100 Mile Diet
Best food and wine experiences in Central NSW
If you love good food and wine, then make your way to Country NSW to enjoy some of the best produce, wines and dining in the State. There's no better way to explore this bounty than on a 100 Mile Diet tour of the region, eating food that's locally grown and produced.
Orange is known as a high quality source of rare and exotic produce while Mudgee has many established vineyards, and Dubbo, Bathurst and Cowra have a reputation for fine food and wine.
Itinerary
Lithgow to Lidsdale: Drive to Lidsdale, just outside Lithgow, to taste fresh goat cheese at the Jannei Goat Dairy.
Lidsdale to Orange: Continue west through Bathurst to Orange where you'll find great cafes on Summer Street; many showcasing regional produce, including cheeses, wines, oils and more. The region hosts great food and wine events all year round. Visit in late October, for example, to enjoy Orange Wine Week, which focuses on local wines and produce.
Orange: Relax with a massage at Duntryleague Guesthouse's Wellness Sanctuary or play a round of golf at the property's championship course. For dinner, Racine Restaurant's combination of locally-sourced wine and produce ensures you'll return to your accommodation happy and well fed.
Orange: Browse the town's gourmet food stores, including The Essential Ingredient and A Slice of Orange. If it happens to be the second Saturday of the month, treat your tastebuds at the Farmer's Market. Or, if you have the time, why not take part in a dog-led truffle hunt in nearby Millthorpe.
Orange to Borenore: Drive west to rural Borenore for a coffee at the Borenore General Store. Borenore Caves Reserve is a great place to enjoy an outdoor picnic with the local produce you have bought. Alternatively, visit some cellar doors or drop into the fig orchard or local berry farm to pick your own fruit.
Borenore to Canowindra: Drive 50 minutes through gorgeous scenery, olive groves and orchards and visit any of countless vineyards before stopping in Canowindra . Stroll the heritage-listed main street, visit The Age of Fishes Museum - they have fossils up to 360 million years old there - and enjoy lunch at the Taste Canowindra tourist centre.
Canowindra to Cowra: Drive south to Cowra to fill your car with treats from the Cowra Smokehouse and numerous vineyards. In spring, the cherry blossom is out and you can stroll through the Japanese Garden to make room for dinner, made with local produce at the ever popular Nelia Restaurant. Spend the night in a luxury cottage at Everview Retreat.
Cowra to Parkes: Drive to Parkes to tour the famous 'Dish' telescope and pop into The Dish Cafe for some regional goodies.
Parkes to Dubbo: Next, head north to Dubbo and proceed to the cafe at Lazy River Estate for lunch followed by locally made gelato. See over 1,500 animals from all over the world at Taronga Western Plains Zoo before dropping your bags at your accommodation - there is plenty to choose from in this popular stopover town. Dubbo also boasts a variety of clubs, cafes and restaurants serving delicious dinners.
Dubbo to Gulgong: Sample Macquarie Valley wines and then drive to historic Gulgong, once home to Henry Lawson, a well known Australian writer and poet. Stop for a walk and coffee on Mayne Street.
Gulgong to Mudgee: Continue to Mudgee, a gourmet haven famous for its wine and honey production. Begin at Leaning Oak Winery and Dairy, where you can milk a goat, then create your own vintage at a cheese-making workshop. Next is the Mudgee Brewing Company - a constant favourite specialising in handcrafted beers distilled with local water. It also has a great restaurant for lunch, dinner or even a quick snack.
If you're there on the third Sunday of the month, try a Mudgee Farm Walk through local working farms highlighting Mudgee's free-range, organic and home-grown produce, or visit in September to experience Mudgee Wine Month.
Mudgee to Lithgow: Finally, make the 90 minute drive back to Lithgow. This suggested itinerary concludes here. But if you're still hungry for more, remember there is so much of this abundant region to taste and explore.
Gallery
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Dining, Cowra
Friends having coffee at Ilfracombe, Cowra, Central NSW. Image Hamilton Lund
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Winery, Cowra
View of vines at Mulligan Cowra Cellar Door, Cowra, Country NSW. Image Hamilton Lund
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Mudgee streetscape
Views of Mudgee township featuring historic civic buildings, Country NSW. Image Jon Armstrong
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Duntryleague, Orange
Historic Duntryleague building, Orange, Country NSW. Built in 1876 it operates as a guesthouse. Image Orange City Council
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Lavender farm near Orange, Country NSW
Nanami Lane Lavender farm, Eugowra, near Orange, Central NSW. Image Orange City Council
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Hillside Orchard, Orange
Walking through an apple orchard in Orange, Country NSW. Image Evolving Images
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Lone Pine Park Cowra Cowra Area, Country NSW, Cowra
Lone Pine Park is located opposite the Cowra Visitor Information Centre and features a tree propagated from the seed of the famous Lone Pine at Gallip...
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Balloon Joy Flights
Canowindra, Country NSW
Join Graham and Jan for a magical Hot air balloon flight with champagne breakfast. The morning activities last about three to four hours and finish wi...
www.balloonjoyflights.com- Additional Information
- Half Day or less, Tailored.
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Orana Caravan Camping 4WD Fish and Boat Show
Dubbo Area, Country NSW, Dubbo
The Orana Caravan Camping 4WD and Boat Show has over 160 exhibitors displaying everything you will ever need for caravan, camping, four wheel driving,...
www.dubbo.com.au- Additional Information
- Friday 14 September
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Sunday 16 September - View details
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Ranelagh Bed and Breakfast
Dubbo Area, Country NSW, Dubbo
Ranelagh, circa 1875, offers you the opportunity to be your own host in Dubbo's most prestigious heritage home, set on acreage in town with easy acces...
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- Bed and Breakfasts
- from $139 per night
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The Central Hotel
Dubbo Area, Country NSW, Wellington
Wellington, located in Central West New South Wales is known as the town where the mountains and rivers meet. Wellington is also well known for its co...
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- Hotel and Motel
- from $50 per night
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Lazy River Estate
Dubbo Area, Country NSW, Dubbo
Lazy River Estate vineyard is owned and operated by the Scott family. A member of the Macquarie Vignerons Association, Lazy River grows Semillon, Cha...
www.lazyriverestate.com.a- Additional Information
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Amaroo Cottage Farmstay
Orange Area, Country NSW, Blayney
Amaroo Cottage Farmstay is located 32 kilometres south of Bathurst on a working farm. The cottage is a fully self-contained three bedroom home, accomm...
www.amaroofarmstay.com.au- Additional Information
- Farm Stays, Self Contained
- from $140 per night
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Biodiversity Garden
Dubbo Area, Country NSW, Dubbo
Native grasslands flow into a grassy box woodland and on to a wetland. Council has also constructed a mound which simulates the natural change of plan...
www.dubbo.com.au- Additional Information
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Dundullimal Homestead
Dubbo Area, Country NSW, Dubbo
A visit to the National Trust’s Dubbo property, Dundullimal, is a special experience, which will allow you to step back in time, into rural life...
www.nsw.nationaltrust.org- Additional Information
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Lady Bushranger and Nullo Mountain Country
Lithgow, Blue Mountains
Depart historic Rylstone (or your accommodation in the area). The tour starts up Nullo Mountain to explore the 'Watershed' Trail. The Lady Bus...
www.wheelygood.com.au- Additional Information
- Full Day, Tailored.
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