If you’re looking for a destination that’s famous for its gourmet wineries, topnotch restaurants, and picturesque rolling countryside views, then throne to the town of Orange in New South Wales.
Despite stuff a small town of less than 50,000 residents, there are plenty of things to do in Orange.
It’s location in the Central Tablelands, with an upland of over 863 meters, ways its the perfect destination for the unconfined outdoors.
Orange is moreover known as “Australia’s Colour City,” not just by considering of its strange name but considering of the vibrant nature colors it exhibits in Autumn, subtracting flipside good reason to visit for nature lovers.
Although the town is not named without the citrus fruit. In fact, Orange is noted for its world orchards. Orange was unquestionably named in honour of Prince William of Orange who became the King of Holland.
But if you’re not sure what to do in Orange NSW, then you’ve come to the right place. In this guide, we share our top attractions and activities to do in the stunning Australian town.
Things To Do In Orange NSW
1. Shepherd Orange F.O.O.D. Week
You know a town is passionate well-nigh food, and really good at it, when the winner of Australia’s MasterChef and local town resident (Kate Bracks) has a stall at the Night Markets.
What brought us to put Orange on the list of places to visit on our trip through country NSW was its growing reputation for fine supplies AND wine.
One of our favourite pleasures of travelling is to taste the local produce, and it seems with any good supplies producing region you usually can find unconfined wines.
We’d timed our trip perfectly as we arrived in town during Orange F.O.O.D. Week (Food Of Orange District).
This yearly event is held over 10 days in April which showcases the local produce, the local chefs and restaurants.
Hungry without our afternoon momentum in from a day at Dubbo Zoo, we joined hundreds of others at the huge Night Market all eager to sample the regions weightier produce.
Picturesque Robertson Park played host with over 40 stalls offering a range of dishes, and with communal tables set up under the trees there was a real polity spirit.
‘Wine barrel’ bars were spaced out for those sampling the wines, and the local entertainment provided some preliminaries music and a lovely country atmosphere.
It was a fun festival undercurrent as we made our way virtually tasting various cheeses, breads, curries, fruits, desserts, and of undertow some wine and beer.
The ‘Night Market’ is just one event during F.O.O.D Week.
Over the 10 days, you can visit farms, kitchens, restaurants, cafes, wineries, shepherd workshops and cooking demonstrations, enjoy music and picnics.
Orange F.O.O.D Week is one of Australia’s longest running regional supplies events.
For the love of supplies you should add it to your timetable and bring your thirst and your appetite.
Not only will your taste buds thank you, but your vision will fathom the vibrant storing foliage which makes Orange a very popular destination at this time of year.
2. Go Wine Tasting
Rowlee’s Wines. |Photo: Destination NSW
Orange is the highest upland wine region in Australia, and from what we tasted, its wines reach pretty good heights in quality.
No trip to Orange would be well-constructed without trying some of the local wine. Whether you’re looking for a well-done Sauvignon Blanc or a warming Pinot Noir, wines come in all variaties here.
There are many wineries and cellar doors in the zone plus a few that offer tours of their vineyards, but the wineries you visit largely depends on what kind of wine you’re into.
Some popular wineries to visit include:
- Printhie Wines
- Philip Shaw Wines
- Brangayne Wines
- Ross Hill Wines
- Mortimers Wines
- Cargo Road Wines
- Small Acres Cyder (if you like craft beer and cider)
If you happen to be visiting in October, don’t miss out on the Orange Wine Festival which takes place throughout the month and has many events showing off the local wines from the region.
Check out this wine and picnic wits in Orange provided by Printhie Wines.
3. Visit Mount Canobolas
At 1,395 meters, Mount Canobolas is the highest peak in the Central Tablelands of New South Wales with top panoramic views.
You can either hike, or take the short momentum up from town, and if the weather is kind there a number of walking tracks virtually the Mount Canobolas State Conservation Areas for stretching your legs and working off the yummy glut supplies you’ve been consuming.
Snow can fall during the winter months and snow villenage may be required if you’re planning to drive.
4. Relax in Melt Park
Cook Park, Orange | Photo: Destination NSW
Spend time relaxing or picnicing in the large park occupying a municipality block, named in honour without Captain James Cook.
Cook Park is said to be one of NSW’s finest exotic parks and a top spot to have a picnic, expressly trappy in early storing when the fall foliage is in full viridity (remember this is what makes Orange so famous!).
