PLAN A WEEK END IN... MUDGEE
Follow in the footsteps of Doctor Doctor’s Hugh Knight by visiting this picturesque NSW wine region
Postcard-perfect heritage buildings, beautiful wineries and plenty of country charm – it’s not surprising the producers of Nine’s Doctor Doctor chose NSW’S Mudgee as a stand-in for the fictional town of Whyhope, the stomping ground of bedside manner-challenged surgeon Hugh Knight, played by Rodger Corser. With season two now on TV, there’s no better time to visit the area.
Stay
For something truly special, check into Mudgee’s first glamping experience, Sierra Escape (sierraescape.com.au), a 113ha eco-retreat offering plush tents, king-size beds and freestanding baths. Toast marshmallows over an open campfire and wake up to views of rolling hills.
In town, the affordable Tannery (stayz.com.au) is an 1850s cottage with open fires, claw-foot bath and a covered verandah on which to read the papers. Bliss.
A great option for groups is Trelawney Farm (stayz.com.au), a self-catering Victorian farmhouse near several wineries that sleeps up to 12 and is kitted out with a kids’ corner, library, outdoor bath and pizza oven.
Eat & drink
With a history stretching back 150 years, Mudgee and winemaking go hand-in-hand. Burnbrae (burnbraewines.com.au) is one of the oldest vineyards, while Lowe Wines (lowewine.com.au) has a range of organic and preservativefree vino. And Australia’s oldest certified organic winery, Botobolar (botobolar.com) has a cellar door conveniently close to town.
With good wine comes good food. For a hearty brekkie, head to Alby & Esthers (albyandesthers. com.au) on Market Street. This bolthole dishes up great coffee and an alfresco location under a canopy of vines. As for dinner, make a beeline for Pipeclay Pumphouse (pipeclaypumphouse. com.au), where the paddock to plate philosophy reigns supreme. Serving up locally produced vino since the 1920s, Roth’s Wine Bar (rothswinebar.com.au) dishes up tapas and wood-fired pizzas, plus live music on weekends.
Play
To offset your indulgence, make tracks to the surrounding World Heritage-listed wilderness. The protected Wollemi National Park plays home to beautiful hiking spots, including Ferntree Gully, which is as pretty as it sounds.
Mudgee’s Colonial Inn Museum (mudgeemuseum.com) is a must for history buffs. Set across several buildings, you can happily while
away a few hours envisaging life in the prospecting days of yore.
Speaking of which, drive a short distance north and you’ll hit the gold mining town of Gulgong and its 130 heritage-listed buildings. The Gulgong Pioneers Museum (gulgongmuseum.com) is worth a visit, but to really experience the gold rush, head to Windeyer’s Bushlands Tourist Park (bushlandstouristpark.com.au) to try fossicking for yourself.