Local Area - Bathurst

Soak up gold rush heritage, enjoy a thriving food and wine scene, and embrace motor racing fever in Australia’s oldest inland colonial settlement. Home to one of the great motor racing circuits in the world, Mount Panorama, Bathurst is synonymous with motorsport.

Found on the banks of the Macquarie River, Bathurst is a vibrant regional centre, full of tree-lined streets and pretty parks. Getting here is easy, whether by car, train or plane. There’s also an exciting events calendar, including the Inland Sea of Sound music festival.

The discovery of gold in the Bathurst region in the early 1850s transformed the town. Explore Bathurst’s beautiful architecture, including Bathurst Court House and Abercrombie House, a grand mansion that offers tours and occasional high tea and music performances.

Mount Panorama features several international endurance motor racing events, including the Bathurst 12 Hour and the famous Bathurst 1000. You can drive around the circuit when it’s not being used for racing. Next to the track is the National Motor Racing Museum.

Check out a Tyrannosaurus rex skeleton at the Australian Fossil and Mineral Museum.

In the Bathurst Regional Art Gallery is a wonderful collection of Australian paintings, including of the striking landscape around Hill End, the historic gold-mining town northwest of Bathurst. Enjoy Bathurst’s restaurants and cafes, and taste the region’s cool climate wines at cellar doors and the annual National Cool Climate Wine Show. Another delicious event is the Winter Winery Wander. For beer lovers, visit Two Heads Brewing and Fish River Valley Brewing.

Bathurst Airport is 7km from Bathurst’s town centre. Make the short trip west into the city using the local coach operator, the taxi services at the terminal or ride-sharing Uber. Alternatively, rent a car from the hire services available at the airport and explore the region at your own pace. Regional Express operates daily direct flights to and from Sydney. For other major Australian cities, connect via Sydney to travel onto Bathurst.