A Quick trip to NSW's Central West - an old brown dog, a grapefruit & a
Mar 6th, 2011, 02:39 AM
#21
Original Poster
Thanks Susan.
It's an area I've enjoyed revisiting & getting to know better in the last year or so. I think it has so much to offer. Historically, it's an absolute treasure trove, and towns like Millthorpe & Carcoar still use buildings that were constructed for the gold rush. For those interested in food & wine - it's really coming into its own, with a lot of talented young chefs coming home from overseas & city postings and city chefs seeing the advantages of living & working amongst their producers; people subscribing to ideas like the "100 mile" produce range and encouraging local growers.
Orange is a lovely town. City, really. Big, generous main streets, substantial buildiings and wonderful gardens.
And it's all only 4 hours drive from Sydney. As a 2-4 day loop, incorporating the Blue Mountains and perhaps going another couple of hours to Dubbo (Western Plains Zoo), I think it's a real winner. Of course, one could spend a lot longer, but it's so easy for a weekend, long weekend or just a few days away, I'd encourage anyone to head to the Central West.
(Tourism Central West ... you may send my Champagne to the usual address!)
It's an area I've enjoyed revisiting & getting to know better in the last year or so. I think it has so much to offer. Historically, it's an absolute treasure trove, and towns like Millthorpe & Carcoar still use buildings that were constructed for the gold rush. For those interested in food & wine - it's really coming into its own, with a lot of talented young chefs coming home from overseas & city postings and city chefs seeing the advantages of living & working amongst their producers; people subscribing to ideas like the "100 mile" produce range and encouraging local growers.
Orange is a lovely town. City, really. Big, generous main streets, substantial buildiings and wonderful gardens.
And it's all only 4 hours drive from Sydney. As a 2-4 day loop, incorporating the Blue Mountains and perhaps going another couple of hours to Dubbo (Western Plains Zoo), I think it's a real winner. Of course, one could spend a lot longer, but it's so easy for a weekend, long weekend or just a few days away, I'd encourage anyone to head to the Central West.
(Tourism Central West ... you may send my Champagne to the usual address!)
Mar 6th, 2011, 05:34 AM
#23
Join Date: Jan 2008
Posts: 81
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Bokhara2 thanks so much for this posting. I have a 3rd trip to Australia somewhere in my future but until that trip comes along, reading posts like this is the next best thing to being there. I had to get the map out to find the area you are talking about so thanks for introducing me to an area I knew nothing about - - just another reason why I need increase the amount of deposits to the "travel account" so I can get back for that 3rd trip.
Mar 6th, 2011, 12:26 PM
#24
Original Poster
Hi Muck,
It was the Duntryleague dining room but being Sunday night, there wasn't much else open.
http://duntryleague.com.au/
You'll just have to come up again Tues - Saturday, when just about everyone's serving dinner.
It was the Duntryleague dining room but being Sunday night, there wasn't much else open.
http://duntryleague.com.au/
You'll just have to come up again Tues - Saturday, when just about everyone's serving dinner.
Mar 8th, 2011, 06:02 PM
#25
Join Date: Apr 2009
Posts: 142
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
We did as you suggest Bokhara and had a 4 day weekend in Orange last year. It was amazing... loved Tonic restaurant in Milthorpe and Union Bank and sister on the rock? I forget all the names but it was difficult choosing just 3 restaurants for our visit - we wanted to try at least 3 more. We will be back.
Apr 7th, 2011, 02:12 PM
#26
Original Poster
Here's the link for Tutti Fruitti at Bilpin, home to the old brown dog; acres of roses, delicious berry scones and more.
http://tuttifruitti.com.au/wordpress/
http://tuttifruitti.com.au/wordpress/
Apr 22nd, 2011, 10:35 AM
#28
Original Poster
Margo - those 'roos were there when we went up for Orange Food Week, a couple of weeks ago. Mob of them, 50 or so as you said, on the LHS heading west.
I think you may be right about them being farmed, or perhaps they were all there because of the lucerne. It was a very small paddock, and it's unusual to see that many so close together when there's plenty of green grass around, as there was then.
I think you may be right about them being farmed, or perhaps they were all there because of the lucerne. It was a very small paddock, and it's unusual to see that many so close together when there's plenty of green grass around, as there was then.
Apr 22nd, 2011, 01:20 PM
#29
Join Date: Feb 2008
Posts: 118
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
After Bokhara recommended this thread to me, I have been thinking about taking the Blue Mountain-Central West tour before going to Sydney for Christmas and Boxing Day.