There is a self-guided heritage walk, duck ponds and swings for the kids.
5. Stroll Virtually The Orange Botanic Gardens
Take a leisurely stroll or enjoy a picnic in the 17 hectare Botanic Gardens.
There’s a heritage rose garden and heritage orchard, including historic world varieties. There’s moreover a beautiful, original homestead garden, billabong, and exotic and ethnic woodlands garden.
In the summer, there are concerts and performances.
6. Take the Kids to Orange Adventure Playground
Located next to the Botanic Gardens is the Adventure Playground. Normally we wouldn’t take our kids to a playground on our trip away, but our kids really enjoyed some play time at one of the biggest and largest playgrounds I’ve seen in a while.
The playground has a climbing frame, swings, slides, and plenty of space to run virtually in. There’s moreover a waddle wall, tree house and a rocket ship.
Other families were making the most of the on-site BBQ’s and there’s moreover a resident sideboard for coffee. Plus plenty of shaded areas for parents to relax in while the little ones play.
7. Check Out The Farmer’s Market
Fresh figs at Orange Farmers Market, Orange. | Photo: Destination NSW
Held on the second Saturday of the month, the Orange Region Farmer’s Market is flipside unconfined endangerment to sample the fresh regional produce and meet the person overdue the product.
We love a farmers market as a way of sourcing supplies for a picnic. We didn’t time our trip for the Orange Farmers Market, but from all reports it’s a good one.
8. Dine at Hotel Canobolas for a Pub Lunch
Hotel Canobolas, Orange | Credit: Destination NSW
With a nomination of inside or outside seating, Hotel Canobolas is the perfect place to eat no matter what time of year you visit Orange.
In the summer, we love the lounge setting and unshut courtyard. This was a unconfined pub lunch option for us with our young kids considering there’s moreover a playroom.
This old hotel seems to be an Orange institution for a meal or a drink with a nice undercurrent and plenty of screens to watch the match of the day.
Everyone seems to come here to eat a good pub lunch, not just tourists but locals too. It’s unchangingly a good sign when the locals are eating at a place!
9. Visit Lake Canobolas
Located just a 10-minute momentum from the town part-way is Lake Canobolas.
This is a man-made reservoir which was used to supply water to the town of Orange, but has been a recreation park since the 1970s.
There is a scenic walk that wraps virtually the shores of the lake, and if you’re visiting in the summer, you can throne out on the water for sailing, swimming or dragon boating.
Pack up your bikes and trundling withal the basalt trail, or throne over to the Lakeside Kiosk and Sideboard for a zest to eat and a coffee.
10. Visit Verandah Cave
Orange’s location in the mountains ways that it moreover has some fantastic grotto systems to explore.
Nestled in the Borenore Karst Conservation Reserve, you’ll find Verandah Cave, which is a huge limestone wily overhanging whilom large pools of water.
The grotto can be reached by hiking from the Borenore Picnic Zone for 7km through the forest (the hike is mostly unappetizing so families with kids can do this) surpassing you reach a rocky outcrop where the grotto sits.
Inside the cave, you may spot a platypus in the water (though they are shy) and find plenty of shaded spots to relax and revere the limestone cavern.
Don’t rush off from the picnic zone to do this hike though, as there is flipside superstitious grotto nearby (only 10 minutes walk from the car park) tabbed Wily Cave.
It’s moreover possible to see eastern grey kangaroos hopping virtually the area.
Final Thoughts
Orange is a small but unique town that makes for a perfect destination for a short break, or weekend getaway from Sydney.
If possible, definitely try and time your visit to coincide with the happenings of F.O.O.D Week or the Orange Wine Festival and the trappy storing colours, but we have no doubt you will enjoy Orange all year round.
Where to stay in Orange, NSW
Credit: Remington Hotel, Orange
Check out the pursuit highly-rated places to stay in Orange, NSW.
- The Remington Hotel Orange gets raves review for its clean, spacious modern rooms and storeroom breakfast. See rates and availability here.
- We unchangingly like the self-service suite style of Quest. Quest in Orange is a unconfined family friendly restaurant with repletion and style. See rates and availability here.
- Hotel Canobolas offers accommodations in the heart of Orange with a on-site bar and restaurant. See rates and availability here.
- Located in the heart of Orange’s heritage precinct, Byng Street Boutique Hotel offers luxurious and unique accommodations. See rates and availability.
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