As the chill of winter begins to fade and the warmth of spring approaches on the horizon, there is no better time of the year to strike out into the region and enjoy a drive through the scenic Bathurst countryside.
Starting off at the Bathurst Visitor Information Centre the Pints to Past Eastern Itinerary is a great way to explore some of the most charming country pubs and local producers of our region. First of the historic hotels on the list is the O’Connell Hotel, established in 1865 the O’Connell hotel is right at home in the Heritage Trust Recognised village of O’Connell, just 25 minutes from the Bathurst CBD.
If you are traveling on a weekend and want to make the most of the drive out. Stop into the Bathurst Grange Distillery on the O’Connell road open for walk in tastings from 11am-5pm Friday & Saturday, and 11am-4pm Sundays. The Grange itself is one Bathurst’s oldest homesteads, established in 1823 the property once even hosted Charles Darwin on his visit to the Central West. If gin and whiskey is not your style keep an eye out for Renzaglia Wines open by appointment on Sundays for some boutique cool climate wines.
Continuing on to the picturesque village of Tarana the Tarana Hotel beer garden is the perfect spot for a sunny weekend. Established in 1873 the Hotel is a favourite of locals and visitors alike. Within walking distance to the trainline and close to the Tarana RFS shed where the monthly Tarana Community Farmers Markets take place. The Tarana Hotel is a great sport for lunch on a weekend out.
While certainly the youngest establishment on the tour, the Hotel Alexander (Est 1914) is most certainly old enough to be considered a staple of the region. Located in the heart of the once bustling village of Rydal the Hotel Alexander is the last remaining pub out of the 6 licenced inns that once filled the main street. Today the hotel is known for its authentic country hospitality and is a popular stop between Lithgow and Bathurst.
On the way back to Bathurst stop into the Winburndale Wines cellar door open 10am – 3pm every Saturday for some excellent local wines.
