The oldest inland colonial settlement in Australia, Bathurst is about a three hour drive west of Sydney. An ideal spot to visit for a weekend or as part of a longer road trip, find out what there is to do in the city when visiting with a dog, plus dog-friendly places to stay and dine.
Dog-Friendly Sightseeing in Bathurst
From history to motorsports to gardens and parks, there’s plenty of attractions in Bathurst, including many dog-friendly things to do. Add some of these ideas to your itinerary…
#1 Drive Around Mt Panorama
Bathurst is renown for its Mt Panorama Racing Circuit, located at Mt Panorma-Wahluu on the southern edge of the city. Home to the annual Bathurst 1000 car race and other events, the circuit is actually just a regular road for most of the year.
Don’t miss completing a lap of two around the bends of the circuit, with your pup in the passenger seat. Perhaps stop at the Main Straight for a photo op, then again at the lookout at the top. The hardest thing though is keeping to the signposted 60km/hr speed limit – and police regularly patrol for speeding cars!
#2 Explore the City’s Historic Buildings
With a European history dating back to 1815, Bathurst is home to many fine, old historic buildings, whether hotels, shops or houses. On some streets, every second building seems to have a date in the 1800s inscribed at the roofline. There are many signs about the city’s history, both European and indigenous, dotted around the city, or follow this self-guided walk.
Don’t miss visiting the exterior of the Bathurst Courthouse on Russell Street. One of the most impressive examples of Victorian era public architecture in Australia, the courthouse was opened in 1880 and is still in use today.
The courthouse is across the road from the King’s Parade, the remaining open space of the Town Square. Home to multiple war memorials and other monuments, take your time for a stroll around the park to admire the vistas and read the many signs. The sign about the origin of Ribbon Gang Lane is particularly intriguing.
#3 Stroll Around Machattie Park
Behind the courthouse is the beautiful Machattie Park. This 19th-century Victorian park replaced the former Bathurst Gaol that was demolished in 1889 and is still a beautiful spot for a stroll.
The park is home to a beautiful fountain, a bandstand, a small lake, beautiful flowerbeds and a begonia and fern house that you can enter. The towering trees provide plenty of shade, a relief during the hot days of summer, and a great spot for a cool picnic. During autumn, many of the introduced trees put on a colourful display.
Dogs are welcome to join you in the park, although they must be kept on a leash. I didn’t notice any restrictions on dogs entering the begonia and fern house, which is open at selected times.
#4 Follow the River Walk
Another great spot to go for a walk in Bathurst is along the banks of the Macquarie River, previously known as Wambuul. It was Governor Macquarie who proclaimed the settlement of Bathurst in what is now Macquarie River Bicentennial Bank on the Bathurst side of the river.
Follow the Historic Riverpark Walk that starts in Bicentennial Park at the corner of William and Stanley Streets, where there’s plenty of parking. The walks visits a number of historical sites on both sides of the river, crossing over the river at the Edgell Bridge and the now pedestrianised Denison Bridge. The entire river walk loop is about 2.25km
Don’t miss detouring to the small but Ohkuma Japanese Garden, a pretty photo spot. Close by is the start of another historical walking tour, the “A Delightful Spot 1815” historical tour that leads back up to Machattie Park..
The paved paths along the river are also just a peaceful spot to enjoy a walk with your dog, even if you don’t follow the brochure. The parkland on either side of the river is a designated off-leash dog exercise area before 8am and after 5pm (or 4pm during winter).
#5 Sample a Local Tipple
Craft brewery Reckless Brewing is the only brewery in Bathurst and an essential stop for beer lovers. In 2022 they opened their taproom and brewery at a rustic former flour mill near the railway precinct. The verandah or beer garden is the ideal spot to while away an afternoon or evening with your pup by your side.
Take your pick from 13 beer taps, delivering a mix of their core range and limited releases. If it’s too hard to choose, order a beer tasting paddle with four different drops. Their popular BX Lager is an easy to drink choice on summer days.
