Foodie towns
Here, just five minutes from the beaches of the South Coast (and three hours south of Sydney), 'lifestyle' stores selling endless racks of white linen dresses jostle for your attention with eateries specialising in vegetarian burgers, but oh, like nearby Mollymook, everything's ever so pretty. There's something about the Shoalhaven village of Milton that reminds travellers of Byron Bay as it was some 20+ years ago when it was still considered a quaint coastal town. Stay: Step back in time to the gold rush days by staying at the Post Office Residences and Stables, a former postmaster's home in historic Hill End. And yes of course, there's Mount Panorama where you can drive circuits yourself, a wide range of museums and plenty of outdoor activity to enjoy in the warmer months. Visitors to Bathurst can still fossick freely for gold and gemstones such as sapphires at Tamboora Commons Fossicking Area, Ophir Reserve and Sapphire Bend, or book an organised panning/fossicking tour. Top it off with an afternoon of wine tasting at Renzaglia Wines and Vale Creek. Like Orange, it's home to an array of wineries and farm gates - particularly fun when cherries are in season and orchards such as Limekilns Cherry Farm and Hillview Cherry Orchard offer pick-your-own experiences. If your mind has flicked straight to motor racing and Mount Panorama, you're far from alone, but the former gold mining town of Bathurst (located just under three hours west of Sydney), has plenty going for it aside from fast cars and museums devoted to fast cars.