The town Bathurst is home to Australia's greatest endurance race. Bathurst comes alive every year for the greatest car race in Australia. It is Holden versus Ford over 1000kms. It's a fight for the fittest; the drivers are expected to drive flat out doing 150kms plus an hour driving up and down a mountain. Drive a hire car to Bathurst and camp. Hugely well organised there's acres of tents, portaloos, deep fried food and plenty of beer on tap. There is only one time of the year to visit and that is during the race. There's a true festival atmosphere and the race is an absolute spectacle not to be missed. Bathurst is situated in New South Wales, west of Sydney and has easy access by road. The region is known for its museums and regional art. Many gems and minerals have been discovered in the area and are on display for public viewing. Bathurst provides many tours or self-guided tours to the historic homes and the old Gaol. This is one of Australia's gaols with ghosts walking the halls at night.
To maximise your visit to the region, spend some time getting your hands dirty and try your hand at farming. Get full use of the hire car by driving to Bathurst Sheep and Cattle Drome where you can have a go at milking, watch sheep shearers at work and enjoy the Australian cattle dog show. It's a packed day out for all the family. If you're planning on extending your stay to the region, head towards Wallaby Rocks in your hire car. This is amazing to see. - a rock wall that looks like it's grown out of the Turon River. This river is home to many native animals such as Wallabies and Kangaroos, the water is safe to swim and the banks are a great place to have a picnic or BBQ. Another great visit is to the Miss Traill's House; built in 1845 this home is one of Bathurst's oldest buildings. It is a Georgian Bungalow and is in the hands of the National Trust to ensure it is maintained and managed for many more generations. The bungalow is surrounded by beautiful manicured gardens. This is a must to see if in the area and is worth going gout of your way in your rental car to see it.
Nestled on the Macquarie Riverbank in the Tablelands of New South Whales, this is a great escape from city life. So if you're planning some time away from the hustle and bustle, Bathurst is it. After much online research, I found wholesaletravelor.com to be the best rates for airfare. Be sure when you come to (rent) hire a car for this deep, urban country adventure. It's amazing to see the difference in country as it varies from continent to continent. While we may often see a deer or armadillo cross the street with little to no enthusiasm. Australia is no stranger to the occasional kangaroo or koala crossing. What a treat to experience this cool culture shock. Bathurst is the eldest interior settlement in beautiful Australia. Named after former colonial secretary, Lord Bathurst, its history overflows with stories of gold and riches. A fine example of this is in its exquisite 19th century architecture. This is a tour through history you won't want to miss. Hop in your hired car and head on over to Abercrombie Caves, the Ribbon Gang's famous hideout.
Here the tales of the 1830 convict rebellion. Take a Fantastic tour of these enormous caves. See the original leg irons found in the Bushrangers Cave some years later. Then work your way back, for a ghostly chill, to Bathurst and stand on Ribbon Gang Lane. This is the spot where Ralph Entwistle and 9 men from his gang were hanged for their crimes. This was to be the largest public hanging Bathurst had ever seen. If you listen closely you can hear their rebellious cries. Car and racing enthusiasts will also find a liking to Bathurst. They are huge into the race scene here. You can also check out some pretty awesome antique car shows. Bathurst will leave a ghostly impression!