Orange, NSW is located about 3 hours away from Sydney and is home to countless 5-star wineries. October is wine month in Orange and Our Wandering Mind explored the area, ate a little bit too much cheese, and drank a lot of wine to find the best of the best when it comes to wineries and things to do in Orange.
I’ve already written a post about the Best Wineries in Orange, an essential part of any Orange itinerary. This Travel Guide: Weekend Getaway to Orange is different as I’ve also included where we stayed, where we ate, and other things we did while visiting Orange as well.
The Best Wineries in Orange, NSW
Regardless if you’re visiting Orange for a week or a weekend, I definitely recommend the following…
Where to Stay
Borenore Cottage
With everything that’s been going on in the world right now, Airbnb’s are my go-to choice of accommodations when it comes to traveling. Something that is isolated and away from a lot of people, just gives me more peace of mind. If you’re looking to keep your distance from others without actually being too far from everything, the Borenore Cottage is an absolute dream.
This cottage is only actually located about 10 minutes from Orange Town Center, but it seems like a world away with traveling through the lush green fields and abundance of wildflowers. This cottage is on a working cattle farm, but you wouldn’t necessarily know that other than the appearance of cows here and there.
Seriously, I was surprised how the area didn’t smell like a farm.
When I hear the word cottage, I expect rustic, homey, charming vibes and that’s exactly what we got at Borenore Cottage.
The cottage is a two-bedroom, one-bathroom home that features a very spacious kitchen, wood-burning fireplace, and extra amenities like a laundry room and sunroom. Everything was very comfortable and clean in the home. The cottage had WIFI and Netflix and a large comfy couch, perfect for movie nights.
What makes me recommend Borenore Cottage to anyone traveling in Orange is the location and the hospitality.
Firstly, the location is absolutely breathtaking. It’s so quiet and peaceful where the cottage is and the views are absolutely incredible. So incredible that one afternoon we simply poured ourselves a couple of glasses of wine, made a quick cheese platter, picked some wildflowers, and sat outside admiring the view for hours.
If you’re traveling with your family, there is tons of room for the kids to run around and explore and there are some paths in the area to go on a morning walk around as well.
The hospitality of the Borenore Cottage was above and beyond, especially when it comes to Airbnbs. Helen was a lovely host and recommended an abundance of things to do in Orange and other helpful tips along the way. She was very helpful, without being intrusive, and really elevated our Orange experience.
She also left small touches that made a big difference including milk in the fridge, a couple of local jams, and a bottle of bubbly in the fridge. There are also chickens in the backyard which she let us help ourselves to farm fresh eggs in the morning.
Overall, staying at Borenore Cottage is more than just accommodation in Orange, it’s an experience.
Visit Website Here
Where to Eat
Parkview Hotel
Right in the Town Centre of Orange is the Parkview Hotel, a traditional Aussie pub with a twist. The building itself is stunning and historic, like a lot of boutiques and restaurants in the town of Orange. When you walk in, it looks just like any other pub with carpet floors, a bar, and a food counter. Parkview features fair pub prices for hefty meals and TVs with the latest games playing – definitely your standard pub.
If you’re not in for the pub scene, but would still like that classic pub food, wander out back to their Beer Garden. This area is incredibly spacious and features a variety of different size tables surrounded by lush plants and trees. It’s the perfect place to have a quick drink to start your weekend off on the right track or grab one of their daily specials like the Fish & Chips for $15!
My Order: $15 Fish & Chips
Mr. Sushi King
If you’re in the mood for some sushi, Mr. Sushi King is your place! After a day of tasting, we ended up right in the Town Centre and at Mr. Sushi King. Located only a short walk from Parkview Pub, Mr. Sushi King has a selection of sushi, Bento Boxes, and other flavorful dishes. I opted for the Bento Box with featured sashimi, sushi, tempura vegetables, rice, and a few other side dishes. The food was definitely filling and hit the spot after a long day of wine tasting.
My Order: Steak Bento Box
Hotel Canobolous
Hotel Canobolus is another great place to grab a bite to eat for lunch or dinner. It had a similar menu to the Parkview Hotel, but so do most Aussie Pubs. That being said, Hotel Canobolous seemed a little bit more ‘up-scale’ and had a lot more options to choose from.
