Rylstone

Framed between the slow-moving Cudgegon River and the UNESCO World-Heritage-listed Wollemi National Park, the heritage village of Rylstone in the Mudgee region of NSW looks like it belongs in the movies.

Things to see and do

Stroll along Rylstone’s main street admiring its sandstone buildings and allowing lots of time to call into its assortment of pubs, restaurants and cafes. A great way to discover the colonial treasures of one of the oldest villages west of the Great Dividing Range is on the self-guided Rylstone Heritage Walk.

Eat and drink

Rylstone is part of the Mudgee wine region, an area renowned for its fine food and wine. Street Feast is a festival held each spring, where you can browse market stalls for local wines, produce and artworks. The four-course long-table long lunch is worth the visit in itself.

Enjoy authentic yum cha and dumplings at 29 Nine 99, and eat hearty pub meals at the Globe Hotel and Rylstone Hotel. You can also a tour of Rylstone Olive Press, a maker of award-winning olive oils, or the French-style De Beaurepaire Wines. The region’s vineyards, wineries and cellar doors are within easy driving distance.

Wollemi National Park

Nearby is the Wollemi National Park, a beautiful setting for scenic walks, swimming, canoeing and camping. Go fishing at the picturesque Dunns Swamp campground or you can hire kayaks from Southern Cross Kayaking and explore the quiet waters of the Cudgegong River.

Rylstone is a 3hr 30min drive from Sydney and just under an hour from Mudgee. Another scenic route is via the Upper Hunter and along Bylong Valley Way, winding through the Goulburn River and Wollemi National Park. You’ll find plenty of places to stay, including a caravan park, cottages, hotels, an eco-retreat and a campground on Wollemi’s edge.