Oberon & surrounds
Mayfield Gardens
Like the Shakespearean fairy king after whom it’s named, Oberon (just an hour beyond the Blue Mountains) is dusted with a little magic. And snow sometimes, too: at 1,113m above sea level, Oberon can get downright chilly in winter. Whatever time of year you’re visiting, there’s something awesome around every corner, from the Jenolan Caves and Mayfield Garden to Abercrombie River National Park, where you can hike, swim and fish.
Tucked into a secluded valley 30min drive south of Oberon is Australia’s most spectacular cave system, Jenolan Caves. The amazing formations inside the caves make this one of the finest cave systems in the world. Tour the labyrinth of stalactite-lined chasms carved by pure underground rivers, before relaxing at the historic Jenolan Caves House, a grand Victorian guesthouse with creaking floorboards and several resident ghosts. Stay the night for more time to explore.
*Please note: after being closed for nearly a year due to bushfires, floods, landslides and COVID, Jenolan Caves has recently reopened five of its show caves. However, Abercrombie and Wombeyan Caves – located about an hour and a half from Oberon – remain closed.
Visit the exquisite grounds of Oberon's Mayfield Garden, one of the world’s largest privately-owned cool climate gardens. Amble over bridges and enjoy the fountains and colonnade of London plane trees. There’s also a cafe serving a paddock-to-plate menu plus local wines, beers and cold beverages.
Celebrate local food and wine in beautiful natural surroundings on mushroom foraging tours with Detour Adventures, hunt for truffles during winter at Mount Lowe Truffiere, and enjoy long lunches and workshops during the Field to Forest Festival in April. Sample more local produce at the monthly Oberon Community and Farmers Market, held on the first Saturday of the month.
Wilderness adventures await beyond Oberon. The historic Oberon Colong Stock 4WD Stock Route takes you through the rugged Kanangra-Boyd wilderness into the historic ghost town of Yerranderie; while south of Oberon, Abercrombie River National Park, dissected by three rivers and numerous creeks, is ideal for hiking, camping and 4WD touring.
The Oberon region is a 3hr drive from Sydney, via Jenolan Caves Road. You can also catch the train from Central Station to Tarana, then transfer to Oberon by coach. The journey takes around four hours in total.
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