Orange City is one of the few rich historical places in the NSW region, and it has many fun activities. It is a flourishing country town with award-winning restaurants, boutique shops, stunning gardens, and bustling markets perfect for any season. Below, we will reveal more about this beautiful city and some fun, relaxing and educational activities you can do here.

In 1851, a substantial gold discovery in Australia was made in Ophir, sparking an irregular population movement known as the Australian gold rush. Additional gold discoveries in the vicinity led to the founding of Orange as a gold trading centre. Orange became a minor city 100 years after it was created. It continued flourishing as the climate was ideal for agricultural and local industries. Before Canberra’s selection, Orange was Australia’s national capital city. Next, is our recommended places to visit in Orange and some fun activities.

1. Orange Wine Region

The city is known as a gourmet hotspot, particularly for its wine, which is brewed from all-natural ingredients and has gained international recognition.

Wine tasting at the wine region costs $10-$20 per person, and some of the money is repaid when you purchase one or more bottles.

At the winery, you will be presented with five or six wines, and a staff will educate you about their vineyard. Some local and fresh wines in the Orange region are:-

• Philip Shaw Wines
• Cargo Road Winery
• Printhie Wines Cellar Doors
• Patina Wines

2. Borenore Caves

The Borenore Caves are a series of limestone caves found in the Central West region of New South Wales, Australia. They are a part of the Borenore Karst Conservation Reserve. This arch cave is known for its karst properties, including abundant fossils from a long-lived Silurian reef complex.

Borenore’s karst arch cave is surrounded by igneous rock that poured from nearby Mount Canobolas’ volcanic eruptions. Corals, crinoids, brachiopods, gastropods, pentamers, colonial tryplasmids, and trilobites are among the fossils found in this region.

This 136-hectare reserve is located 17 kilometres west of Orange. It is included on the Register of the National Estate as a natural heritage site because of its wide diversity of karst morphological and sedimentological features. However, it does not support camping.

Borenore Karst Conservation Reserve has three caves that can be explored:

• Arch Cave
• Tunnel Cave
• Verandah Cafe

3. Cook Park

Also known as Orange Botanic Garden, this 4-hectare heritage-listed urban park is located at 24-26 Summer Street in Orange, New South Wales, Australia. It was designed and built by Alfred Patterson between 1873 and 1950. On August 24, 2018, it was placed on the New South Wales State Heritage Register. It has its primary entrance at the crossroads of Summer and Clinton Streets.

There are various historic elements to discover in the park, including a band rotunda, an ornamental lake, iron gates, a cottage, a conservatory, several gardens, and more. Cook Park is a nice place to take a stroll as it is located in the heart of town.

4. Gosling Creek Reserve Source

Gosling Creek Reserve is an environmentally friendly leisure area located along Forest Road, a short distance from the city’s centre, when you go through a sealed shared cycle/pedestrian path.

Gosling Creek Reservoir is the first of three reservoirs developed in the Summer Hill watershed region. It has Playgrounds, and it’s pet-friendly. The reserve includes a picnic area, barbeques, public restrooms, a cycling path, rollerblading paths, walking trails and children’s play equipment for climbing, spinning, and balancing. There is a bird hide with two viewing platforms and various native plants.

5. Lake Canobolas Reserve

The lake supplied water to Orange from 1918 to 1957 and has been used as a recreation spot since the 1970s. Lake Canobolas is an artificial reservoir in Trangenge, west of New South Wales, Australia, near Orange. It was completed in 1918.

This calm lake near the foot of Mount Canobolas welcomes inhabitants and tourists to exercise, relax and enjoy the view. Subject to seasonal changes, Cycling, sailing, canoeing, strolling, swimming, triathlons, and dragon boating are among the sporting activities you can do here. The Lakeside Kiosk & Cafe offers lunch and a playground on the eastern bank called the Apex Adventure Playground.

6. Mount Canobolas

Mount Canobolas is a mountain in the Central Tablelands of New South Wales, Australia, located on a spur of the Great Dividing Range. Mount Canobolas, an extinct volcano, is the tallest mountain in the region, rising 1,390 meters above sea level.

It is around 250 kilometers west of Sydney and 13 kilometers southwest of Orange.

7. Orange Botanic Gardens

Orange Botanic Gardens is a 17-hectare natural undulating setting with an excellent array of native and exotic plants. The Gardens were officially inaugurated for the Australian Bicentennial in 1988. It has plantings ranging from original native and exotic species to freshly planned exhibits.

The Orange Botanic Gardens are a lovely spot to unwind and enjoy the beautiful scenery and regional views. It’s a great place for a family picnic, a stroll and bird-watching. The four seasons are well represented in these gardens.

The Orange Botanic Gardens is open daily until sunset, and entry is free. The Garden has a Playground and BBQ amenities nearby.

8. Elephant Park

This is a simple park with some fun equipment for the little ones. But no eatery on the premises for coffee or snacks, so come with food or anything you may need if you plan to stay long.

