Orange (New South Wales)
From World travel guide
Orange is a small city in the Central West of the Australian state of New South Wales.
Contents |
Understand
Orange has a population of approximately 40,000 people and is one of the older towns in inland New South Wales. The one square mile village of Orange was established in 1841, and grew quickly due to Australia's first payable gold discovery in 1851 in nearby Ophir and later due to agricultural output.
The City of Orange municipality is located in the centre of the Cabonne Shire. The Cabonne Shire consists of farmland and orchards and calls itself Australia's Fruit Basket. Orange and the surrounding area are known for quiet getaways and excellent food and wine. Orange calls itself Australia's Colour City due to its large number of European trees and their autumn colours.
Temperatures range from zero and below to the thirties.
Get in
Orange is four hours west of Sydney by car. Travellers would take the Great Western Highway to Bathurst and the Mitchell Highway to Orange.
Orange has several public transport links to Sydney operated by CountryLink. Train or bus from Sydney usually takes five hours. There are also less frequent services from Canberra.
Regional Express operates flights from Sydney to Orange and return. Flight time is approximately 45 to 60 minutes.
Get around
Public transport in Orange is limited to the town itself, and to links to other towns in the district. Since most tourists will be interested in attractions around the town and in the Cabonne Shire, using a car is the best way to see the Orange area.
See
- Cook Park, Summer Street. Cook Park is a large park occupying a city block in Orange. It is full of established European trees and is spectacular in early autumn.
- Botanic Gardens, Kearney's Drive, northern outskirts of Orange. A 17 hectare garden, the Botanic Gardens have concerts and performances in summer.
- Mount Canobolas, the highest point in Australia west of the Great Dividing Range, is located 20km west of Orange. The view from the summit is excellent. Although Orange itself has only a few snowfalls a year, snow is common on Mount Canobolas and snow chains may be required in winter.
- Orange Regional Art Gallery, Civic Sq (off Peisley Street). ph 02 6393 8136.
- Banjo Paterson Memorial Park, Ophir Road. This park is located at the Narambla homestead, birthplace of AB "Banjo" Paterson, Australia's most famous poet and author of the lyrics of "Waltzing Matilda".
Do
- Have a picnic at Lake Canobolas, the town's old water supply dam located approximately 15km west of Orange. Lake Canobolas is a recreational area with swimming, walking and a deer park.
- Pan for gold at the Ophir Reserve, 25 kilometres outside Orange, site of Australia's first payable gold discovery. The reserve also has picnic and barbeque areas.
Eat
- Lolli Redini, 48 Sale Street. ph 02 6361 7748. This restaurant has attracted attention from Sydney food critics, rating one hat in the Sydney Morning Herald Good Food Guide.
- Selkirks Restaurant, 179 Anson Street. ph 02 6361 1179. This restaurant has attracted attention from Sydney food critics, rating two hats and best regional restaurant in the Sydney Morning Herald Good Food Guide.
- Highland Heritage Estate, Mitchell Highway (5 minutes east of Orange). ph 02 6361 3612. Highland Heritage Estate specialises in local produce. Mains AU$40.
- Provista Wood Fire Pizza, 129 Summer Street. ph 02 6361 2129. Mains approx AU$20.
- The Mountain Tea House, base of Mount Canobolas, Mount Canobolas Road. ph (02) 02 6365 3227. Excellent cakes.
Drink
- Hotel Canobolas, 248 Summer Street. ph 02 6362 2444. fax 02 6362 9361.
Wineries
Wineries in Orange and Cabonne open for tasting include:
- Ibis Wines, 239 Kearneys Drive. ph 02 6362 3257. fax 02 6362 5779. email ibiswines@bigpond.com. http://www.ibiswines.com.au/
- Mortimers of Orange, 786 Burrendong Way. ph 02 6365 8689. email mortimers@ozemail.com.au. http://www.mortimerswines.com.au/
- Orange Mountain, corner of Forbes Road and Radnedge Lane, Borenore (next to Hillside Orchard). ph 02 6365 2626. http://www.orangemountain.com.au/
Sleep
- Arancia Bed and Breakfast, Wrights Lane. ph 02 6365 3305. fax 02 6365 3751. email contact@arancia.com.au. Reviews describe this small bed and breakfast 17km out of town as aiming for the "Sydney market": that is travellers looking for a weekend away in comfortable surroundings. Rooms have standard amenities including a data port. Weekend rates: $185 per night (standard double), $225 per night (double with spa). Weekday rates: $155 per night (standard double), $175 per night (double with spa). http://www.arancia.com.au/
- Best Western Central Caleula Motor Lodge, 60 Summer Street. ph 1800 024 845 (toll free, Australia only) or 02 6362 7699. This lodge is close to the centre of town and provides high quality standard motel rooms with queen or king sized beds and private bathrooms. $180 per night (king sized bed) or $144 per night (queen sized bed). http://centralcaleula.bestwestern.com.au/
- Down Town Motel, 243 Summer Street. ph 02 6362 2877. Doubles from $65.
- Turner's Vineyard, Mitchell Highway. ph 02 6369 1045. fax 02 6369 1046. email TurnersVineyard@bigpond.com. This new hotel 5 minutes east of Orange is aimed at conference and business visitors. http://www.turnersvineyard.com.au/
Cope
Medical
- Orange Base Hospital, Dalton Street. tel 02 6393 3000. fax 02 6393 3593. Public hospital with emergency room.
- Community Health Centre, 129 Sale Street. tel 02 6393 3300
- Community Health Centre, 96 Kite St. tel 02 6392 8600.
Supermarkets
- Coles Supermarket, 227 - 237 Summer Street. tel 02 6361 2666. Open 6am - midnight Monday - Sunday; closed some public holidays.
- Woolworths Supermarket, 197 - 203 Anson Street. tel 02 6362 4655. fax 02 6361 0906. Open 7am - 10pm Monday to Saturday; 8am - 8pm Sunday; closed some public holidays.
Get out
The Indian Pacific transcontinental train passes through Orange westward to Perth. Dubbo and Forbes further west are the next inland towns.
Contact
International callers should prefix Orange numbers with +61 2 rather than the 02 given here. (+61 is the Australian international calling code.)
Major Australian mobile phone companies provide GSM reception inside the town and around Mount Canobolas (where the antennas are located) although reception may be patchy in parts of the area. CDMA coverage is good.
External links
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