A family-friendly day out in Bathurst

Transport yourself into the past at the Bathurst Rail Museum

Start at the Bathurst Rail Museum, home to an incredible model railway where you can watch miniature trains go around the track, passing tiny people, cars and sheep. A dedicated kids’ space houses one of the world’s largest Brio wooden train sets, as well as a cute cubby house built in the shape of Bathurst Train Station. 

Parent’s tip: Grab drinks from the Refreshment Room cafe outside and don’t forget to take a peek into the red train carriage out the front.

Go vroom at the National Motor Racing Museum

Celebrating the rich history of Australian motorsport at the National Motor Racing Museum. The museum displays trophies, race suits, leathers and other memorabilia, along with 100-plus racing cars and motorbikes from the 1920s to now. 

Parent’s tip: If you’ve got budding Daniel – and Danielle – Riccardos in the family, make a beeline to the Immersive Room, where they can make like a race-car driver. 

Tackle the Mt Panorama/Wahluu track

Do a lap of the iconic Mt Panorama/Wahluu track for yourselves, which is just outside the door. Scenic Mount Panorama is a public road outside race and community events, and the kids will love watching you safely drive its many sharp twists and turns.

Parent’s tip: Outside of the Bathurst 1000 and Bathurst 12 Hour races the speed limit is 60km/hr.

Order ice-cream at Annie’s Ice Cream Parlour

Head to Bathurst Town Square for a scoop or two at Annie’s Ice Cream Parlour. Cones in hand, explore this historic square: hear the War Memorial Carillon chime each quarter-hour and play a tune at noon and 1pm daily; watch the ducks paddling in the Victorian-era Machattie Park; and play a game of hide-and-seek around the pretty flower beds and the band rotunda.

Parent’s tip: Try the famou Sofala Gold flavour which has nuggets of golden honeycomb in honour of the oldest surviving Gold Rush town.

Learn about all things gold at Hill End Historic Site

An hour’s drive north-west of Bathurst is the Hill End Historic Site, a beautifully preserved gold rush town. Here, your kids can get a taste of what life was like in the heady gold-mad days of the 1870s – and explore this living village that’s home to artists, artisans, poets and other creatives. 

Parent’s tip: Follow a self-guided tour of the quaint streets and buildings and then fill tummies at the General Store, a cafe and restaurant occupying two heritage buildings dating from 1872 and 1880. 

Search for gold in Tambaroora Fossicking Area

To try your luck panning for gold, head to Tambaroora Fossicking Area on the road leading north to Mudgee.  A well known source of new gold, no permits are required to fossick in this area. Chat to the team at Bathurst Visitor Information Centre about where to get gold pans and equipment or organise a panning guide. 

Parent’s tip: to access the area from Hill End, follow these simple driving instructions. Their are options for both 4WD and road access.

Make like a miner at History Hill

Your kids can dig a little deeper into the Gold Rush era at History Hill by following in miner’s footsteps at an underground mine. Nose around at your own pace and inspect the 10,000 Gold-Rush and colonial-era artefacts: the little ones will particularly love the steam engines. If everyone’s feeling adventurous, there’s a 175m-long underground mine, called The Son of Hope, to explore. Traversing the well-lit tunnel, your kids will get a sense of what conditions were like for underground miners more than a century ago.

Parent’s tip: Discover rare items like uranium glass and convict relics along the way.

See rare minerals and fossils including a T-Rex

What began as one man’s passion has become one of Bathurst’s greatest treasures. The Australian Fossil and Mineral Museum, housed in a historic 1876 school building, features the Somerville Collection, showcasing over 5,000 rare and exquisite mineral crystals and fossils from around the world. Highlights include a towering Tyrannosaurus Rex skeleton, amber-encased fossils, and stunning Australian opalised specimens.

Parent’s tip: Challenge your little ones to find the museum’s sabre tooth cat skull and fossil dinosaur eggs.

Discover a playground with dinosaurs, a maze and climbing walls

Not your average playground, Bathurst Adventure Playground has climbing walls, dinosaur sculptures, a stockyard maze, a dual flying fox, a large sandpit and a functioning sundial. All our welcome, with accessible swings and accessible toilets included.

Parent’s tip: Challenge your family to find every dinosaur sculpture complete with footprints and dinosaur sounds. 

Have high tea in Abercrombie House

See one of the greatest architectural treasures in the region as you stroll around Abercrombie House, its gardens and grounds. Home to the Morgan family, get a rare insight into a living historic house and museum. 

Parent’s tip: Time your trip with their high tea days to sip loose leaf blends and nibble treats in the ballroom while live music fills the air.

Enjoy a winter wonderland at Bathurst Winter Festival

Time your trip to coincide with Bathurst Winter Festival. Held annually in July, the festival boasts an epic array of free and affordable activities and attractions. Sip hot cocoa and mulled wine, glide across an outdoor ice rink, shop the markets, feast and food and wine stalls, and enjoy live entertainment. As darkness falls, prepare to be transported to a world of pure enchantment and delight as the festival transforms with mesmerising light displays and interactive installations. 

Parent’s tip: Unmissable moments include the ferris wheel, two-storey carousel and carnival rides, as well as Kids Day.