But isn’t the Mudgee Region just for wine drinkers? Think again, mum and dad…
Sure, we love our wine. A lot. But we’re so much more than sauvignon and shiraz.
Mudgee Region is just made for family-friendly holidays, where getting outdoors is firmly on the itinerary.
From adventure playgrounds, watering holes, farm animals and gold panning, Mudgee Region is the perfect place for the whole family this summer.
So, forget the beach these Christmas holidays - let’s go bush…
WHAT TO DO
Camp under the (Mudgee) stars - grab your tent and your mozzie coils and head to the Ganguddy-Dunns Swamp watering hole for camping, hiking and cultural tours through some of the nation’s most important Aboriginal sites. Don’t miss a chance to make a splash with John and Cindy from Southern Cross Kayaking - it’s the most fun you can have above water!
Stock up on festive fruit - summer in Mudgee is cherry season, so slip, slop, slap and bucket (you’ll need one for your haul!) and wander the cherry trees at 10’s Estate and Roth Family Cherry Orchard to take home your share of the produce. We dare you not to sample straight from the trees!
Two wheels are better than four - cycle up a storm along Mudgee’s popular Pump Track or go off-road to The Commons mountain bike trail - a locals’ favourite that’s a little off the beaten track…
Go all out with Gooree Park - Gooree Park blends kid-friendly farm activities with parent-friendly wine tastings. And those cheese platters are crowd-pleasers for every age! Book a farm tour and spend some time behind-the-scenes visiting Gooree Park’s thoroughbreds and Waygu cattle, before heading inside for a private wine tasting in a very cool cellar door.
Soup’s on — and it’s anything but ordinary! Cool off in style at the Icons of Pop Art: Warhol and Lichtenstein exhibition at Mudgee Arts Precinct. See Warhol’s iconic Campbell’s Soup II – Cheddar Cheese (1969), sip something cold at the café and soak up world-class art in air-conditioned comfort. Big city culture, small region flavour — now that’s pop perfection.
Work hard, play hard - head to Gulgong and keep your (inner!) child busy on the flying fox, swings, slides, and sandpit at the Adventure Playground.
Goodbye big smoke, hello bush - lace up those walking shoes and soak up the great outdoors with a bushwalk at The Drip or Ferntree Gully rainforest. Check out Hands on Rock - a piece of the region’s indigenous heritage - or cool down in the clear river water at The Drip.
Take home the gold - travel back in time via Gulgong to experience gold panning adventure and walk out a little richer (fingers crossed!)
Summer splash - you’ll be spoilt for choice when it’s time to cool off, thanks to Gulgong, Kandos and Mudgee Pool. Play in the water park at Mudgee or tackle the water slide.
All aboard - the kids will be clambering to board the Mudgee Miniature Railway, offering rides behind steam, petrol and electric-powered miniature trains. And for just $15 for unlimited train trips, it’s an easy choo-choo choice.
Lake it easy - if you’re a fan of the water, both Burrendong Lake and Windamere Dam have all the hallmarks of a summer’s day, featuring water sports, fishing, swimming, and wildlife spotting.
Up, up and away - beat the heat and get a jump on the day with a sunset hot air balloon tour with Balloon Aloft. Be sure to bring your camera, because the views - and the look on your kids’ faces - will be priceless.
Riverside rendezvous - grab your reel and cast out wide for carp in the Cudgegong River, or head to Putta Bucca Wetlands for a picnic and some twitching (aka bird watching!) action. Kids will love the playground and spotting the model animals along the way…
Treat mum to some self-care - a little retail therapy is exactly what mum needs, so dads - take note - and take the kids off your lady’s hands, while mum strolls the main streets to visit Whatever Mudgee, Willow Collective, Byrnes Jewellers, Cloth & Feather, Blowes Clothing and Mainly Mudgee Gifts. Whether it’s a new outfit to make your city friends jealous or some homewares to spruce up your loungeroom, they’re all waiting for you in the region’s great range of stores.
WHERE TO WINE & DINE
Country pubs to write home about - remember that shopping break you’re giving mum? A pub lunch is just the thing to entertain the kids, while mum browses the stores in peace (ahhh bliss!) With the classic pub trifecta of tasty food, local drinks, and family-friendly vibes, you can’t go wrong with Club Mudgee, the Oriental Hotel (or the Ori to the locals!), the Paragon Hotel, the Prince of Wales Hotel, the Woolpack Hotel or Mudgee Brewing Co.
Say yum to yum cha - visit the raved-about Rylstone dumpling house, 29 Nine 99, for a delicious day out.
Oui oui for fresh pastries - Althea by Zin is the region’s take on a French patisserie, with croissants, mille-feuille tarts and sausage rolls, plus a cute courtyard to feast on your flaky faves.
Dine under the vines - fuel up for the day in the vine-covered courtyard at Alby + Esthers. Snag a coveted seat in the cobblestone courtyard and treat yourself to a local cordial and their famous Esthers’ jaffle.
Picnics and pinot noir - fun for parents and kids, 791 Estate has it all - small-batch wines, picnic-perfect lawns, cellar door snacks, and the ever-so-charming ‘Fiona the Owner’.
The luck of the Irish - Clover Cellars is your taste of Ireland - without leaving the country. Enjoy craft beers for the adults, housemade cordials for the kids, outdoor games, and fun activities for the whole family.
Get the family farm experience - if you’re looking for wine and food with a side of chooks, emus, sheep, and donkeys, then a stop at Lowe Family Wine Co is a must. Grab their Tinja Farm Map and take a self-guided tour around the winery. PS every tour should start with a visit to the cellar door for a bottle of Jodie…
Kids included - not just for the adults, Skimstone Wines gives little ones their own cellar door experience, including local cordial, chippies, and a play area with puzzles, colouring-in, plus a playground and giant chess set.
WHERE TO STAY
The Clairfield Hotel - Palm Springs-meets-Mudgee with this poolside stay, complete with spa and on-site dining. Kids will love splashing in the pool; parents will love the cocktails, float tank and mega-lush interiors.
McKenna Terraces - take your pick from five bespoke terraces just off Mudgee’s main streets, with modern conveniences, interiors the adults will appreciate, and a family-friendly pub right next door.
Perry Street Hotel - not just a stunning, luxury hotel, this historic venue will capture the kids’ imaginations when they hear it’s housed band performances, lectures, Mudgee’s first library and more.
The Winning Post Motor Inn - a stone’s throw from Mudgee CBD, this classic bolthole comes equipped with an outdoor swimming pool, restaurant and bar. A true all-ages favourite!
