15 Things To Do In Bathurst + Great Accommodation Deals

There are so many interesting and fun things to do in Bathurst, so if you are wondering what to do in Bathurst you’re in the right place!

Bathurst Winter Festival runs from 6th – 21st July, making these school holidays a fab time to visit.

Check out all the winter fun on the Bathurst Winter Festival website here. 

Just three hours drive from Sydney, Bathurst is a terrific place  to explore. There is something for every member of the family to enjoy. Worth the visit for sure.

Use this post to start planning a trip out to Bathurst, for a weekend getaway or a whole week’s country break in the countryside.

NB You’ll find info on the best deals at Bathurst hotels at the bottom of this post.

Bathurst Things To Do

The vibrant and historic city centre is packed with interesting places to visit, including plenty of kids activities. Bathurst is full of kid friendly places.

Learn about car and motorcycling history at the National Motor Racing Museum, join a ghostly night tour or enjoy high-tea at Abercrombie House and enjoy nostalgic treats at Annie’s Old Fashioned Ice-cream Parlour.

Drive to historic villages Sofala, Hill End and Rockley for bush-ranger and gold-rush experiences.

The growing sophistication of Bathurst satisfies grown-ups too with hip cafes, award-winning bars and restaurants tucked away down cobblestone laneways, and a renowned art gallery.

Find below our list of the best Bathurst attractions.

Bathurst attractions include many great places to eat. This is Church Bar.

Australian Fossil & Mineral Museum

Meet a real T-rex dinosaur and see world-renowned fossils at this fascinating Bathurst museum. You might hear about this museum being called the Bathurst Dinosaur Park too.

Open: Every day 10am – 4pm Monday – Saturday and 10am – 2pm on Sunday, except Christmas, Boxing and New Year’s Day

Address: 224 Howick St, Bathurst NSW 2795

Australian Fossil & Mineral Museum website is here

National Motor Racing Museum

Discover the history of motor racing at this speed-lovers museum which is found right beside the Mount Panorama motor racing track which you can also drive around.

Open: 9am – 4.30pm daily except on public holidays

Address: 400 Panorama Ave, Bathurst NSW 2795

National Motor Racing Museum website is here

Mount Panorama Motor Racing Circuit

Drive the world famous track and see views of the Bathurst plains as the early explorers did. This is one of the de rigeur activities in Bathurst, a must-do.

Open: this is a public road so open unless racing is taking place.

Mount Panorama Motor Racing Circuit website is here

Abercrombie House

Enjoy high-tea or a ghostly tour at this historic house with 52 rooms and six internal staircases. For lovers of history, Abercrombie House is one of the essential things to see in Bathurst.

Open: Self-guided tours Wednesday – Friday and guided tours at other times, check website for details.

Abercrombie House website is here

Crago Mill Emporium and Heritage Centre

Enjoy home-baked treats in the café and admire the beautifully restored four storey mill while the kids check out the antique toys and lolly shop.

Address: 2A Piper St, Bathurst NSW 2795

Crago Mill Facebook page is here

Simmo’s Off Road Tours or Detour Adventures

Take a trip with a local expert!  Simmo’s Offroad Tours offers eco-Certified 4WD Tours for small groups, in and around the Blue Mountains and Central West of NSW. Tours are suitable for families and any small or large group,, just get in touch. 

Wine & Food Safaris, Scenic 4WD Tours, 4WD Tag-a-Long Tours, Gold Panning Tours, Fishing expeditions, Extended Safaris and overnight Camping Adventures. 

Simmo knows all the cool places to visit and things to do around Bathurst so do check out the tours.

Simmo’s Off Road Tour website is here

Detour Adventures website here

Bathurst Regional Art Gallery

Bathurst Regional Art Gallery shows the work of artists from Bathurst and the surrounding villages. Within beautiful grounds, the gallery has permanent and touring exhibitions.  Check out all sorts of unique gifts and toys at the BRAG shop.

Address:  70–78 Keppel St, Bathurst NSW 2795

Open: Tuesday – Saturday 10am – 5pm, Sundays and public holidays 11am – 2pm.

Bathurst Regional Art Gallery website is here

Abercrombie Caves

Within the Abercrombie Karst Conservation reserve you can find amazing caves, bush walking tracks and camping spots. Bushrangers and miners once roamed these caves, test the echo and acoustics or pan for gold in the creek. You can enjoy self guided tours of some caves or join tours, book with the Abercrombie Caves office.

