Slow down in Orange, in the heart of New South Wales, to savour award-winning wines and fine food in a quiet country setting.

By Cole Latimer

See where Australia's modern history started, while taking in rolling green hills, heritage landscapes, and some of the nation's finest cool climate wines. 

Don't miss

• Tuck into delicious local produce at F.O.O.D Week
• Indulge in the Orange Wine Festival
• Discover Australia's golden heritage

Top things to do in Orange

Take part in F.O.O.D Week

Find out why the annual F.O.O.D (Food of Orange District) Week is regional Australia's longest running food festival. Orange is nestled in the shadow of extinct volcano Mount Canobolas, and the region has enriched soil, providing excellent ground to grow top quality produce. The event showcases the high quality food, such as stone fruits, olives and meats, that the local area has to offer. Be part of the growing slow food movement with the 100 Mile Dinner, a large communal feast using wine and produce sourced within a 100 mile (160 kilometre) radius of the town. Held every April, the festival highlights local produce, chefs, restaurants and providores.

Indulge in art          

The Big Banana, the Big Sheep, the Big Pineapple: Australia's regional areas are known for their larger-than-life works of art. Orange plays host to one of the world’s longest art exhibitions, Animals on Bikes, a 120 kilometre (74.5 mile) sculpture display featuring more than 100 two metre high (7 foot) structures, such as steel pigs and cows, created by the locals. It runs along Obley Road, the back road from Molong to Dubbo Zoo.

Savour world-class wine

The annual Orange Wine Festival (held in October) showcases the region's world-renowned cool climate wines over two weeks, supported by a number of vineyards that have won international prizes. The festival features 90 events including Wine in the Vines (frequently sold out), in which you are introduced to local vintners and vignerons and taken through the winemaking process; wine masterclasses, in which you’ll learn how to taste and judge wines from local winemakers; and the Wine & Food Night markets, which hosts more than 60 stalls offering fine cuisines and creations from the local region.

Hit the Gold Trails

If you’re looking for adventure, consider a journey outside the town to walk the Gold Trails, where gold was first discovered in Australia. Fossick for riches while taking in the region’s heritage landscapes including historic mining sites Hill End at Bathurst and O'Briens Hill at Grenfell. The Mount Canobolas State Conservation Area also offers a range of bushwalks. The Federal Falls walk is about 3.8 kilometres (2.4 miles) return, and takes about 2 1/2 hours, culminating in a steep decline down to the falls.

How to get there

Orange is a 3 1/2 hour drive west of Sydney over the Blue Mountains, or a three hour drive north from Canberra. It is serviced by direct daily flights from Sydney.