Where to stay for the ideal weekend getaway in Central NSW

Standing at a peaceful intersection of undulating, country roads in the central west of New South Wales, about a three-hour drive from the centre of Sydney, is The Rockley Pub.

Quaint, comfortable, affordable, and offering delicious food, refreshing beers and delectable wines, it's ideal for a weekend getaway for anyone living in Sydney, Canberra or anywhere else within a day's drive.

The Rockley Pub could also be described as tranquil, save for Friday and Saturday nights when it's heaving with gleeful locals and passers-by sharing a drink and chewing the fat.

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A weekend away

The Rockley Pub is owned by Matt Moran, the award-winning Australian chef and restaurateur, who grew up on a farm in Rockley and wants to see his home town flourish.

As I discovered recently on a two-night trip, when you're not at the pub enjoying a scrumptious 300g rump steak with an exquisite glass of red, or a pan-roasted "fish of the day", or the kitchen's burnt basque cheesecake, there's plenty to explore in areas nearby.

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Here are five places I recommend visiting on a weekend getaway to Central NSW.

Mount Panorama

It only takes some 30 minutes to drive from The Rockley Pub to Bathurst – and if you're visiting Bathurst, a lap of Mount Panorama is a must.

Drive on the roads that forged the paths of motorsport legends such as Peter Brock, Dick Johnson, Mark Skaife and Craig Lowndes, including Conrad Straight and The Esses.

Make a pit stop at the top of the mountain to soak up the wondrous sights of Bathurst – an experience that's particularly enjoyable when the city lights are glowing in the night.

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If you stay at The Rockley Pub in the second week of October you can check out "The Mount" all the while having a blast of a time at the iconic Bathurst 1000 Supercars event. You just won't be able to go for a spin.

The Hub cafe

Among the most frequented cafes in Bathurst is The Hub on Keppel Street.

I went for the cafe's bacon and scrambled eggs, and washed it down with an oat cappuccino.

The coffee beans were courtesy of Fish River Roasters – a roaster that weaves its magic a stone's throw away from Bathurst Golf Club – and I was so impressed with the coffee that upon my return to my Sydney home I had a bag of Fish River Roasters delivered in the mail.

The 'dinosaur museum'

This is a winner with the kids.

The Australian Fossil and Mineral Museum, more commonly known as the "dinosaur museum", is packed with more than 5000 items of fossils and mineral crystals stretching back billions of years.

The skeleton of a tyrannosaurus rex, 10.5 metres in length and 4.5 metres in height, is a feature of the museum that's both unmissable and enthralling.

Macquarie River walk

Buzzing with activity whenever the weather gods are smiling down on Bathurst is a series of parks surrounding the Macquarie River.

A pathed loop of about two kilometres is popular among walkers, runners and bike riders, and grassy areas, beautiful gardens and BBQs make for a superb picnic destination.

Mayfield Garden

Speaking of beautiful gardens, about a 30-minute drive from The Rockley Pub, in a sleepy town called Oberon, is the spectacular Mayfield Garden.

Spanning 65 hectares and inspired by European horticulture, among Mayfield Garden's many highlights are an enormous hedge maze, the Water Garden, the Valley of the Five Ponds, and the Bluestone Bridge.

It's open to the public every day bar Christmas and Boxing Day.

The writer travelled as a guest of Destination NSW.