Blayney & Carcoar

Local villages

In 1867, gold was discovered in the Blayney area, and the surrounding towns enjoyed a lucrative boom that put them on the map. Today, many of the historic buildings that line the main streets in Blayney and beyond are classified by the National Trust.

Carcoar is the third-oldest town west of the Blue Mountains, and home to many beautifully restored heritage buildings from between 1850 and 1890. Take a walking tour and visit Stoke Stable Museum, the town’s oldest existing structure. Constructed by convicts in 1849, the building is today home to a fascinating museum.

The Christ Anglican Church, Blayney

Take a scenic drive through villages like Millthorpe, Newbridge, Lyndhurst, Mandurama and Neville to experience that back-in-time atmosphere. Soak in the historic ambiance at classic pubs such as The Mando Pub and the Carcoar Royal Hotel. In Carcoar, you’ll also find Tomolly, a beautifully-curated homewares store.

Millthorpe main street, Millthorpe

Food & wine

Blayney is a great base to explore the Orange wine region, renowned for its cool-climate wines and fresh produce. Get a taste for regional vintages alongside fare that takes you to Italy at Antica Australis, an acclaimed restaurant in Carcoar that combines traditional recipes with local produce sourced directly from artisanal producers in the Orange region. Then drop in on The Village Grocer, for excellent coffee and homemade pies.

The Village Grocer, Carcoar

Outdoor adventures

If you’re a fan of fishing and boating, you’ve come to the right place. The Belubula River, which flows into Carcoar Dam, is famous for golden perch, trout and Murray cod. The waterway is also popular for swimming and boating, while the banks are a great place to spread out a picnic rug, with barbecues on site.

Junction Reefs Reserve is a secluded campground on the banks of the Belubula River where you can admire the dam wall feature from a lookout. Lace up your shoes for walks along the river to a hidden waterfall past the dam wall, then cast out your line. Enjoy beautiful views of the Belubula River and the iconic Carcoar bridge at Kurt Fearnley Park, named after the Paralympian and hometown hero.

 Junction Reefs Reserve Campground, Burnt Yards - Credit: Melise Davis

Exciting events

Enjoy popular events across the region such as the annual Sculptures by the Bush, featuring an array of haybale art, farm sculptures and scarecrows dotted around the countryside; the Carcoar Show in November; the Neville Show in November; and the iconic Newbridge Winter Solstice in June.

Sculptures by the Bush, Blayney - Credit: Bradley Bradley

Where to stay

Places to stay in Blayney and Carcoar include country pubs like the Carcoar Royal Hotel, cosy B&Bs, farmstays such as Amaroo Cottage and Wilkens Estate, and numerous campgrounds.

Amaroo Cottage Farmstay, Newbridge - Credit: Amaroo Cottage Farmstay

Getting there

Blayney is a 30min drive southeast of Orange or 30min southwest of Bathurst. The drive from Sydney is 3h 25min, via the World Heritage-listed Blue Mountains. You can catch the train direct from Sydney to Blayney, which takes just over four hours, or you can fly to Orange or Bathurst airports and rent a car.