Mudgee

Heritage & history 

Get your bearings with a stroll along Mudgee’s elegant tree-lined streets on the Heritage Walking Tour and discover its beautifully preserved colonial buildings, including the Mudgee Post Office designed by architect Alexander Dawson in 1862.  

Stop by the Mudgee Museum to see its vast collection of artefacts and Mudgee memorabilia, displayed across several buildings, including a mid-19th-century hotel, a historic church and a replica of a slab hut. 

Streetscapes, Mudgee

Arts & culture 

Mudgee is also renowned for its vibrant arts and culture. Visit the state-of-the-art Mudgee Arts Precinct, Australia’s newest regional gallery, and see exciting contemporary exhibitions or join a workshop. From the gallery, you can also explore the Cudgegong River and Lawson Park Sculpture Trail. 

Don’t miss Brett Niven Ceramics, a working studio and shop in the heart of Mudgee, and Sculptures in the Garden, an annual outdoor sculpture exhibition now in its 13th year. 

Sculptures in the Garden at Rosby Wines & Guesthouse

Foodie experiences 

You’ll find delicious food (and wine) at top vineyard restaurants like Pipeclay Pumphouse and The Zin House, cool wine bars such as Roth's Wine Bar and lovely cafes like Alby & Esther’s, tucked down an historic cobblestone laneway. For locally made craft beers, head to The Mudgee Brewing Co and Three Tails Brewery and Smokehouse. 

Be sure to check out the annual Mudgee Wine and Food Month, a culinary celebration in spring. Pick up farm fresh produce from the Mudgee region at the Mudgee Fine Foods Farmers’ Market, held on the third Saturday of the month in the grounds of St Mary’s. 

The Zin House, Eurunderee

Wineries & cellar doors 

Taste award-winning local drops at wineries and cellar doors throughout the region, such as the signature shiraz at renowned Logan Wines and Robert Stein Winery. Take a wine tour and meet the winemakers at Lowe Wines, enjoy a delicious taste of Tuscany at di Lusso Estate, or try elegant French styles at De Beaurepaire Wines.

Visit the quirky red cellar door at First Ridge Wines, who specialise in Italian varietals. Family-owned and run Slow Fox Wines produces superb small-batch wines, handpicked and handmade, while Pieter Van Gent Winery boasts a downright Instagrammable setting – housed in an old barrel room, with church pew seating and clusters of gilded wine bottles suspended from the ceiling. 

De Beaurepaire Wines, Mudgee - Credit: Mudgee Region Tourism

Natural wonders 

East of Mudgee, you’ll find Ganguddy-Dunns Swamp on the Cudgerong River, a popular spot for camping, bushwalking and kayaking, in the World Heritage-listed Wollemi National Park. North, the Drip Gorge walking track meanders along the Goulburn River to the ‘Great Dripping Wall’, where rainwater trickles through the sandstone wall. A 20-minute drive from Mudgee, Windamere Dam is a popular spot for water sports, fishing, bushwalking and camping. 

Mudgee’s clear night skies are a bonus for stargazers. A short drive from the town centre is the Mudgee Observatory, where you can see the Milky Way galaxy up close through a range of telescopes. There are night and day tours, as well as a theatre and flat screen planetarium. For a bird’s-eye view of the picturesque region, jump on a hot air balloon ride with Balloon Aloft. 

Man hiking in Dunns Swamp, Rylstone - Credit: Mudgee Region Tourism

Stylish stays 

You’ll find lovely places to stay all around the Mudgee countryside, as well as in the town centre, from bed and breakfasts and farm stays to luxury cabins and tiny houses. Enjoy an outdoor bath with a view at Sierra Escape, or glamp in style at Glenayr Farm. If you want to stay within the town centre, Perry Street Hotel is a charming spot, featuring 13 suites housed within the historic 1862 Mechanics Institute. 

Sierra Escape, Mudgee

Getting there  

Mudgee is 3.5-hour drive northwest of Sydney, via the Blue Mountains. Follow the Food Lover’s Loop for a gastronomic road trip to Mudgee through the Hawkesbury and Hunter Valley. Another popular scenic drive is the Bylong Valley Way, connecting the towns of Kandos, Rylstone and Bylong. Pelican operates direct flights between Sydney and Mudgee six days a week. You can also catch a train and coach service from Sydney and the journey takes around five to six hours.