Also on site is a restaurant (see below), and if you’re not a beer lover they also serve up a range of local wines and spirits, the latter from the local Bathurst Grange Distillery and Stone Pine Distillery. The brewery is open from midday from Wednesday to Sunday.
It’s also possible to pay a visit to the Bathurst Grange Distillery in person. Located about 15 minutes form the city centre on the road to Oberon, the tasting room is open on Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Choose between the gin and whisky tasting boards, with dogs on a leash welcome to join you, at least outside.
#6 Explore Mayfield Garden
It’s just a 30 minute drive from Bathurst to Mayfield Garden, one of the most spectacular dog-friendly gardens that I’ve visited in NSW. The huge privately run gardens are open daily, with dogs on a leash welcome to join you.
When I last visited the gardens we could only visit the publicly accessible Mayfield Garden. However, these days the larger Hawkins’ Family Garden is also open year round, not just during seasonal festivals. Highlights of both gardens include a water garden, a huge collection of maple trees, plenty of follies to explore and an English Box Hedge Maze.
I visited the gardens during May – perfectly timed to see the colourful display of the maples and other deciduous trees around the water garden. Another popular time to visit is spring, when the blossoms are out on show.
Allow plenty of time to explore, with a minimum of four hours recommended to explore the complete gardens. There’s a cafe onsite with dog bowls provided in the outside areas, but bring your own poop bags.
#7 Visit the Ghost Town of Sofala
The city of Bathurst and the surrounding area boomed during the 1850s with the discovery of gold. Some of the old gold mining towns have since almost disappeared, including the ghost town of Sofala – about a 35 minute drive north of Bathurst.
Now just home to a handful of inhabitants, the town is a great spot to go for a wander and imagine that it must have been like during its heyday. At extensive Sofala Historic Walking Tour has been put together by the Bathurst Visitor Information Centre, including a short history of the town and a map of the historic buildings remaining in the town.
Past Sofala is another old gold mining town, Hill End, that is now a historic site managed by NSW National Parks, but with dogs allowed. For more information, see my guide on Mudgee.
#8 Explore the Village of Millthorpe
About a 30 minute drive of Bathurst is one of the cutest historic villages in the Central West, Millthorpe. More lively than the ghost towns of Sofala and Hill End, the village is still home to a railway station and many historic buildings, these days home to an enticing assortment of boutiques, cafes and cellar doors.
If visiting Millthorpe between Thursday to Sunday, drop into The Old Mill Cafe. The staff at this dog-friendly cafe love pups and happily provide water bowls. I’ve also heard great reports about their pies! During the rest of the week, drop by the Millthorpe Providore, which also has outdoor seating.
There are two village walks that you can follow around Millthorpe with your dog on a leash. Details of both walks are given on the village map on the village website.
Dog-Friendly Parks in Bathurst
There’s plenty of off-leash dog parks provided by the local council in Bathurst and the surrounding towns, with a mix of fenced and unfenced, time-restricted and 24-hour dog exercise areas.
Probably the most popular spot is the Kefford Street Off Leash Area. There’s two fenced off-leash dog parks located at the corner of Kefford Street – a fairly large area for all dogs and a smaller area just for small dogs under 10kg. Both areas have plenty of benches (and chairs added by regulars), agility equipment, a water fountain (at least in the larger area) and plenty of shady trees.
Two other off-leash dog exercise areas in the centre of Bathurst are Centennial Park and the Macquarie River Bicentennial Park. Dogs are allowed in these unfenced parks before 8am and after 5pm (or after 4pm when daylight savings is not in operation for the latter), outside of playground areas.
Curiously, I didn’t notice any signs at either park about dogs being allowed off-leash, but the sign listing other prohibitions didn’t list “no dogs off leash” like at other parks.
Dogs are allowed off-leash without time restrictions in the unfenced and empty Russell Street Off Leash Area, that is just east of the intersection with Alpha Street, opposite the playing fields. While Hector Park in West Bathurst is also home to two fenced dog parks. (Search for “West Bathurst Fenced Dog Park” on Google.)
