Activities

Activities in Bathurst mix motor racing, gold-rush heritage and a short run out to Orange, about an hour away, for a scenic trike ride. Most of it is hands-on: you can drive a famous circuit, pan for gold and ride through wine country. For guided day trips, see Bathurst tours.

Drive Mount Panorama yourself

Mount Panorama Circuit is 6.213 kilometres long and doubles as a public road outside race events. You can drive it in either direction at no charge, as long as you keep to the 60 km/h limit, which is strictly enforced. Look out for The Dipper, a sharp left-hander that leads into a steep downhill section.

The circuit hosts the Bathurst 1000 each October, a 12-hour race in February and a 6-hour race at Easter, and the National Motor Racing Museum sits next to it.

Pan for gold and explore historic Bathurst

Bathurst Goldfields has a replica gold mining village where you can try gold panning, a hands-on way to see what drew people to the area. Abercrombie House is a historic mansion with gardens that suit a picnic, and it also offers night tours.

The Australian Fossil and Mineral Museum and the Bathurst Regional Art Gallery are easy rainy-day backups.

Trike rides around Orange

Orange sits about an hour from Bathurst, and trips like the Scenic Trike Tour of Orange make the drive worthwhile. A local guide takes you past heritage landmarks, around Lake Canobolas and the Towac Valley and up to the summit of Mount Canobolas, on an open-air trike with helmets, gloves and a Bluetooth in-helmet intercom supplied.

Tours can be booked as 1 or 2-hour rides, with 9am and 11am sessions, and the route can be tailored towards history, nature or adventure. You can be collected from accommodation within the Orange town boundary or meet your guide at the Orange Visitors Centre on Byng Street.

Pack a water bottle, hat and sunglasses, a camera and comfortable shoes, and expect to wear secure footwear on the trike. Tours are weather-dependent, and the provider contacts you as soon as possible if a ride needs to be rescheduled.

When to visit and how to get to Bathurst

Autumn and spring are generally considered the best times to visit Bathurst. Bathurst is about 200 kilometres from Sydney, roughly a 3-hour drive, and Orange is about an hour beyond it, so a two-stop weekend is realistic.

Frequently asked questions

What activities can you do in Bathurst?

Bathurst activities include driving Mount Panorama Circuit on non-race days, panning for gold at Bathurst Goldfields and visiting Abercrombie House, plus scenic trike rides in Orange, about an hour away.

Can you drive around Mount Panorama?

Yes. Mount Panorama Circuit is a public road outside race events, open in either direction at no charge, with a 60 km/h speed limit that is strictly enforced.

When is the best time of year to visit Bathurst?

Autumn and spring are generally considered the best times to visit Bathurst for pleasant weather. Motor racing fans may prefer October for the Bathurst 1000 or February for the 12-hour race.

How long is the Scenic Trike Tour of Orange?

The Scenic Trike Tour of Orange can be booked as a 1 or 2-hour tour, with 9am and 11am sessions starting from Orange.

How far is Bathurst from Sydney?

Bathurst is about 200 kilometres from Sydney, roughly a 3-hour drive.

Fill your Bathurst itinerary with a lap of the mountain, a bit of gold panning and a ride around wine country. All good days are waiting.