At Hotel Canobolous you can choose to get a bite to eat at either the Bistro & Steakhouse, the Woodfire Pizza station, or at Gong Thai in the Garden Pavillion, all in the same building. This makes it the perfect choice if you’re traveling with a group and everyone is interested in something different.
The venue itself is large and features a variety of places to sit, depending on the vibe you’re looking for. There are booths, large tables, tables close to the bar and pokies, and more quiet and peaceful tables in the Garden Pavillion. I ordered the Sirloin from the Bistro & Steakhouse which was very delicious and I definitely recommend it.
My Order: Sirloin with Vegetables and Chips
Things To Do
Wineries
Orange is home to countless 5-star wineries so visiting Orange without stopping at a winery, or six would almost be a crime! There are wineries who specialize in Shiraz, red wines, white wines, for families, and for couples. There are so many wineries to choose from that, you need just a week or more to visit them all.
Our Wandering Mind has taken some of the planning stress away from you and broke down The Best of the Best when it comes to wineries in Orange in one post.
The Best Wineries in Orange, NSW
Whether you’re interested in finding the best white wine or the trendiest spot to hang out all day, this is your go-to list when it comes to visiting the best wineries in Orange.
I also recommend that you take a look at the Orange Tourism Website. There, they have maps of all the wineries and set itineraries for you to follow depending on your interests and what you’re looking to do in Orange.
Orange 360 Website
Agrestic Grocer
Agrestic Grocer didn’t make my list of The Best Wineries in Orange because due to COVID, they didn’t really have much of a tasting experience available. They were able to make an exception for us and poured us a very generous serving of their 6 house wines for a ‘tasting.’ That being said, they may or may not be offering that when you go and visit.
Regardless, if you’re in the area, it’s still worth a visit.
Agrestic Grocer offers a variety of different services at one location. Their unique shopping experience is worth the visit in itself. They feature a variety of local products from farmers and companies in the area in a really aesthetically pleasing setting. If you’re on the hunt for some organic products and local finds, this is the place to go. They also have an abundance of fresh Orange produce and of course, local wine and beer.
Speaking of beer, the Agrestic Grocer offers a variety of tastings including beer tasting. They also offer cheese tasting, which sounds absolutely magical. That being said, after our experience with the wine tasting, I would call ahead to ensure that they’re doing the tastings.
If you’re looking to get a bite to eat, Agrestic Grocer is also a great place for that. With our wine tasting, we had the lemon pie and it was absolutely delicious. Along with their baked goods, they have a full cafe menu for lunch and breakfast.
With how trendy and the variety they had at the Agrestic Grocer, it definitely seems like a place that bookings are a must.
Explore the Town
Orange is a beautiful town filled with historic buildings, lots of cafes and restaurants, and cute boutiques! Along with trendy spots, they also have everyday essentials like Aldi, Kmart, and other major shopping stores. Everything is really close by so getting a takeaway coffee and wandering the shops is a lovely way to spend an afternoon or two.
Heifer Station Winery
I mentioned Heifer Station Winery as the trendiest winery in my post on the Best Wineries in Orange. I wanted to mention it also in this post as well since it’s more than just a winery.
The outside yard at Heifer Station Vineyard is what makes it more than just a place for an enjoyable wine tasting. It’s truly somewhere where you can spend the whole day, even with children. There’s the option to book one of their many tables outside, tasting on the grass, or taste their selection of delicious wines inside a TeePee. With the stunning gardens and trendy picnic spots, there is truly not a bad table at this winery.
There’s also a sandbox located outside for the kids to play, tons of space to run around, and a small petting zoo, which will occupy the kids for hours. They have a $30 cheese platter available so you can sip and graze and keep an eye on your kids while they run around and play at Heifer Station Vineyard.
Planning Your Trip? Pin It and Save It For Later!
With the weekend getaway we had in Orange, it’s definitely a place I would love to return to. It’s a charming town with a lot of things to do, especially if you love a good glass of wine.
I hope this post helped you discover things to do and places to visit during your Orange trip!
