With spring around the corner and the days stretching longer. Now is the perfect time for a longer tour of our regional villages and tracking down south there are some fantastic sites to see and historic pubs to visit on our Pints to Past Southern Trail.
Setting off from Bathurst the first pub on our list is the Bridge Hotel, located on the banks of Queen Charlottes Creek, south from Bathurst on the Vale road. The Bridge Hotel has a warm atmosphere, friendly service and a hot fire for chilly nights. If you are looking to take a short detour, the 1859 Brewery at the Beekeepers Inn is an absolute must for lovers of honey, mead and beer. Just a short drive along the Mitchell Highway, you can visit the Beekeepers Inn before following along south to the Bridge Hotel.
Continue on south along the Vale road past Georges Plains towards Trunky Creek to enjoy the scenic views and twisting roads. Home to around 120 people the village once boasted a population of 2500 during the early gold rush days after the discovery of gold by Edward Hargraves. In the centre of the village the Black Stump Hotel is the next pub on our list. Established in 1928, the Black Stump Hotel pre dates the gold rush and remains today as a local favourite.
Follow back up north the scenic way towards Rockley, a National Trust recognised historic village with a storied history in Bathurst’s mining past. The Rockley Pub (Est 1872) owned by Australian food icon Matt Moran, is the ideal spot for lunch for those seeking a genuine country hospitality and dining experience. If you are traveling on a Sunday call into the Rockley Mill and Stables Museum to learn all about the villages transport history.
On the Way back to Bathurst Vale Creek Wines is an excellent location to visit on a weekend with Italian style wines and a picturesque vineyard. Make sure to book ahead though as the cellar door is open by appointment only.
