Mudgee-Gulgong Weekend
21 October 2025 / Story by Bryan Shedden, Photos by Bryan Shedden, Fiona Shedden, Ann Hicks
On the morning of Friday 10 October, 12 members assembled at Bean Roasted Calderwood for a delicious brekkie roll and coffee to kick start our trip to Mudgee. Five MX-5s and an Abarth Spider set a course west for Macquarie Pass on a warm spring day with clear skies - perfect for roadstering. From Robertson, we took the roads less travelled and more twisty to Fitzroy Falls then Bundanoon and along the stunningly scenic Highland Way.
Our morning tea stop was at Marulan. It’s been a while since we last visited Meridian Cafe and it’s been given a substantial renovation since. The walls are now covered with bright murals and the carpet is colourful and lairy - the place has character! The Devonshire teas were more impressive than ever, and the baker’s cakes and breads were amazing.
After dragging the girls from the curio shop next door, we zipped down the Hume to Goulburn and turned north onto the Tablelands Way. It was a beautiful drive through open countryside all the way to Taralga for our lunch stop at the historic pub. Verity & Kate made the trip down from Oberon and met us there for lunch. The bistro seating out back was closed for renovations, and the friendly staff set us up on the front patio for our delicious meals.
The road north improved with every kilometre, weaving along reasonably well-sealed roads through the hills around the Abercrombie River. A call over the radio revealed that Emilco & Beti’s NA desperately needed a drink so a refuelling diversion to Oberon was arranged. Verity & Kate left us at this point. It was wonderful to meet you both and I trust you’ll remember the trick for the boot lock disabling switch in your NC.
It was the weekend of the Bathurst 1000 and the town was packed so we skirted through Kelso on our way to a rest stop at Sofala, which is best described as the goldtown that time forgot! Tony & Jeanette were keen to have a good look around which proved to be a great idea. We wandered the main street taking in the sights and chatting with the locals. Ann was amazed when the old bloke at the post office explained he’d lived his entire life in the town! We did our bit for the local economy via liquid refreshments from the pub before commencing the final leg of the day. It was a very scenic drive from Sofala to Ilford, then paralleling Lake Windermere before cruising into Mudgee. Accommodation was at the BIG4 in their excellent quality cabins. Later that night, we rejoined at the communal BBQ area to cook a steak, share salads and enjoy a selection of local wines.
Day two began for some of us with DIY bacon and eggs at the BBQ area, while others preferred to have it prepared for them at the cafe next door. We then drove into town and wandered the stalls at the Lawson Park market beside the Cudgegong River. Fiona picked up some gorgeous stained glass pieces made by a local artist. I’ll vouch for the coffee at the Butcher Shop Cafe - just what the doctor required. We eventually reunited for the short drive to the wineries for our lunch booking at di Lusso Estate. They have a gorgeous alfresco bistro overlooking a pond, and a mouth-watering menu. Mark set the lead by choosing the marinated Mudgee lamb cutlets and most of our table followed. It was a warm day so we cooled off with a couple glasses of Vino Rosato and Pinot Grigio. After a quick game of bocce, we drove down the road to Huntington Estate. Eight of us were treated to a personal wine tasting, resulting in a few sales. Most squeezed the bottles into their cars, but Fiona and I wisely left it for the courier.
Our afternoon was spent with an enjoyable driving tour up and over Munghorn Gap Nature Reserve to Wollar, then circling back around the huge open-cut coal mines at Wilpinjong and Moolarben. Our next stop was at the historic goldtown of Gulgong, which impressed us with its narrow streets and many beautiful buildings lovingly preserved. Sadly we were a bit late and the Holtermann Museum was already closed.
After another short drive from Gulgong to Mudgee, we restocked at Aldi then relaxed in our cabins. I was the only one brave enough to go for a swim - despite the heat, the water was refreshingly icy. The destination for fivesies was arranged on the lawn behind Zan & Phil’s cabin with a large circle of chairs formed around antipasto and snacks. Once the families had retired for the night, we shifted to the BBQ area to prepare our meals and settled in for an entertaining evening of hearty conversation and more local wines.
Sunday morning began in much the same way as Saturday, before we packed and hit the road. Driving in convoy to Lithgow for a pit stop, then along Bells Line of Road, we arrived at Mount Tomah Botanic Garden. Amongst our group, only Brigid had visited before and we all left convinced that a return visit was definitely required. Lunch at the cafe was excellent and the gardens were stunning. This would be the end of our group’s journey together, and we made our own way home, some stopping for apples and/or cider at Bilpin. All agreed it was a fantastic long weekend trip!
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