Address: Goulburn Road, past Trunkey Creek

Phone: 02 6368 8603 

Contact hours: Thursday to Monday, 9am to 4.30pm. During NSW school holidays, 9am to 4.30pm daily. Closed Christmas Day.

Abercrombie Caves website here

Yarrabin Horse Riding

Take a ride through spectacular countryside on a lovely quiet horse, you can also enjoy riding lessons, kids school holiday camps and even stay at this lovely property. Yarrabin is a 20 minute drive out of Bathurst.

Address: 3253 Beaconsfield Road, O’Connell  NSW  2795

Yarrabin website here

Hill End History + Gold Panning

Hill End is a great place to learn about the gold rush days of the 1850s with a magnificent display of fossicking and mining tools, an underground mine and blacksmith shop. Hill End is about 75km west of Bathurst and makes a terrific day trip. You can explore old buildings and relics of the old gold mines or even visit the Bald Hill Tourist Mine. There are also walks and the History Hill Museum. You can fossick for gold outside Hill End, just at the Hill End Heritage Centre.

Hill End Historic Site website is here

Hill End Heritage Centre: 02 6337 8206

Bathurst Adventure Playground

This fantastic Bathurst playground in Victoria Park has with dual flying foxes, one with accessible seat, carousel, a raised sandpit complete with dinosaur fossils built in and great slides. So many great features in this playground, the only drawback is that it is not (yet) fenced.

Address: Corner of Durham and Hope Street, Bathurst

Bathurst Aqua Park in summer

Bathurst Aqua Park is open all summer at Chifley Dam.  My husband and son have been and had a great time. They didn’t take any good pix so here is one from the Facebook page.

Bathurst Aqua Park is a summer hit

Where:  Opposite Chifley Dam Cabins, Chifley Dam Rd, The Lagoon,  Bathurst) NSW 2795

When:  Weekdays 11am -5pm, Weekends 10am -5pm, Public Holidays 11am -5pm

Cost:  1 x 50 minute session $20 per person
2 x 50 minute sessions $35 per person
All Day Pass $55 per person
Spectators FREE

Ages:  Over fours only, kids aged 4-6 years need a parent with them.

Read more on the Bathurst Aqua Park website here.

Love the vintage decor at Annie’s

Annie’s Old Fashioned Ice Cream Parlour

Step back in time for sweet treats in a gorgeous old fashioned ice cream parlour. All ice creams are made at the parlour, there are over 20 varieties on offer.  You’ll also find a comprehensive cafe menu at Annie’s/

Address:  82/86 George St, Bathurst 

Phone: 02 6331 8088

Annie’s Facebook page is here

Annie’s Ice Cream Parlour also has outdoors seating

Legall Patisserie

Enjoy a taste of French in the country at this renowned bakery with lemon tarts, macaroons, éclairs and fruit tartlets

Address:  56 Keppel Street, Bathurst

Church Bar Pizzas

Housed in the old Anglican Church School House located on notorious Ribbon Gang Lane, you’ll find plenty of family friendly options here. There’s a courtyard which is a great option for families.

Address: 1 Ribbon Gang Lane, Bathurst 

Phone: 02 6334 2300

Church Bar website is here.

Webb + Co 

This bar and restaurant is in a historic building and serves local beers and wines and tapas style meals. Wenn & Co is just opposite Machattie Park, very central.

Address:  175 George Stree, Bathurst

Phone: 02 6331 9825

Webb + Co website is here

Things To Do in Bathurst This Weekend

Check out current events and activities in Bathurst for this coming weekend on the Bathurst Region Tourism website Events Calendar here.

Bathurst Accommodation Deals + Specials 

Best Bathurst Family Accommodation 

We recommend the NRMA Bathurst Panorama Holiday Park, set just 4km from the centre of town, one of the best of the Bathurst family accommodation offerings.  You can camp there, or bring your caravan. There are also studio units, two and three bedroom cabins.  The holiday park has a good pool, waterslide, bouncy pillow and a playground.

Check out NRMA Bathurst Panorama Holiday Park availability and prices here.

Barcoo’s Barn Farmstay offers tdelightful farmstays or visits with pony rides, feeding the animals and collecting the eggs.

Barcoo’s Barn website is here

 
Research the best Bathurst accommodation on Hotels Combined here.
 

 Or if you prefer Booking.com check this search box here.

Booking.com

Have you taken the family to Bathurst?

Happy travel planning!