Your guide to the perfect Bathurst getaway in every season

With festivals, modern museums, award-winning produce and more, there are endless reasons why you should consider a visit to Bathurst any time of year.

From long summer days and rusty-coloured autumn afternoons to fresh spring mornings and crisp starry-skied winter nights, Bathurst famously features four distinct seasons. And thanks to a bursting schedule of entertainment, culture, events and foodie drawcards, this regional centre in the heart of the Central Tablelands, is the perfect destination in all seasons.

Winter in Bathurst

Clear, blue winter skies and frost-bitten mornings mark the start of winter in Bathurst. It’s the best kind of weather for long, cosy lunches at the nearby The Rockley Pub, owned by celebrity chef Matt Moran. Or book in for the classic high tea served up in the ballroom at the Abercrombie House, built around 1870.

Savour the perfect weather with a long, cosy lunch at The Rockley Pub. (Image: Steven Woodburn)

The much-anticipated Bathurst Winter Festival begins just after the winter solstice. For 16 days every July, the city centre’s historic buildings are illuminated and Machattie Park is a hive of activity; you’ll  find light installations, a ferris Wheel, rides, an ice rink, and hot food and drinks (mulled wine, anyone?). There’s also a pet parade and two action-packed kid’s days to coincide with school holidays.

One of the main highlights, though, is the two-day Charles Sturt University Brew & Bite, where local food and drink makers serve up their produce to the backdrop of live music and entertainment, including stilt walkers, fire dancers, and professional ice skaters.

Spend the night out and about and then recover the next day with a drive to the tiny village of Yetholme, one of the highest points in the region, to chase some snow play. During the winter months, the beautiful views and native woodland of Wombool Nature Reserve are regularly blanketed in fresh powder.    

Enjoy the magic of the Bathurst Winter Festival.

Spring in Bathurst

As the sun heats up, melting the flowers out of their winter hibernation, Bathurst literally and figuratively comes alive. The city’s civic landscaping blooms and the many trees begin to repopulate their branches. Many of the finest private gardens of the city and the region open their gates over the weekend of the Bathurst Spring Spectacular. Enjoy live music and food as they enjoy the return of the warmth and colour of spring.

Join the crowd and bask in the beautiful heat of spring.

Local spring produce can be tasted and purchased at seasonal farmer’s markets every fourth Saturday. After you’ve fuelled your body, stretch your legs on the gruelling Panorama Punish, where you’re able to run the length of the famous track in a fast-paced running race.

Once you’ve crossed the finish line, head to a local pub – like the busy beer garden at  The Victoria, a renovated bistro that serves a fresh twist on pub fare, with a side of live music late into the night.

Take on the tough Panorama Punish, racing the famous track at full speed.

Summer in Bathurst

As spring warmth turns into summer haze, Bathurst locals head to the nearby Chifley Dam, which has acted as a summer escape since it opened in 1956. Camping, fishing, swimming, boating and even sailing can all be enjoyed, as well as bouncing away the day at the Bathurst Aqua Park, which is unsurprisingly popular with families.

Stay cool during the summer while enjoying a range of activities.

Long summer days are perfect for bushwalks, waterhole swims, and even fossicking for gold around the historic villages of Sofala and Hill End. Finish up the day with a tasting of the region’s very own gin and whiskey at the Bathurst Grange Distillery as the sun goes down.

Motor enthusiasts can experience the raw power of the Bathurst 12-Hour, an international endurance race that launches Australia’s motorsport calendar. After it’s finished, be immersed in the history of motor racing in Australia from the 1920s to today at the National Motor Racing Museum. Opened by the late Peter Brock, an unparalleled Australian motor champion, this museum has an ever-changing display of over 100 restored and buffed cars, mixed with original trophies, authentic race suits, and archival race footage.

Sample the region’s gin and whisky. (Image: Bathurst Grange Distillery)

Autumn in Bathurst

As the bright glow of summer turns into the red flares of autumn, Bathurst’s streets and byways turn crimson and gold almost overnight. If you’re taken with the change, consider entering the annual Autumn Photo Competition with a photo that showcases the region and the season.

See the golden beauty of Bathurst in Autumn. (Image: David Roma Photography)

Escape cooling temperatures by heading indoors to the award-winning Bathurst Rail Museum, which features a model railway the size of a tennis court. For little adventurers, the Australian Fossil and Mineral Museum offers a chance to see some of the rarest fossils and mineral crystals in the world. There’s a huge T-rex skeleton for dinosaur lovers to enjoy, as well as and many fossils preserved in amber that are millions of years old.

To revisit more of the region’s varied history, the Bathurst Heritage Trades Trail showcases the lost skills of bygone artisans. Held at the historic Bathurst Showground, this annual celebration of the functional arts brings together masters of blacksmithing, saddlery, lace making, tapestry, embroidery, carpentry, and violin making, among others. Watch demonstrations, try your hand at a lost art or buy a unique souvenir. Then finish off the day with a ride on an authentic restored Cobb & Co Coach, and step into the shoes of the people who helped Bathurst become the wonderful place what it is today.    

Explore railway history at the museum and expand your knowledge of rails. (Image: Destination NSW)

Find more inspiration for your next holiday on the Bathurst website.