Slow down - you’re on Mudgee time now…
Are you a holidaymaker that lives for a packed itinerary? A day that’s stacked with activities from 7am-7pm, with no time for downtime? Avert your eyes now – this one is definitely not for you.
Or maybe it is. Maybe it’s a sign that you need to swap rushed trips for slow travel, where the best itinerary is no itinerary, and stays are all about what happens when you make no plans.
Because unhurried travel is having a serious moment. Gone are the days of packing eleventy million activities into a weekend. Now, it’s about calm, grounded trips, where slowing down and switching off is the only thing on the to-do list.
The good news? The Mudgee Region knows a little something about a more relaxed pace of life. Here, the locals take time to savour their morning coffee, sip their glass of homegrown wine and soak in their natural surroundings. There’s no hideous pre-work commute. No navigating traffic jams. No struggle to find a parking spot. Life is as unhurried as a toddler facing an imminent bedtime (IYKYK). You can see why people trade the city for a quieter country life.
But don’t mistake slow for boring. The Mudgee Region punches above its weight for pubs, restaurants, cellar doors, boutiques and experiences – there’s just no rush to see them all in one weekend. That’s exactly what a Mudgee Monday is for…
Lowe Family Wine Co
STAY SLOW
The Mudgee Region just knows how to do slow – and it all starts with your accommodation. This is not about finding a stay to simply rest your head – it’s about finding a spot that allows you to truly relax, switch off and SLOW. DOWN. A stay that is an experience, not just a bed. One that encourages you to put on your OOO and just be. Catch your breath at Peppertree Farm, an award-winning luxury farmstay with several accommodation options, from quaint cottages to panoramic views and log fires. Or opt for Evanslea Luxury Boutique Accommodation Mudgee, known for its in-room massages (yes please!), riverside frontage perfect for throwing in a line and peaceful country gardens.
And if you’re ready to truly unplug (no TV, no WiFi, can you do it!?), head to Evamor Valley, an award-winning luxury glamping spot, located just minutes from the CBD. Their lush king beds, private hot tubs and plush robes are just made for lazy afternoons, enjoying doing, well, very little. Here, you’ll find yourself spending the evening taking in the jaw-dropping sunset, staring up at the stars and relaxing by the fire pit – without your phone in-hand.
Evanslea Luxury Boutique Accommodation
WINE AND DINE SLOW
This is not a place for wine sculling. Here, we sip our wine, savouring every last drop, pairing it with local produce and sharing it with good friends, before we order another glass and repeat.
The same goes for meals. There’s no rushing here. No hurried lunches, no quick dinners, no food in front of the TV (heaven forbid!) We’re all about taking the time to enjoy a meal – whether it’s family-friendly pub-style food at Club Mudgee, the Woolpack Hotel, or Mudgee Brewing Co, breakfast in Alby & Esthers’ vine-covered courtyard, or a date night at Gigi’s Restaurant – we treat every meal like an occasion; a chance to taste the best of the region’s fare.
Alby & Esthers
Mudgee Region's cellar doors have been doing the “wine slow” trend before it was cool, taking the time to chat to customers and share the joy of winemaking. And drinking. Cellar doors like 791 Estate (ask for Fiona the Owner!), Logan Wines, Lowe Family Wine Co and Clover Cellars are firm believers in talking you through their range, making a tasting seem like a catch-up with old friends. There’s no rush to try every bottle in 30 minutes – savour each drop, swirl every glass and sip your favourites.
Before heading home, visit 10’s Estate and sample produce from their organic orchard. In December cherries are ripe for picking, so grab a hat and bucket and pick straight from the trees. Outside cherry season, enjoy their cherry and fig produce, along with a drop of 10’s Estate wine.
Then drop into Old Wheels Grind for THE BEST freshly cooked cinnamon donuts paired with a great coffee, served from a vintage Land Rover in a paddock just outside Mudgee. Pull up a seat by the crackling fire pit, grab a picnic rug and stretch out for a while. No rush, no plans. This is slow done right.
Logan Wines
EXPERIENCE SLOW
Throw out your pre-planned itinerary and do away with needing to “do.” The focus on this Mudgee Region visit is experience over quantity. Take the time to browse the region’s boutiques. Peruse homewares in Cloth & Feather, sample award-winning olive oil at Rylstone Olive Press and find a new wardrobe at Blowes Clothing; leave the shopping stress at home and enjoy the freedom of being able to spend 45 minutes comparing olive oil varieties.
Cloth & Feather
Nature is great for reflection, and let’s face it, it’s hard to rush in a kayak. Grab your paddle and get on the water with Southern Cross Kayaking; their guided kayak tours are the best way to not only see the region’s stunning escarpment, but to force you to be present, mindful and adapt to nature’s much gentler pace.
And when you’re ready to do it all again? The only thing you’ll need to rush is re-booking…
Southern Cross Kayaking at Ganguddy-Dunns Swamp
