like much on paper - as it's just a 0.7km loop - but it packs a lot of fun into that short walk!
If you take the adventurous route, you will explore the whole cave system with all it's amazing arches and formations.
Short sections are a little bit of a scramble, but there's a handrail and chain installed in the two places which might otherwise be a little hairy (when wet).
If you don't like the sound of the scrambles, you can easily avoid them by exploring only the main chamber, which is accessed via a well maintained staircase.
It's well worth a visit however much you decide you want to explore. We have a full guide on exactly what to expect here.
6. Indulge in local produce
There’s nothing better than great wine with great food and Orange has plenty of both. There are a huge number of highly rated restaurants in Orange and you’ll be spoilt for choice.
My friend highly recommended Lolli Redini Restaurant which focuses on local produce and offers wine pairings. If you are lucky enough to visit midweek they offer a 2 course fixed menu for $45pp.
We had lunch at Racine which has a gorgeous vineyard view and you can choose to sit inside or out. There’s a choice of a formal lunch, or bits and pieces from their bakery (quiche, toasties etc). Edit for 2023: sadly Racine has closed its restaurant, though it has opened a small bakery in town.
7. Catch a sunset from the Pinnacle Lookout
If you’re looking for a beautiful view, but don’t want too much exertion, then take the short walk up to the Pinnacle Lookout. It’s a pretty steep staircase to the top, but it only takes around 10 minutes and the view when you get there will be worth it. You can see for miles over the Towac Valley.
It's great for sunrise or sunset as the view is panoramic. We opted for sunset and were treated to some beautiful soft light over the valley. Look out for wallabies on the way back down, there were a couple crashing through the bush on our visit.
8. Sip a G&T straight from the distillery
The gin tasting experience at the Parrot Distilling Co is one like no other. Personally I'm a big gin lover, but I don't like it neat. Every time I've been to a gin tasting I've always secretly wished I could ask for some tonic to go with it, but it doesn't feel like the done thing.
At the Parrot Distillery you're given three different gins to try, with a bottle of tonic and a different slice of fruit depending on which gin you're trying. You mix them yourself, so if you prefer it neat that's no problem.
The tasting room has a great vibe and it's ridiculously popular on weekends (when they also have a woodfire pizza oven going), despite being a little pricier than your average tasting experience at $25. You'll need to book in advance to secure a spot and avoid missing out like we did.
Whilst tastings were fully booked, we were able to order G&T's and cocktails and the gin was excellent - we'll be back for a proper tasting next time!
9. Step back in time at Millthorpe, a heritage listed village
Millthorpe Village really does feel like taking a step back in time. It’s a lovely place to go for a potter and take in the quaint heritage buildings - don’t miss the train station!
There isn’t much to do but that’s part of the charm. We visited the Old Mill Cafe which does good homemade food and has a gorgeous shady terrace.
If you want to do more than just go for a wander there is the Golden Memories Museum which has a large collection of information and photographs on local family and business history, as well as a craft cottage. It’s a volunteer run enterprise and entry is $8 for adults and $5 for children.
If you fall in love with Millthorpe you can stay the night, which we’ll have to do next time!
10. Take a refreshing dip beneath the beautiful Falls Water Falls
The Falls Water Falls is one of the most beautiful wild swimming spots in Orange. A series of picturesque cascades creates a number of good dipping spots, though the largest and best pool is the one directly beneath the main waterfall.
The pool is nestled between craggy grey rocks and tall eucalyptus trees, creating a quintessential Aussie scene. Even on a hot day in summer our only companions were butterflies and dragonflies.
Even if you don’t fancy a swim the falls are well worth a visit and make for a great picnic spot, or simply somewhere to relax and admire the scenery. The walk is short and easy at just 1.5km return (and less if you only want to go to the lookout).
You can read more about the walk and swimming spots in our Falls Water Falls guide.
11. Take a bush walk to Verandah Cave
If all the eating and drinking has you craving a bit of a leg stretch then walking out to Verandah Cave is a great choice.
The walk is predominantly flat and the countryside views are lovely throughout. It’s a really quiet and tranquil spot and we didn’t see another soul on our visit despite the fact it was Australia Day weekend.
Before you reach Verandah Cave there is another small cave (Tunnel Cave) which is also a fun spot to explore.
Verandah Cave has a beautiful blue stream running through it, which combined with its size and setting makes for a really picturesque spot. It’s also lovely and cool inside which is a relief in the hot summer temperatures, especially as the rest of the walk is quite exposed.
