Driven to: Five reasons why you must visit Bathurst
- Kalen Ziflian
- 6 days ago
- 7 min read
With the keys to a range-topping Ford Tourneo Titanium X in hand, a couple of kids on school holidays, and a hankering to explore; it was time to plan a family road trip.
Christmas holidays aren’t the most conducive for such shenanigans, with anyone possessing a roofed-space cashing in on the influx of city slickers looking escape the rat race. With the penchant for saltwater strong amongst the clan, the hunt started along the NSW coast.
Equal measures of price and eye-gouging saw that idea shelved expediently, with focus turning inland. A tiny home perhaps? Maybe somewhere with a pool to cool off in?
It was actually the better half who found the Rydges at Bathurst – “it’s a great price, has a pool and we can take the dog” were her words. With that, a 2-bedroom unit was secured.
The 2-hour-and-45-minute run out to Mt Panorama takes a familiar route west-bound through Bilpin. A stop at The Hungry Baker for breakfast has become a tradition, but also provides a logical point for a stop given the 27 kilo four-legged tag-along
The Tourneo was truly the perfect partner for the trip, with ample space for mum and dad upfront, two youngsters on the second row, luggage on the third, and said furry friend safe and comfortable in the cargo area.
Low-down torque was an appreciated characteristic, making light work of hills and bends enroute. Before long, we were turning onto Panorama Avenue and headed for our accommodation.
So then, what are the 5 reasons to visit Bathurst from the perspective of a car-person and his family?
1 - Driving Mount Panorama
Anyone with even a skerrick of motoring in the blood says “Bathurst”, but the real meaning behind the word is the awe-inspiring Mount Panorama Circuit. Undoubtedly the most iconic racing venue in Australia, and in my humble opinion, one of the greatest circuits in the world.
Being a street circuit, when it’s not being used for racing it’s simply a public road. That comes with challenge, because the speed limit is a decidedly-pedestrian 60km/h – and police do patrol, so don’t get any ideas!
There is no way to describe the scale of this place. TV broadcasts are great, but they simply do it no justice. The run-up Mountain Straight is far longer than you’d expect, and the climb through The Cutting gives you a sense of the 174-meter elevation change. It creates an appreciation for the talent posessed by the guys and girls that drive here in anger.
Driving through Skyline, down into The Esses and The Dipper, ending finally at Forest Elbow into Conrod, you're constantly surrounded by very solid looking barriers. I had to remind myself a few times that it’s a two-way road, picking lines and hitting apexes isn’t the wisest idea.
It’s well set up take in at a standstill too, with a great viewing deck at the top of the mountain where you can enjoy glorious panoramic views into the distance - sunrise is the pick.
2 – Visit the National Motor Racing Museum
Few would dispute Mount Panorama to be the cultural heart of Australian motor racing.
Much of that history is captured in the museum found at the foothills of the mountain.
It’s truly a magnificent representation of our motor racing heritage, with exhibits that stretch from 2 to 4 wheels, on and off road, across most any type of motorsport one could imagine. Whilst categories that have raced in Bathurst are a focus, the exhibition also stretches out to things like speedway and off-road motorcycling.
Personal highlights were opportunities to meet legends like the Tony Longhurst E30 M3, from a time when cigarette manufacturers were still allowed to advertise.
Multiple R32 GTR’s including the Winfield car driven by Mark Skaife and Jim Richards, a Group A Sierra of the same ilk as the above M3, a Mugen-fettled Honda RS125 Moto GP Motorcycle, Dick Johnson's Shell EB Falcon, and an XF Ute that raced in the Baja 1000!
The latter conjured mixed emotions, having learnt to drive at the tender age of 13 in my late fathers far more road-going example.
It’s an easy and enjoyable way to lose a few hours and learn a few things along the way - a must do for any car person.
