Central New South Wales accommodation from AU$76

Central NSW covers many areas in the state, including Dubbo, Parkes, Bathurst, Cowra, Forbes, Orange and Wellington. Whether you’re driving around the region and exploring many of these destinations or staying put in one, there’s sure to be plenty to keep you entertained. Go on safari and drive or walk through plains filled with animals such as lemurs, giraffes and zebras at the Taronga Western Plains Zoo in Dubbo. Talk about a close encounter! Prefer to see the animals in the wild along with towering waterfalls, sparkling streams and colourful wildflowers? Strap on your walking shoes and head to one of the many National Parks in the area, such as Conimbla National Park, where you can trail along rugged walks through bushland and spot a rare Glossy Black Cockatoo. Or swap those sneakers for swimmers at Lake Cargelligo, where you can swim, ski and canoe, or watch water birds such as pelicans and black swans. Learn about the wonders of the sky above at the Dish, a radio telescope just outside of Parkes, or check out spectacular crystals, an underground mine and more about the world below at Wellington Caves.

If history and culture are more your thing, Central NSW is a great place to be. Visit the area under the Lachlan River Bridge in Cowra to see a remarkable display of Aboriginal art in a very unique place. Get a taste of Asia at the Cowra Japanese Garden, where you can unleash your inner Zen as you sit beneath the cherry blossoms, listen to the flow of the stream and sip green tea. Further west in Grenfell, see thought-provoking sculptures crafted from discarded machinery at the Wallangreen Sculpture Garden. History buffs shouldn’t go past the Cobb & Co Heritage Trail, which follows old coaching routes from the 19th century. The trail goes from Bathurst to Bourke and you can almost hear the cracking of the whips and whinnying of the horses as you explore a remnant of a bygone era.

Stomach rumbling after all that adventure? Fill it up as you eat your way along the 100 Mile Food and Wine trail, stretching from Lithgow to Dubbo. Feast on locally-grown and produced food and meet butchers, bakers and cheese-makers or stop in at orchards, olive groves and berry farms. Needless to say, it’s a tasty way to travel.

Wherever you are, getting to this incredible region is a breeze. Hop on a train from Sydney to Bathurst, Orange and Parkes, or head along the highway from Victoria, Queensland, Sydney or North West NSW. Sound like a great way to spend your time off? Then get booking your Central NSW hotels today.