If you’re walking in the early morning or late afternoon look out for kangaroos, we saw plenty of droppings but they were sensibly hiding in the middle of the day both times we visited.
Here are more details on the walk and both caves.
12. Hike the Young Man Canobolas summit track at Mount Canobolas
We love walking, so we decided to tackle another of Orange’s popular tracks - although popular in Orange definitely doesn’t mean busy!
This walk takes you between the main Mount Canobolas summit (which is quite obstructed by communication towers and not that great) to the Young Man Canobolas summit, which offers lovely bush views.
We’d say this walk is more about getting into nature on a pretty tree covered trail though, as neither view in itself offers wow factor.
It’s more about burning off a few of those calories from over indulging in Orange’s food and wine in a lovely peaceful spot.
13. Have a picnic in the Orange Botanic Garden
The Orange Botanic Garden was looking a little parched when we visited in summer but we have it on good authority it’s glorious in other seasons. March and April are said to be particularly pretty.
We went for a walk which was pleasant enough but it felt a little more like bushland than the manicured garden we were expecting (it could be the aforementioned drought though!).
That’s why we would recommend bringing a picnic and relaxing in the shade of one of the many trees and soaking up the relaxed nature of the place. It’s also a good spot for birdwatching.
14. Meet the locals
There are lots of kangaroos in the Orange region, but you probably won't see any if you don't actively seek them out. Luckily, we know their favourite haunt which is just moments away from the city centre.
Head to the cricket ground opposite the Orange Ex-Services Country Club, and you'll no doubt see a large mob lazing around on the grass.
Whilst you should never get too close, it's easy to get good photos here because they are very relaxed around people. You'll also likely find them in the grounds of the TAFE NSW on Forest Road, but our favourite spot is definitely the oval.
Kangaroos are most active in the early mornings and towards sunset, but we've seen them here in the middle of the day too.
15. Go kayaking or SUP at Lake Canobolas
Lake Canobolas is a lovely spot, with bushland providing a gorgeous backdrop to the water. Lots of people were enjoying taking a kayak or SUP out on the lake which looked like a lot of fun.
Unfortunately we couldn’t find anywhere to rent a kayak so you’ll need to bring it with you if you want to get out on the water. Alternatively there’s a peaceful, easy walking trail around the lake, or a couple of picnic spots, as well as a cafe.
There was a lot of birdlife on our visit, including loads of pelicans which we never get tired of seeing, despite having lived in Aus for more than seven years now!
16. Brush up on a spot of local history
The Orange Regional Museum offers an interesting insight into the region's history. It covers a little bit of everything from Aboriginal culture, to the gold mining era, early settlers and even an old film archive - which was my favourite part of the museum.
I think it will appeal most to history lovers and those with a personal connection to Orange, but it's worth popping in regardless.
The museum is free of charge and also rents out panning dishes if you're planning on heading to Orphir for a bit of fossicking.
Where to stay in Orange
Orange has several great options for all budgets, and we’ve picked some of our favourites (including a vineyard) below.
Mayfield Vineyard
Mayfield Vineyard offers that quintessential Orange experience - a beautiful setting, traditional rural cottages and (of course) a vineyard! All of the accommodation options here have their own private kitchen and living areas, so it’s perfect if you don’t want to eat out for every meal.
It’s a great rural setting but just a short drive from Orange.
Check the latest prices & availability on:
Byng Street Boutique Hotel
Byng Street offers luxury and style in the centre of Orange, with decor that is unlike anywhere else in the area. The rooms here are beautifully designed, and the suites even have stand alone bath tubs.
As Byng Street is in the centre of town, it’s walking distance from many restaurants and cafes.
Check the latest prices & availability on:
West End Motor Lodge
The West End Motor Lodge is the best budget option in Orange, with clean and comfortable rooms, a great location and even an indoor pool. If you’re looking to spend most of your time in the vineyards or exploring the local area, the West End Motor Lodge is a great place to stay without having to splurge.
Check the latest prices & availability on:
Getting to Orange from Sydney
Orange is a 3.5 hour drive away from Sydney and you can break up the journey by stopping at the Blue Mountains. Whilst you can get there by train, we wouldn’t recommend it as you will not be able to access most of the best things to do without a car!
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What’s you favourite winery near Sydney? Have you ventured outside the Hunter yet? Let us know in the comments below!