3 - Staying at the Rydges Mt Panorama
This place gets booked out years in advance for events like the 12-hour and the Supercars 1000. It's with good reason too, because it sits smack bang between The Chase and Murrays Corner. The driveway is literally a turn off that straight section of track!
Heading into the lobby for the first time it’s hard to miss all the racing paraphernalia. It continues in the form of motifs on the glass peering down to the restaurant, and even hand-painted artworks throughout the accommodation.
But the piece de resistance comes when you open the large sliding door of your room out to the balcony. From here we were able to take in everything from the exit of The Chase, the rear of the pits, and Forest Elbow.
It was awesome spot to watch people drive around the track at all hours, and the sunsets were particularly dazzling.
The team were very accomodating and room service was surprisingly good. My only complaint was that the balcony wasn’t partitioned. It would make for great atmosphere during racing, but not so much when you have a furry friend in tow.
Ultimately the Rydges Mt Panorama was surprisingly good value for the amenity, room size and pure experience. If you can, make sure you stay here.
4 – Bathurst is not just about motorsport
What excited me most was the motorsport heritage of Bathurst, and it’s hard to miss.
There’s the obvious in the form of the famous letters carved into the mountain, but there are more inconspicuous reminders such as names of eateries and streets.
Local artist Callum Hotham has been adding his touches to the town, with an eclectic blend of artwork designed to highlight local heritage. His latest, a homage to Cam Waters, is painted on an external wall of the Panorama Mini Mart and Takeaway, and is one of the last things you see before reaching the iconic circuit.
But aside from that, Bathurst has a long pioneering history. I was surprised to find that it is in fact Australia’s oldest inland settlement, founded by Governor Macquarie in 1815.
This small outpost turned into a bustling gold-rush city in the 1850’s, before transitioning into an agricultural hub and finally, taking its rightful place in motorsport history. It’s all low rise, with beautifully preserved architecture across several landmarks, and a spectacular Church smack bang in the middle of town.
Make sure to take the time to have a wander around and take in the sights!
5) It's pretty foody too!
Whilst the in-room dining at the Rydges was good, we uncovered an unexpectedly bustling food scene.
The Oxford hotel was a favourite, so much so that we went twice. First to Btown BBQ, which served up excellent slow cooked meats, the second was Brocks for a more traditional pub style meal.
Far from just a name, the staff uniform is emblazoned with the infamous 05, a nod to the late, great Peter Brock. The whole place has an ultra-modern pub feel you’d expect to see in the Eastern Suburbs of Sydney and must be seen if that’s your thing.
A sunrise photo shoot of the Tourneo at the top of the mountain ended with serious caffeine deficiency. The first coffee shop I came across on my hunt for a fix was Crema on George. Complete with smiling faces (despite the ungodly hour) and Campos beans, a couple of coffees for the olds and chai latte’s for the littlies became a staple for the trip.
Finally, if you leave Bathurst without visiting the Reckless Brewing Co, you’re doing yourself a disservice. This funky old industrial building houses a range of specialty brews in an uber-relaxed atmosphere.
Our furry friend was welcomed on the front veranda, where mum and dad tucked into a tipple or two, and the girls played Jenga-on-steroids. The corn ribs and chicken wings were food-favourites, while the IPA and Lager were the liquid picks, until we tried the BX Hard Lemon Squash.
We were told it was made at the Bathurst Grange Distillery, a gentle 15-minute drive out of town and specialises in Gin and Whisky. It didn’t take much arm twisting to pay for a whisky tasting given a supplementary driver was on hand.
All in all a fantastic 5 days was had, with everyone getting exactly what they wanted out of the trip. Memories made, great local businesses supported, and motoring fix for dad - a special bonus.
If you haven't yet, get out there and check it out!
QUICK LINKS!!!
Do – Drive Mount Panorama, wander around town to take in the non-motorsport related history
Stay – Rydges Mt Panorama
Eat – Oxford Hotel (Btown BBQ and Brocks), Reckless Brewing Co, Village Bakehouse
Coffee! – Crema on George
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