A perfect winter's weekend in Bathurst, NSW (Australia)

Boasting arts, culture, and heritage, Bathurst is the perfect weekend getaway destination. Only a 3-hour drive from Sydney, Bathurst is the oldest inland settlement in Australia. I ventured to Bathurst to explore its historic city centre, the winter festival, and the budding food scene.

Bathurst Winter Festival

We checked out Ignite the Night, the opening event of the Bathurst Winter Festival last Saturday. The family-friendly event showcased live music, local food, wine, and ales. Throughout the festival, you can get involved in the McDonalds Bathurst Ice Rink, the Ferris wheel, and of course the illuminated buildings. This coming Saturday, 9 July, head to Brew & Bite from 4pm, featuring food, a pop-up bar, an ice hockey showcase match, silent disco, and market stalls.

The Bathurst Winter Festival is running until July 16th. For more information visit the Bathurst Winter Festival website.

Two Heads Brewing

Within the historic Crago Mill, Two Heads Brewing offers a great range of beers handcrafted on-site. Run by two brothers, Campbell and Greg Hedley, the brewery also features fantastic food, showcasing locally sourced produce. At the helm is a team of chefs who have worked at lauded restaurants like Rockpool and Darleys.

Both the Kurrawong roasted cauliflower with dukkah spiced yoghurt ($12) and the Vietnamese fried chicken wings ($12) are excellent share plates to start with. I’m especially fond of the chilli and sesame seed hit of the wings.

Our mains are not only delicious but also plated beautifully. The 16-hour slow cooked Hereford Red beef short ribs with onion soubise, pickled carrot, chips, and watercress ($30) are incredible. The beef just falls off the bone. As expected, the 16-hour slow cooked Down To Earth Produce Oberon lamb with potato galette, truss tomatoes, chickpeas, and jus ($30) is equally tender and tasty. I’m particularly loving the potato galette.

For dessert, we tackle the mandarin pannacotta with hazelnut sponge, mandarin gel, and praline ($14) and the strawberry, white chocolate mousse with meringue and pistachios ($14). The latter is my favourite, though both are excellent desserts regardless.

We, of course, have to try their full range of handcrafted beers, from the golden ale and pale ale to the IPA and porter. I’m not typically a beer drinker, but I find the porter most interesting with its chocolate notes. All the beers are crafted here, and you can even see it in action.

Other Things to Do

As we walk through Bathurst’s city centre, we stumble upon a cosy bar, Webb & Co at happy hour (4-6pm). It’s worth a visit to escape the winter chill over a local beer or wine. Amble through antique shop Webb Western Warehouse housed in a historic emporium build in the late 1880s. Or if you want to delve deeper into Bathurst’s heritage, visit historic Abercrombie House, the Australian Fossil & Mineral Museum, or the Bathurst Regional Art Gallery.

The writer visited Bathurst as a guest of Central NSW Tourism. All photos by Sarah Han, except the venue image of Two Heads Brewing.

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A perfect winter’s weekend in Bathurst, NSW (Australia)

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Sarah Han