Renowned for its car-racing, history and vibrant town centre, Bathurst is the NSW Central West’s family holiday hotspot.
Bathurst is a quick three-hour trip from Sydney, so it’s easy to take a quick family break in the country. The growing sophistication of Bathurst satisfies grown-ups too, with hip cafes, award-winning bars and restaurants tucked away down cobblestone laneways, and a renowned art gallery.
Here are some of the top experiences for families visiting Bathurst and the Central West.
16 things to do in Bathurst with kids
1. Motor racing experiences in Bathurst
Learn about car and motorcycling history at the National Motor Racing Museum. As well as memorabilia spanning a century of Aussie motorsports history, the museum houses real vehicles and the Immersive Room, an exhibit that recreates the thrills of driving Mount Panorama on race day.
2. Mount Panorama Circuit
Check out the Mt Panorama Circuit racing track, home of the legendary Bathurst 1000. Yes, you can even take a drive here! But if you’re expecting to tear up the track a racing legend, think again – Mount Panorama has speed cameras to stop hoons going too fast. The whole journey around the famous race track takes less than 20 minutes. But that’s a lot longer than the super-cars.
2. Australian Mineral and Fossil Museum
The fascinating Australian Fossil and Mineral Museum is home to the internationally renowned Somerville Collection of more than 5000 rare minerals and fossils from around the world. Travel through time and view ancient specimens such as a sabre tooth cat skull, fossils in amber, fossilised dinosaur eggs, raw gemstones and more, and learn about their place on earth billions of years ago. Plus, don’t miss the impressive, and Australia’s most complete, Tyrannosaurus rex skeleton. This is truly of one of the most amazing dinosaur museums in the country.
3. Bathurst Heritage Walks
Bathurst is the oldest inland European settlement in Australia. See that history for yourself on one of Bathurst’s heritage walks – the Railway and Milltown precinct has some beautiful buildings, including the lovingly restored Crago Mill, which now houses the Reckless Brewing Co taproom and restaurant.
4. Bathurst Rail Museum
The Bathurst Rail Museum, which opened in 2020, has a kids’ room containing the largest fixed BRIO set in the world, a café where you can enjoy lunch inside a restored timber train carriage, and a HO scale model railway modelling the Tarana to Bathurst line. The museum is housed in the historic railway workers cottage, displaying the social history of Bathurst as a railway town, with stories from former railway workers on how the railway line opened NSW up to the west.
5. Bathurst Winter Festival
Many families flock to the Central West especially for the Bathurst Winter Festival! Ice-skating sessions are the highlight, running for 45 minutes outdoors under fairy lights. Don’t worry if the kids can’t ice-skate yet. Unlike the penguins, found at many other ice-rinks, Bathurst has kangaroo skate aids. One child can sit on the roo, while another pushes.
See the illuminated Town Hall building and browse the mamy food stalls at the festival selling mulled-wine, pizzas, burgers and loads of gourmet goods. Wednesdays are kids’ days with live performances, lawn games, chalk art and an animal farm.
6. Historic Gold Rush villages
Drive to historic villages Sofala, Hill End and Rockley for bushranger and gold rush experiences. History Hill at Hill End is a great place to learn about the gold rush days of the 1850s with a magnificent display of fossicking and mining tools, an underground mine and blacksmith shop.
You can also visit Abercrombie Caves, where bushrangers and miners once roamed. Test the echo and acoustics or pan for gold in the creek.
Update: Abercrombie Caves are closed for flood damage repairs until 23 December 2024.
7. Farm experiences in Bathurst
Be inspired by the country lifestyle with a farm experience near Bathurst. Pull on your gumboots and book in for activities including feeding the alpacas, lambs, bunnies, chickens and ducks and cuddling with highland cows at Highland & Co.
You can also settle in for a farm stay at Kenzell Farm, where accommodation options include a modern, comfortable homestead and rustic campsites. Unwind and enjoy the crisp, open country air while the kids meet camels, donkeys, miniature goats and cattle, peacocks and geese.
8. Abercrombie House
More time travelling can be found at Bathurst’s Abercrombie House. Built in the 1870s, this grand country home has been meticulously restored and preserved to reflect the Scottish Baronial-style architecture of the era. Roam around the magnificent gardens and outbuildings before exploring the striking interiors, with grand staircase and ballroom. There are kids’ night tours during the school holidays, with a torch-lit house and garden walk that happily ends with chocolate milk and cookies.
10. Chifley Home and Education Centre
Get a glimpse into life during the Great Depression at Chifley Home and Education Centre, a small museum in the home of former Prime Minister Ben Chifley and his wife Elizabeth.
11. Take an off-road tour
Get up close and personal with nocturnal animals, including sugar gliders, wombats, kangaroos and platypus with Simmo’s Off Road Tours to really experience the NSW Central West. You can also take a ride through spectacular countryside on a guided horse riding tour to views of the Bathurst plains as the early explorers did.
12. Mayfield Garden
Visit Australia’s largest privately-owned, cool climate garden, Mayfield Garden, near Oberon. The 65ha park includes a hedge maze, chapel, water garden, grotto waterfall, aviary, Chinese pagoda and a and garden restaurant,. It’s also open for glamping stays during its seasonal festivals.
13. Bathurst Farmers Market
Pick up fresh vegetables from the Farmers Market at the historic Bathurst Showground. They’re held from 8am to midday on the fourth Saturday of every month (or the third Saturday in December).
14. Bathurst Observatory Research Centre
Take in the night skies away from big city lights at Bathurst Observatory Research Facility, which offers public night-time tours on clear Friday and Saturday nights (bookings essential).
