We explore Bathurst’s culture, history, food and regional charm

With its mix of history, culture and regional charm, Christine Knight finds Bathurst the perfect spot for a laid-back family break.

Bathurst has been a frequent stop on our family trips for two generations, calling us back time and again to explore everything that it has to offer. Best known for its famous racing track and its deep roots in Australian history, a visit to Bathurst is a little like stepping back in time… but with all the mod cons of the present. The pride Bathurst locals have in their town is obvious in how beautifully maintained the heritage buildings lining the streets are, and in the clever modernisation that hides incredible restaurants and amenities behind their historic façades.

We find constantly evolving Bathurst provides a rather unique holiday where simply walking the streets results in stickybeaking at the beautiful, historic buildings, and we slow down our pace to match the gentle speed of a city that is still essentially a country town.

A first stop in town has to be strolling the gorgeous streets and taking in the sights of Australia’s oldest inland settlement. Pick up a free map from the Bathurst Visitor Information Centre and take yourself on a walk into Bathurst’s past. Must-visits are the Bathurst Courthouse, built in 1880, and the Bathurst Railway Precinct, where its historic ‘Chifley Engine’ is on display – a treat for train lovers. We get the whole family involved by making the walking tour a treasure hunt: who can find the next place on the map first? It’s a win-win activity for the adults and the kid.

Museums and more

The Bathurst Regional Art Gallery is a must-stop, even for families. Entry is free, which is perfect for a low-risk outing with kids who have short attention spans. Art-loving adults will also be impressed by the wide range of contemporary works on display and kids will enjoy getting their Rothko on at the hands-on workshops that are run over the school holidays in conjunction with the Bathurst City Library.

Science-loving kids like mine just adore the Australian Fossil and Mineral Museum, which is a short stroll away. It’s a small museum jam-packed with almost 2,000 fossil and mineral specimens. The T-rex is a show-stopping centrepiece, although we ironically found ourselves spending hours examining the tiniest mineral specimens.

The T-rex is a show-stopping centrepiece, although we ironically found ourselves spending hours examining the tiniest mineral specimens.

For a good runaround, we head to Machattie Park and the Begonia House. Machattie Park is such a pretty spot, with a fountain, arbour and flowers, but it is the stunning Begonia House, filled to the brim with stunning begonia blooms from February to April, that’s the draw for us this time.

One particular spot in Bathurst that we find ourselves returning to over and over again is Bathurst’s brilliant Adventure Playground. This very modern playground features state-of-the-art outdoor equipment and is designed for children of all abilities. We particularly love the dinosaur statues and footprints, the dual flying fox, slides and maze. No matter how many times we visit, it’s always hard to drag the kid away when it’s finally time to leave.

Off and racing

We aren’t really revheads, but even for us, visiting Mount Panorama is a must. Anyone can drive up to the top and take in the spectacular view, then take on the world-famous race track themselves. The track is actually a public road 24/7 so, unlike the V8 supercars, you’ll have to drive at a much more sedate 60 kilometres per hour! There is even a little playground up the top to entertain kids.

For more motoring kicks, racing fans should make a pit stop at the National Motor Racing Museum. Located right alongside the circuit, visitors can learn about the history of motor racing in Australia as well as checking out cars including the late Peter Brock’s famous 1984 Holden Commodore VK.

If it’s your heart that you want to get racing, there are regular kids’ night tours of the stunning Abercrombie House by torchlight. This beautiful heritage mansion has 52 rooms and a spectacular grand ballroom – perfect for ghostly exploration. While the kid is a bit young for this one (it’s for those seven and up), happily there’s also a regular High Tea event that includes delicious savoury and sweet treats, live music and the opportunity to explore in the far less spooky light of day.

Farm and feast

Barcoos Farmstays is just 10 minutes from town and the perfect spot to pull on the gumboots for a bit of down-on-the-farm fun. There are eggs to collect, lambs and alpacas to feed and pony rides and sulky rides around the working farm. And there’s the option of a day visit or overnight stay.

With all that farm-fresh produce right on Bathurst’s doorstep, eating is an important part of visiting the lovely town. Families (and anyone with a sweet tooth) will love Legall Patisserie Cafe. This little slice of France in regional Australia is renowned for its macarons, fruit tartlets, éclairs and freshly baked bread. Pass the croissants, s’il vous plaît!

We are pizza people, so Church Bar + Woodfired Pizza is an absolute winner for mozzarella lovers like us. The pizzeria is housed inside the old Anglican Church School House, giving it a generous dash of old-world charm. We also love The George Hotel, a family-friendly gastro pub offering a seasonal menu made from local produce. The all-day kids’ menu features all their favourites, so you can’t go wrong.

For us, the last stop on every trip to Bathurst has to be the iconic Annie’s Old Fashioned Ice Cream Parlour. Visiting this pretty pink 1950s-style milk bar is a delightful experience that we savour before heading back home. Sitting inside a fairy floss-coloured booth and devouring the specialty Sofala Gold ice-cream is the perfect exit to the enchanting time machine that is Bathurst.

This article originally appeared in Holidays with Kids magazine. To subscribe to the latest issue, click here.