NSW Top Tourism Town Finalist
Welcome to
Bathurst
Top Town: population over 5,000 residents
09:00 Fri 28 April - till - 17:00 Fri 12 May.
Members of the public may lodge only one vote for one town in each category. See Terms & Conditions.
Bathurst is for Little Explorers
The Bathurst region, situated in Wiradjuri Country, is a giant playground for big and little kids with a variety of family-friendly attractions that are perfect for any time of the year to excite and delight every imagination.
You can be in Bathurst in just under 3 hours' drive from Sydney, 3 hours from Canberra, and just over 4 hours from Newcastle.
Bathurst’s four distinct seasons not only make the region stunningly different at any time of the year, but also each bring variety in what you can experience. Summer is for outdoors, camping, swimming, and fruit picking. Autumn is for heritage and colour, with hands on events to go behind the scenes of Bathurst’s significant heritage sites as the leaves turn an impressive array of autumnal hues. Winter does not put a freeze on fun, with the Bathurst Winter Festival warming the hearts of locals and visitors alike. And Spring is a celebration of Bathurst as a motorsport destination while gorgeous gardens throughout the region reawaken in all their floral glory.
Loving Bathurst?
Vote for this top town in the 2023 Top Tourism Town Awards
The Bathurst region’s unique attractions each offer an engaging learning experience for your young ones, and each tell a different part of the region’s rich history.
Step back in time at Abercrombie House, one of Bathurst’s early grand mansions that has been lovingly restored to depict what life was like for the wealthy pioneers of the Bathurst region.
Experience what life was like on the goldfields at Hill End, an immaculately preserved village with many original features from the days of the Gold Rush intact. You can still find gold if you know where to look. Try a gold panning tour with an experienced local guide.
Delve into the region’s industrial history at the Bathurst Rail Museum, an award-winning space complete with working model trains and a dedicated Kid Central zone with the largest fixed BRIO set in the world.
For little dinosaur enthusiasts, there is the Australian Fossil and Mineral Museum, a collection of specimens displayed to give a better understanding of the creation of Earth, complete with a scale model T-Rex skeleton.
Or time your trip to Bathurst during one of the town’s seasonal events, when the atmosphere is electric.
Traditionally recognised as the home of Australian Motor Sport, Bathurst hosts several world-renowned motor racing events throughout the year that are thrilling for every member of the family.
The Bathurst Winter Festival is an icon during the region’s colder months’ where the Bathurst Town Square is transformed into a twilight wonderland with light installations at every turn, market stalls, food trucks, carnival rides and a pop-up ice rink.
During Autumn, there is the Royal Bathurst Show, the biggest show west of the Sydney Royal Easter Show, with all the surprises you would expect from a great country carnival like classic rides and games, sheep dog trials, wood chopping competitions, a huge fruit and vegetable display, and so much more.
At the end of an action-packed day, you can curl up by a wood heater in your own self-contained CBD cottage or enjoy the modern comforts and convenience of a motel in town or look further afield on picturesque properties for farm stay and homestead accommodation.
The Bathurst region is affordable and accessible for all families, with plenty of options for any budget and any ability. All attractions are well priced, and many attractions are wheelchair accessible.
For your next family adventure, come over the Mountains, but not far away, and make lasting family memories together in the vibrant and thriving Bathurst region.
.
Four days in Bathurst
Excite, delight and reconnect with your younger pioneers in the Bathurst Region.
This itinerary is designed for a family of 3 to 5 people with pre and primary school aged children.
Stay: Rydges Mount Panorama.
When: Any time of the year!
.
Share the love
If you believe this top town deserves a top spot at this year's awards, get your friends and family on the case.
Share this page with your network via the social icons below.