15. The Big Gold Panner
Be sure to stop and see The Big Gold Panner, one of Australia’s iconic Big Things. Located outside the Gold Panner Motor Inn, this giant statue makes a striking sight and gives a nod to Bathurst’s gold mining heritage.
16. Bathurst wineries and distilleries
Parents can taste locally made whisky and gin from Bathurst Grange Distillery and spend an afternoon tasting award-winning cool climate wines from Vale Creek Wines.
6 more things to do in the NSW Central West
1. The Dish - CSIRO Parkes Observatory
The Dish, the famed radio telescope at CSIRO Parkes Observatory, is a must-see for both fans of astronomy and the legendary Australian movie of the same name. Marvel at the dish from the viewing area as it moves, controlled by real-life astronomers studying the universe. Then head to the discovery centre to get to know the telescope’s world famous history as you wander the free astronomy and space science exhibition, or get your tickets to the 3D theatre show. Kids can also play detective for the day on the AstroKids Scavenger Hunt – search for clues around the discovery centre to solve a space-themed puzzle, suitable for ages seven to 14.
2. POW Hologram Theatre, Cowra
For an immersive look into Cowra’s poignant WWII history, the Prisoner of War Hologram Theatre offers an engaging holographic performance showcasing the 1944 Cowra breakout, when more than 1000 captured Japanese soldiers launched a mass escape attack on guards. The tale is shared through a remarkable nine-minute hologram of Claire, a young Cowra local, who tells the story of the Cowra Breakout and its dramatic aftermath. This must-see experience will capture the minds and hearts of all visitors – like renowned American travel writer, Bill Bryson, who watched it three times during his visit.
3. Peak Hill Gold Mine
Forming a striking backdrop to the Peak Hill township, the Peak Hill Gold Mine sits high on a hilltop and offers an insight into life during the Gold Rush era. Wander along the free, self-guided trail and explore the open-cut mine that produced more than 60,000 ounces of gold from 500,000 tonnes of rock, between 1893 and 1917, and was still mined for the precious metal until 2002. Discover preserved mining techniques and old workings, then make your way to the top observation platform for a dramatic view of the five open cuts and natural surrounds.
4. Cowra Japanese Garden
Add a dose of calm to your adventure with a stroll through the spectacular Cowra Japanese Gardens. Spanning more than five hectares, the Gardens are a picture-perfect oasis of manicured hedges as well as waterfalls, lakes and streams. Give the kids a dose of culture with Japanese-themed activities hosted throughout the year, including traditional ceremonies and craft workshops. The in-garden café serves both Japanese and Australian delights, with picturesque views.
5. Henry Parkes Centre
Whether your crew love music, cars or antique treasures, the Henry Parkes Centre has a dedicated space to explore all passions. Take a selfie with a life-size Elvis Presley and relive the star’s life and career at The King’s Castle. At the Parkes Motor Museum, rev heads will love the extensive collection of heritage motor vehicles through the ages. Or transport yourself back to the 1800s at the Moat Cottage Replica and learn all about Parkes’ namesake, Sir Henry Parkes, through the intriguing theatre experience. Don’t forget to check out the Henry Parkes Museum & Antique Machinery Collection to get an insight into early life in this heritage country town.
6. Cowra Nature Based Adventure Playground
The great outdoors is nature’s best playground, and the opened Nature Based Adventure Playground in Cowra blends the natural environment into a kid-friendly playground setting. Thrills on offer include winding slides, two flying foxes, a rotating mousewheel, a 9m-high climbing frame, plus a dedicated dance stage for scheduled Indigenous ceremonies. When it’s time to wind down and refuel, take advantage of the shaded picnic facilities, free barbecues and panoramic bush views.
Family-friendly Bathurst restaurants and cafes
The historic town centre is filled with character buildings from the 1800s, many that are being revitalised as laneway bars, cafes and restaurants.
Church Bar + Woodfired Pizza
1 Ribbon Gang Ln, Bathurst
Set in an old brick schoolhouse building with generous warm wood fires and industrial decor, Church Bar + Woodfired Pizza welcomes kids and the pizzas are sensational.
The Hub
52 Keppel St, Bathurst
The Hub is the ideal place for a leisurely weekend breakfast. As well as brekkie burritos and buttermilk pancakes, the café serves their signature ‘The Hub’ coffee blend from local Fish River Roasters.
Cobblestone Lane
173 George St, Bathurst
Drop by Cobblestone Lane for the full cooked Cobblestone Platter, a feast of bacon, eggs, Italian pork chipolatas, mushrooms, haloumi, hash browns, baked beans, tomato and toast. Not quite that hungry? Toss a coin between the sweet or savoury waffles.
Annie’s Old Fashioned Ice Cream Parlour
82/86 George St, Bathurst
Step back in time for sweet treats in a gorgeous old-fashioned shop at Annie’s Old Fashioned Ice Cream Parlour. Be sure to try the locally-inspired Sofala Gold and Bridle Track varieties.
Where to stay in Bathurst with kids
Farmstays, such as Wanera Cottage and Farmstay, are a great accommodation option, or stay in a self-contained cottage or in a motel in town.
William Cottages is less than five minutes from the centre of town (walking). These beautifully styled cottages are great for families. Number 12 has two bedrooms and two bathrooms. The main bedroom and ensuite are wheelchair accessible and includes a hoist from the bed to bathroom. The kitchen has every appliance, pot, pan and utensil that families need.
Opening image: The Australian Mineral and Fossil Museum in Bathurst. Image: Destination NSW
Content contributors: Elisa Elwin, Alison Godfrey
