I moved to Penrith from a country town on the Eyre Peninsula in South Australia 18 months ago. Occasionally, I find myself craving the feeling you get from a small town – a unique feeling of community and calmness. As it turns out, Bathurst was my answer.
I arrived in town a few hours before the sun sank, and it was the low afternoon rays that lit up my accommodation for the weekend: Alice Foxren. The quaint red brick bungalow on Keppel Street oozed with charm – and I hadn’t even opened the front door yet.
The bed and breakfast combined the heritage features of the original 1939 home with modern amenities and design choices – a combination of vintage and minimalist decor. It featured a main bedroom with a king bed, a bedroom with two single beds, a bathroom with great water pressure, a cosy lounge room, a dining room, a fully equipped kitchen (inclusive of ice cream in the freezer), and a sun-soaked private back deck.
It was from the lounge room that a calming slow tempo track seeped from a retro radio. This was easily my favourite room in the house – especially because married owners Lauren and Todd went to the effort of putting up a Christmas tree! When I wasn’t exploring the historic town of Bathurst, I was on the couch reading a book or watching the new season of ‘Stranger Things’ surrounded by quaint country elegance.
I packed many activities into my two days in Australia’s oldest inland European settlement. Restaurants, museums, distilleries, and a healthy serving of relaxation fuelled my trip, and I’m extending my itinerary to you.
Dining
If you’re chasing a fine dining experience in a relaxed setting, Bootleg Dining is waiting for your reservation.
The restaurant describes its cuisine as modern Australian. Chefs select premium local, Australian and international ingredients to ensure clients indulge in a rich tapestry of flavours. Their sourdough bread and fresh pastas are made in-house, and the meat is cooked over charcoal.
I made my choices for the share-style dining experience based on suggestions from the waiter. Her knowledge of the menu was comforting and resulted in just the right amount of food – ensuring I didn’t leave hungry or overly full.
The next day’s breakfast was in the courtyard at Moubar Vintage. As I waited for my coffee, I watched multiple families file in and out of the area and attempted to pat as many dogs as possible before my breakfast was ready for collection.
Under the shelter of a large, leafy tree, I sipped my morning brew and devoured my cinnamon sugar-soaked pastry as rain gently drizzled.
For lunch, I once again sat under a canopy of leaves at The Hub. True to its name, this eatery was bustling with people.
I ordered one of the day’s specials: the fried buttermilk chicken burger with grilled pineapple, shaved ham, and chipotle mayo served with chips and aioli. This was the perfect pitstop on a busy day (that’s a car racing pun).
I concluded my Saturday at The Victoria for a classic pub meal – a chicken schnitzel with pepper sauce and chips.
This quirky pub served as the perfect starting point for a night out in Bathurst thanks to the friendly staff, happy clientele, and the option to eat and drink either inside or outside under the pink sunset.
Museums and Attractions
Bathurst has so much history, much of which is documented in the various museums around town. Some key players include the Australian Fossil and Mineral Museum, Bathurst Rail Museum, the National Motor Racing Museum, and Chifley Home.
I visited the Australian Fossil and Mineral Museum on day one. The fossils and minerals were mind-blowing. The museum featured some of the finest and rarest specimens from around the world.
On day two, I visited the Bathurst Rail Museum. The scale model railway depicting the Great Western Line between Tarana and Bathurst during the 1950s and ‘60s blew me away.
At both museums, I was greeted with enthusiasm. The staff were incredibly passionate about the amazing pieces of history that awaited inside.
Another place in Bathurst that will soon be an important part of the town’s history is Bathurst Grange Distillery – an award-winning, family-owned gin and whisky producer. I joined a distillery tour to learn the art of distillation and taste premium small-batch spirits with a beautiful view of farmland.
The tour was led by Toby, who has been working on the farm with his father since he was a teenager. He’s now pursuing his dream of using ingredients grown on the farm to create spirits with his family.
So, with that in mind, if you need to scratch the country town itch like I did, or if you simply want to take your family on a holiday steeped in history and community-mindedness, Bathurst is your answer.
