Orange, New South Wales - Cool-Climate Country, Heritage & Adventures

Orange, New South Wales - Cool-Climate Country, Heritage & Adventures

Set high on the Central Tablelands, in New South Wales, Orange is a vibrant regional city that blends grand heritage, leafy gardens, and standout natural attractions with a thriving food and wine scene. Located about 254 kilometres west of Sydney and sitting 863 metres above sea level, Orange enjoys crisp seasons, colourful autumns, and a relaxed country feel that makes it a joy to explore.

A City Shaped by Gold & Grandeur

Orange was proclaimed a town in 1846, and the discovery of gold at nearby Ophir in 1851 transformed it into a bustling centre for the surrounding goldfields. With prosperity came beautiful architecture, and many of the city’s elegant buildings date from this period. Orange was officially proclaimed a city in 1946, and today its streets are still lined with impressive heritage façades and generous green spaces. A great way to discover these stories is by picking up a Heritage Walk brochure from the Visitor Centre and wandering the city centre at your own pace.

During our stay in Orange, we wandered around the City Centre, admiring the heritage buildings and visited Cook Park. We explored the Pinnacle Lookout, Lake Canobolas and the Arch Cave. We picked some apples at Hillside Harvest and visited the Museum and Art Gallery, the Botanical Gardens and Banjo Paterson Park. 

Strolling Through Cook Park

Right in the heart of town, Cook Park is one of Orange’s most loved spaces. This beautifully maintained 4.5-hectare park was laid out in 1873 in a traditional Victorian design and named after Captain James Cook.

As you wander through, you’ll spot historic features including a German Field Gun and a 24-pounder cannon near the eastern gates, the James Dalton Memorial Fountain, and the octagonal bandstand built in 1907. From February to April, the Blowes Conservatory bursts into colour with hundreds of begonias in bloom. Add in a duck pond, playgrounds, picnic areas, and shady lawns, and it’s easy to see why locals love spending time here.

Big Views from Towac Pinnacle Lookout

Around 12 kilometres southwest of Orange is Towac Pinnacle Lookout, a rewarding short walk with impressive views. The 600-metre return track includes a steady climb and plenty of steps, taking about 30 minutes in total. At the top, you’re treated to sweeping panoramas over the Towac Valley and the rolling plains that surround Orange — a fantastic spot to appreciate the region’s scale and beauty.

Relaxing at Lake Canobolas

Just 12 kilometres west of the city, Lake Canobolas is a favourite place to relax and get active. Built in 1918 as Orange’s water supply and fed by Molong Creek, the lake is now a popular recreation hub. You’ll find picnic areas, walking and cycling tracks, playgrounds, toilets, and a café, along with opportunities for sailing, canoeing, swimming, and even dragon boating events. Walking across the dam wall offers lovely views across the water, and nearby the Old Pumphouse has been beautifully restored after more than 60 years of disuse.

Underground Wonders at Arch Cave

Nature lovers shouldn’t miss Arch Cave at the Borenore Caves Reserve, located 17 kilometres west of Orange. The reserve is open daily from 9:00am to 7:00pm with free entry and good facilities including parking, toilets, BBQs, and picnic tables.

From the picnic area, it’s a short, scenic walk over a bridge and along a bush track to the cave. Dramatic limestone formations frame Boree Creek as it flows through the cave system. Bring a torch, as the caves are dark inside, and take your time exploring before looping back to the picnic area.

Picking Apples at Hillside Harvest

A short drive from town, Hillside Harvest is a family-owned orchard growing apples, cherries, and stone fruit. Open daily from 9:00am, it’s a lovely stop for fresh produce, a café visit, and seasonal fruit picking. We enjoyed wandering the orchard and picking crisp apples straight from the trees — with other fruit available depending on the season — before browsing the farm store stocked with local goodies.

Art, History & Culture in One Place

At the Orange Cultural Precinct, you’ll find the Visitor Centre alongside the Orange Regional Museum and Orange Regional Gallery. The museum showcases local history and regularly hosts travelling exhibitions, while the gallery focuses on modern and contemporary Australian art with both permanent and rotating displays. It’s an easy and enriching stop that adds depth to your time in Orange.

Exploring the Orange Botanic Gardens

The Orange Botanic Gardens cover 17 hectares and feature both native and exotic plant collections. Open daily from early morning until dusk with free entry, the gardens are crisscrossed by well-formed walking paths that pass billabongs, tall trees, and open grassy areas. There’s also a café and adventure playground nearby.

On the edge of the gardens, you can visit Emmaville Cottage, dating back to the 1850s and believed to be one of the last farm buildings from the Narrambla property — where the mother of Banjo Paterson stayed before his birth.

Following the Story of Banjo Paterson

A short drive out of town along Ophir Road brings you to Banjo Paterson Memorial Park, the birthplace of one of Australia’s most celebrated poets. Set in a peaceful rural setting, the park includes information boards, plaques, picnic facilities, BBQs, and lovely views — a quiet place to reflect on the stories that helped shape Australia’s identity.

Savouring the Orange Wine Region

No visit to Orange is complete without sampling the local wines. The Orange Wine Region is one of Australia’s premier cool-climate wine areas, with more than 80 high-altitude vineyards and over 30 cellar doors. From crisp whites to elegant reds, the region’s wines reflect the elevation and climate — and cellar door visits are a wonderful way to round out your stay.

Why Orange Is a Standout NSW Escape

Orange effortlessly combines history, nature, food, and culture. From heritage streets and elegant parks to caves, lookouts, orchards, and award-winning wineries, there’s something here in every season. Whether you’re wandering city streets, sipping cool-climate wines, or exploring the landscapes just beyond town, Orange invites you to slow down, explore deeply, and enjoy the best of regional New South Wales.

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