Bathurst Specials

Bathurst is a town of contrasts that is always in continuous development. Heritage-listed buildings and rich heritage combine with museums and galleries of world-class roots. Spectacular natural wonders coexist with a modern cultural scene. Host to many world-class museums and countless iconic attractions showcasing the region’s history and beauty, you can comfortably spend a week or more exploring Bathurst and its surrounding cities and scratching the surface. Come and discover this dynamic and evolving regional town full of genuine charm and heart.

When you’re visiting Bathurst’s historic town, you just have to drive its most popular tourist attraction, a mountain called Mount Panorama. This is Australian motorsport’s spiritual home. Once a year, it hosts the Bathurst 1000 event, one of the country’s most challenging racing circuits. This is a public road on non-race days, so you can drive it in any direction, but at a maximum of 60 km/h. The view of Bathurst and the surrounding countryside from the top of the mountain is fantastic. Please remember to take your camera-or mobile! So if you’re fit enough, you can walk it out.

The Mt Panorama circuit is just another bit of public road during non-race times, which gives access to homes and accommodation within the circuit boundary. There’s an area where you can pull off the track to reach the top of the circuit and enjoy excellent views over Bathurst city. Entry is safe since it is a public road. Beginning on the beginning grid at the bottom of the track, you can make it down the straights and around all those curves that are often talked about during race time.

Located alongside the world-famous racing track, the National Motor Racing Museum honors the Australian Motor Sports heritage, personalities, and achievements. While Mount Panorama and the Bathurst 1000 are at the core of its exhibits, the museum looks through the Australian Motor Racing spectrum. This tells the history of speedway, wind, drag, racing, open wheeler, sports car, and touring vehicles.

In terms of history and community, Bathurst has plenty to say. Located in Bathurst’s heart, the Australian Fossil and Mineral Museum is home to the globally renowned Somerville Collection, Warren Somerville AM ‘s lifetime work. It is located in the 1876 Public School building filled with beautiful exhibits. The love of one man indeed has been the greatest treasure of Bathurst. There’s also the Abercrombie Hotel, an area heritage gem. It is also the Morgan family’s private residence, which is open for guided tours and self-guided tours on several days of the year. The heritage experience includes the 1870s Scottish-Baronial 50 room mansion; galleries, exhibits, collections, grounds and gardens, outbuildings, and 18-hectare walks.

The Bathurst Courthouse is one of Australia ‘s most excellent examples of public architecture from the Victorian era. This magnificent building was opened on July 16, 1880, and is located in the center of town. It was designed by James Barnet, who also designed the Bathurst Bowling Club and is listed by the National Trust. The court is the usual venue for minor sessions, district, and supreme courts trial sittings.

Access to the Abercrombie Caves is via the majestic Archway. Firm marble masses decorate the cave walls illuminated by the soft natural light entering from either end. Goldminers installed a dance stage in one of the central galleries, more than a century ago. The old dance floor is used today as an underground venue for concerts, weddings, and Christmas carols. The caves are surrounded by a 1400 hectare nature reserve of native forests. The creek features swimming holes as well as a public fossicking area within the camping area. Grove Creek Falls are situated at the southern end of the Abercrombie Caves nature reserve.

The formal opening of Machattie Park was in December 1890. The park is built on the site of the former Bathurst Gaol, demolished in 1888, to make way for the park. Machattie Park is a historically significant example of a Victorian country town park from the late 19th century. This demonstrates the critical characteristic elements of the Victorian era in terms of form and style. It is especially valuable due to the nature of the decorative features. Features include the Bandstand, Cottage Caretakers, Fountain Crago, Fernery, Spencer Lake, and Munro Drinking Pool.

Additionally, the park has a significant range of mature and magnificent trees used as avenue plantings either informally or formally. Most of those trees aren’t Australian natives.

Travel Guide

Food & Drink

Need to know more? Contact our team using the contact form today.