Mudgee
A region rich in heritage-listed buildings, where you can wander through thriving vineyards and share a drop with friendly locals, picnic in lavender fields and olive groves, dine on local venison and steep yourself in popular culture?
Forget Tuscany and Provence – we’re off to Mudgee.
Across the Great Dividing Range on the central plains of New South Wales, Mudgee is the ideal spot for a little rural tranquillity without sacrificing any home comforts. It’s just over three hours by car from Sydney and a little less from Newcastle, or take the twice-daily Air Link plane service from Mascot and you’re there in next to no time.
Pip Stalley, CEO of Mudgee-Gulgong Tourist Inc, says people are attracted to the area by the boutique wineries, fine food, music, art, spectacular scenery and four-season climate. “But more than this,” she adds, “they keep coming back because they feel at home in our towns and villages. We have a vibrant local culture that is at once relaxed and sophisticated, and visitors tell us they feel more like VIP guests than tourists.”
A TASTE OF HONEY
Mudgee was settled by Europeans in the 1820s – 12 years before Melbourne was established – and the outlying towns saw a huge influx during the gold rushes of the 1850s with Gulgong alone home to 10,000 fortune-seekers. There’s still gold to be found in many of the streams and the Visitor Centre will give details for those wishing to try their hand at gold panning or gem fossicking.
Golden Mudgee honey is famous and there are several places where different varieties can be tried and bought. The Honey Haven also offers tastings of mead, known to the early Greeks as ‘the nectar of the gods’, and here you will find Trisha’s Gift Shop bursting with lavender products and teddy bears. For an all-round lavender experience head to The Lavender Station to wander through fields of white and purple lavender and take home goodies for both personal use and the home.
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