However, an excellent cafe on Woodward called Omar by Academy Coffee is within a five-minute walk from the park, where you can pick up some snacks before entering the park.

9. Ophir Resource

Ophir was a Gold Rush town. There are numerous camping options, some of which require 4WD.

Around this region, there are many small tracks you can explore, and you will find historical relics of the gold mining and sours available through a working mine.

10. Orange Regional Museum

The award-winning Orange Regional Museum opened in 2016. It is dedicated to sharing engaging exhibitions and diverse public programming with audiences of all ages. The Orange Regional Museum educates the community about objects of historical value in the regional gallery.

The Museum is a destination for tourists and locals alike. It is a beautiful, purpose-built regional gallery inside the thriving Orange cultural zone. Long-term and temporary local history exhibitions are on display at the Orange Regional Museum, and the greatest travelling exhibitions from around Australia cover a wide range of topics, such as Australian history, science, technology, and culture.

11. Mount Murga

The trek up the side of Mount Murga and along the ridgeline to the plateau and overlook at the top reveals the large open countryside to the north of the park.

Follow an old bulldozer track up the hill through red stringybark and scribbly gumwoods, and look for blossoming orchids such as spotted double tail and midget greenhood in the spring and early summer.

Kangaroos, wallabies, and various bird species can be found in the surrounding vegetation.

12. Blue Mountains

The Blue Mountains are an Australian mountainous region in New South Wales. Because the Blue Mountains are simply part of a larger mountainous area linked with the Great Dividing Range, the public’s perception of its size varies. The mountain region is limited to the east by the Nepean and Hawkesbury Rivers, to the west and south by the Coxs River and Lake Burragorang, and the north by the Wolgan and Colo Rivers.

13. Falls Waterfalls

Follow the Central Mines trail to Falls Water at Summer Hill Creek for views of the creek cascading down over two levels.

At the bottom of this glorious waterfall, you’ll find a tranquil swimming hole that makes the perfect place to cool off on a hot summer’s day. This is also a great spot to get a great sense of the diversity of this area, such as its gold mining boom-era history, with the old water race that once fed water through to mining areas.

The waterfalls are also a lovely spot for off-bank fishing; birdwatchers should bring their binoculars to glimpse local woodland birds such as eastern and crimson rosellas and owls.

14. Federal Falls

This loop walk starts and ends at Federal Falls campground, travelling through a snow gum forest past massive rock walls.

You can start the course from either the north or south end of the campground. If you want an easier return trip to the falls, take the northern trail, and if you’re going to walk through the circle track, start from the southern end and walk clockwise when going downhill on the steeper sections.

15. Orange Civic Theatre

Over the years, the theatre has hosted several local and national performances in comedy, musicals, tours, foreign shows, film festivals, and more. You can attend a show at the Orange Civic Theatre and invite friends and family to watch a show with you.

16. Orange Adventure Playground

The Orange Adventure Playground is a happy place for children. Kids can go climbing, swinging, and sliding, and a shade is provided for supervising parents.

This community-built playground has a farm tractor, rock wall, treehouse, and rocket ship, among other fun-themed structures. Barbecues, picnic shelters, and a cycling road safety course are also available. It is located close to the beautiful Orange Botanic Garden and is ideal for long hikes and bird-watching.

The best way to get to Orange City

1. Car

Travelling from Sydney to Orange is just over 250 kilometres long and takes about four hours. The starting point is the M4 Motorway to A32 Great Western Highway via the Blue Mountains to Bathurst, and finally, the A32 Mitchell Highway to Orange.

2. Train

Orange is served by regional trains from the train station. On a workday, the journey from Sydney Central Station to Orange Station takes under 5 hours through Lithgow. While the journey is not short, it is pleasant, and Orange Station is situated in the heart of town.

Places To Eat In Orange

1. Charred Kitchen & Bar

It is a casual and friendly fine dining establishment on New Street. They have a great menu and a large wine selection.

2. Carriers Arms Hotel

It is a lively bar in the heart of town with excellent food and service.

3. Raku Izakaya

This eatery on Summer Street is a modern, authentic Japanese restaurant. You can enjoy a wide range of foods alone or shared with friends and family.

Luxurious stay in Orange

1. The Byng Street

The Byng Street award-winning hotel won GOLD in the Deluxe Accommodation category in the 2021 NSW Tourism Awards. Byng Street welcomes guests who value unique elegance, luxury comfort, and refinement.

This 4.5-star hotel is a notable historical homestead and contemporary architecture in the centre of Orange’s heritage precinct.

All lodging packages include a delectable two-course à la carte breakfast made of local fresh food.

Wrapping Up

Orange City is known for its high-quality local produce, beautiful vineyards, and fine dining establishments. It has spectacular autumn colours and freezing winters; it is the country’s snowiest city in the winter.

Apart from wineries, Orange City is renowned for its fruits, berries, and organic products from the orange farmers market. Orange is also famous for its outdoor activities.

Last Updated on May 10, 2024 by Arnab