How to spend a weekend in Bathurst

Ask any local about the best restaurants in Bathurst, and this special restaurant will be on their list. Housed in the heritage 'Royal Building', built all the way back in the 1840s, it's a charming setting. Book a table out on the verandah to look out over Bathurst town while you dine on excellent food. The menu is made for sharing or not, and is split into sections of snacks and small plates, housemade pastas, big plates, steaks and sides. My favourite dishes were the parpadelle with porcini mushrooms, ricotta, pangrattato and parmesan (the pasta was expertly made, and the ricotta sauce made for a slightly less rich take on a creamy pasta), and the 300g sirloin steak (perfectly cooked, sliced and served with a tangy taragon Béarnaise and a deliciously crispy potato rosti). They also made a great gin Martini and have an extensive wine list. Highly recommend this place.

With so many wine bars in Sydney serving excellent drinks and food, big-city folk are going to have high expectations of places like this, but I was blown away by Norma Joan. It's named after owner and executive chef Michael Madden's two grandmothers (Norma and Joan) who are pictured on the wall, and who are the reasons he started cooking. If that's not charming enough, there's a delightful courtyard with fairylights strung between the trees. You also have the option of sitting inside the cosy lounge bar. You could just come for a drink – a cocktail, or a glass of local wine – but don't. The food is must-try. We had the pickled octopus on a bed of skordalia (Greek-style mashed potato), sprinkled with gremolata; the mini fish burger with tartare, zucchini pickle and lettuce; the deep-fried Szechuan eggplant; the steak frites; and the green beans topped with loads of bacon, parmesan and garlic. Would order every dish again. Note: The portion sizes are more generous than those in most Sydney places like this.

Someone who's a big proponent of Bathurst's dining scene is renowned chef and restaurateur Matt Moran (Aria, Chiswick). In 2022, he reopened The Rockley Pub, which is in the NSW village of Rockley, just south of Bathurst and just down the road from Moran's family farm. Needless to say, the pub serves way-above-average pub grub, made mainly from local produce, including some from the Moran farm. Even though it's a half-hour drive from their city, Bathurst locals regularly take the trip for a meal and a drink at this classic country pub, and you definitely should, too. You'll find pub classics – including schnitzels, burgers and fish and chips – elevated with a touch of Moran magic. I had the whole rainbow trout – butterflied, expertly seasoned and grilled, served in a buttery dressing with charred bitter greens. Mouthwatering. There's a bus from Bathurst to Rockley, so you don't have to get behind the wheel after enjoying a few bevvies. There's also cute accommodation above the pub, find out more here.

Continuing the theme of places with pretty courtyards, the Hub has a beautiful, leafy undercover area where you can sit and enjoy a coffee, breakfast, lunch or even an alcoholic drink. The menu is diverse, offering everything from traditional café breakfast fare to poached eggs with spiced Middle Eastern eggplant chutney, chorizo and harissa on sourdough. For lunch, you'll find burgers, BLTs, linguine and hearty salads alongside Asian offerings like a Korean fried chicken salad. For lunch, I had the pan-fried barramundi with red curry sauce and rice, paired with a festive Guava Mimosa.

If you like gin and whiskey, you must head to this local distillery, owned and run by the lovely Jones family. The small-batch producer is punching above its weight – they've won multiple international awards, and we're not surprised. My husband took home a bottle of their Australian Dry Gin, which is now his "favourite ever gin" (big call!). The distillery wastes nothing – their barley feeds the sheep, the boiler is solar-powered, and the steam that heats the still is recaptured to clean the tanks. You can take tours of the distillery at 11am, 2pm and 4pm on Saturdays, to learn about gin and whisky production as well as some local history. Stay for a tasting, of course, and also a feed – they've just opened a new kitchen.

Housed in a former 1850's church school, this popular spot with leafy beer garden and candelit indoor space has punters coming from afar to enjoy the excellent woodfired pizzas.

This ultra-cool local producer has moved its brewery and taproom to the heritage Crago Mill complex. Reckless is known as "the beer of Bathurst", so it's a must-try while you're here. They also serve a tasty tapas menu that pairs perfectly with the brews.

Located in the charming nearby village of O'Connell, this family-run winery produces wines from grapes grown at their home vineyard (Bella Luna) as well as vineyards here in the Wambuul Valley. Tastings are by appointment only and involve personalised tastings of six wines. We love the Renzaglia Wines Nuovo di Renzo, which is a red that's great served chilled.

Dejorja & Co (37 Keppel Street, Bathurst) is a popular stop for clothing, homewares and gifts, and there's also a nice café at the back, The Crow’s Nest Café. Other shopping haunts: Gorgeousness Boutique (124 William St), Vintage Vibes Emporium (83 Keppel St, Bathurst) and The Barn (179 George Street) in the historic Webb building. 

Treat yourself at Annie’s Ice Cream (82/86 George St, Bathurst), an old-fashioned parlour, or at the family-run Bathurst Chocolate Boutique (141 George St).

Machattie Park, in the centre of town, is a late-19th-century Victorian-style country town park on the site of the old gaol. There are plenty of places for picknicking on the grass, and features include a duck pond, bandstand, old Caretakers Cottage, fountain, a fernery and – my favourite part – a greenhouse filled with beautiful begonias.

Artists have been drawn to the region, due to the beautiful natural landscapes and the rich history of surrounding villages (including artist haven Hill End). The Bathurst Regional Art Gallery (BRAG) is one of the oldest and most well regarded regional galleries in the state, showcasing the work of local and regional artists. The gallery is a also a producer of touring exhibitions, and operates the renowned Hill End Artists in Residence Program.

It's best known as the home of the famous Bathurst 1000 motor race held every October, and the Bathurst 12 Hour event held in February – but Mount Panorama is a public road! When the races aren't on, the iconic racetrack doubles as a scenic drive with stunning valley views, a boardwalk, and panoramic lookout over Bathurst. Mount Panorama has a dual name – it's also known as Wahluu (meaning "to watch over"), to recognise the Wiradjuri history. Historically it served as a site for young men to watch over the valley.

The Australian Fossil Museum is a treasure chest of historical artefacts. It boasts natural minerals, an extremely rare lizard embedded in amber, and an unmissable standout – a 360-million-year-old fossil known as T-rex, the only one of its kind in Australia.

At the local farmers markets in the historic Bathurst Showground, you can meet and chat with friendly locals peddling fresh regional produce. It's held on the fourth Saturday of each month from January to November and on the third Saturday of December (8am to midday). See market dates over here.

A detour idea: about a 40-minute drive from Bathurst, you'll find RedGround Australia, which offers a range of truffle experiences, including truffle hunting, tasting and even retreats. While traditional farms have truffle pigs to forage, RedGround has Sarge and Scout, the resident truffle-hunting dogs who lead the way all year round. RedGround grows four truffle varieties: black, summer, burgundy, and the elusive white bianchetto. You can also buy freshly harvested truffles, truffle oils, sauces, condiments, as well as accessories like shavers and graters. Find out more here.