How far do I need to go to see the "real" Outback (Darling river or farther as Peter_S says)? Here is my hidden agenda: I am not excited about going to Uluru in the heat of the summer and with the expense of flying in and out. Can the experience of seeing the NSW Outback compare to Uluru?
How far do I need to go to see the "real" Outback (Darling river or farther as Peter_S says)? Here is my hidden agenda: I am not excited about going to Uluru in the heat of the summer and with the expense of flying in and out. Can the experience of seeing the NSW Outback compare to Uluru?
Apr 25th, 2011, 10:28 AM
#30
Join Date: Feb 2003
Posts: 2,248
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Bokhara - so I wasn't going mad! Or not about that anyway. I noticed them because there were so many so close together - Can you herd roos?
@Steamboatsista - the NSW outback may well be just as unpleasant as the Red Centre, weatherwise, around Christmas. It's a fair way of not too interesting driving. You could take the train to Broken Hill and rent a car or tour from here. Think Hot; think flies!
@Steamboatsista - the NSW outback may well be just as unpleasant as the Red Centre, weatherwise, around Christmas. It's a fair way of not too interesting driving. You could take the train to Broken Hill and rent a car or tour from here. Think Hot; think flies!
Apr 25th, 2011, 03:46 PM
#31
Original Poster
You can Margo; of course you'd need pretty high, electric fencing to keep them in. Like you, I noticed them because there were so many in such a small, very green paddock.
My first thought was that some poor sod was having his lucerne eaten out, but then I remembered your comment & wondered about the farming idea, too.
Now you've roused my curiosity, I'll ask a friend who used to run one of the 'roo processing companies out west. Their intake was all used for pet food & skins, and I don't know what the story is with the human consumption market.
My first thought was that some poor sod was having his lucerne eaten out, but then I remembered your comment & wondered about the farming idea, too.
Now you've roused my curiosity, I'll ask a friend who used to run one of the 'roo processing companies out west. Their intake was all used for pet food & skins, and I don't know what the story is with the human consumption market.
Apr 30th, 2011, 10:16 PM
#34
Original Poster
Provided you pulled the green bits out & he had a beer to go with it, Muck wouldn't notice, Margo!
So what did you make - 'Roo ragou? 'Roo l'range? Curried kanga? Paddock pie?
Did you serve a Stump Jump red with it? A few beers & a bottle or two & there would definitely have been a few 'roos loose in the top paddock
So what did you make - 'Roo ragou? 'Roo l'range? Curried kanga? Paddock pie?
Did you serve a Stump Jump red with it? A few beers & a bottle or two & there would definitely have been a few 'roos loose in the top paddock
Sep 25th, 2014, 09:46 AM
#39
You made it sound so lovely. But it would have a hard time competing with Tuscany, where earlier this year, I visited towns that have stood for 1,000 years. Still, sorry I'll be missing it on the upcoming trip. Exquisite writing, by the way.
Sep 27th, 2014, 01:23 AM
#40
Join Date: Feb 2003
Posts: 2,248
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Went to Bathurst and Blayney about two weeks ago. I've taken to going via the Lake Lyell road, turning off the highway just before Lithgow, at the Shell servo. It's a longer trip, but much more relaxing.
It's a lovely drive through beautiful countryside. There's been a bit of rain, so there's some green to be seen, some water in the creeks, lush paddocks, rolling hills, shorn sheep (but no kangaroos seen).
The road comes out at O'Connell, after driving through the wonderfully named Sodwalls and Tarana, on to Mutton Falls Road, and then you drive out to the highway and into Bathurst.
I had to go to Blayney first, and the map shows that it's due west of O'Connell, but no roads are shown. It was a lovely day and I had time, so I took off in the general direction of Blayney, along un-named and often dirt roads. I have no idea where I went; I couldn't find the way again, but drove through some lovely country and really enjoyed the trip. It took a while to get to Blayney - the highway would have been faster but not so picturesque.
Songdoc - you're here often enough - pencil it in for your next trip.
It's a lovely drive through beautiful countryside. There's been a bit of rain, so there's some green to be seen, some water in the creeks, lush paddocks, rolling hills, shorn sheep (but no kangaroos seen).
The road comes out at O'Connell, after driving through the wonderfully named Sodwalls and Tarana, on to Mutton Falls Road, and then you drive out to the highway and into Bathurst.
I had to go to Blayney first, and the map shows that it's due west of O'Connell, but no roads are shown. It was a lovely day and I had time, so I took off in the general direction of Blayney, along un-named and often dirt roads. I have no idea where I went; I couldn't find the way again, but drove through some lovely country and really enjoyed the trip. It took a while to get to Blayney - the highway would have been faster but not so picturesque.
Songdoc - you're here often enough - pencil it in for your next trip.