Dog-Friendly Cafes in Bathurst
A great dog-friendly cafe in Bathurst is Doppio. Located not far from the train station, the cafe is essentially all outdoors, with the kitchen located in a pair of shipping containers. There’s a sheltered area, plus plenty of tables scattered around on the lawn.
Next to the counter to order are a pair of water bowls for dogs, plus a sign about dog treats. The cafe is open daily from 5am to 2pm on weekdays and 6am to 1pm on weekends.
Dogs are also allowed to join you in the shady green courtyard at The Hub Espresso Bar & Eatery. Located further up Keppel Street, this cafe is open for breakfast and lunch except on Tuesdays. Or just enjoy one of their locally roasted coffees, including plenty of chilled options.
For a sweet treat head to the long-running Annie’s Old-Fashioned Ice Cream Parlour opposite King’s Parade. Skip sitting in one of the booths inside – instead take your pick from the outdoor tables or a bench in the park. Water bowls are provided for dogs at the entrance. My pick is the Sofala Gold, featuring honeycomb ice cream with honeycomb chunks.
Dog-Friendly Pubs in Bathurst
A great spot to enjoy a meal with your dog in Bathurst is Reckless Brewing. In addition to their extensive range of beers and local tipples, there’s also a kitchen onsite, with a diverse menu of share plates, platters, pizzas and burgers to choose from (even a lamb burger!)
Dogs are welcome outside on their undercover verandah and in their fairy light festooned beer garden. The taproom and restaurant is open for lunch and dinner from Wednesday to Sunday from noon.
Another great dog-friendly pub in Bathurst is The Victoria, an historic pub dating to 1876 opposite the train station. Their restaurant is open daily from midday to late, with an extended happy hour from 3pm to 6pm daily.
Dogs are allowed in the beer garden out the back of their warren of buildings, where a guitarist and singer were performing on the evening I visited. Enter with dogs through the back gate from the small carpark on Havannah Street.
If you’re up for a drive, a highly regarded pub about a 30 minute drive south of Bathurst is The Rockley Pub. Thanks to chef Matt Moran their menu has been elevated above typical pub food, with a focus on local produce. Dogs are welcome to join you in the outdoor dining areas, and there’s even a pet-friendly room in the hotel if you want to stay the night.
Pet-Friendly Accommodation in Bathurst
Note: This post contains affiliate links, which means I may receive commission if you make a purchase using the links. See my full disclaimer.
If you’re after a pet-friendly hotel in Bathurst, the four-star Rydges Mount Panorama Bathurst has some dog-friendly rooms. Located right next to the motor racing circuit, up to two dogs of all sizes are welcome per room. The dog-friendly rooms are located on level one (accessible by stairs), with a grassed area outside. A water bowl and bags are provided, but no dog bed.
Another dog-friendly motel is the Bathurst Explorers Motel. A more basic motel but with recently refurbished rooms, small domestic pets are allowed in selected double, twin and family rooms. There is a surcharge of $20 per pet per night.
There’s also a number of dog-friendly cottages and cabins in and around Bathurst. Blue Willow Cottage is a two-bedroom holiday house located in the semi-rural Robin Hill suburb.
Or head 10 minutes north to the countryside and Rest at BoxGrove, where dogs are allowed in the accessible studios, each with an outdoor bath and fire pit. Contact both properties directly for more details.
For the ultimate splurge, make a booking at Oakhill Estate Glasshouse Cabins – best booked months in advance! Dogs are allowed to join you at these spectacular cabins for an additional fee of $70 per stay.
If you’re travelling with a caravan or campervan, there are multiple options. The Bathurst Showground offers both powered and unpowered sites for reasonable prices, with pets allowed (but no tents). Bookings are preferred.
Or make a booking via phone at the NRMA Bathurst Panorama Holiday Park. Up to two pets are allowed per site and in selected Prospector Cabins. An additional fee of $10 per night applies in cabins. Approval is at the discretion of the manager.
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About the Author
Shandos Cleaver is the founder of Travelnuity: Dog-Friendly Travel. She has travelled extensively with her Miniature Dachshund, Schnitzel, including to 33 countries across Europe, every state and territory of Australia except Tasmania, and 10 of the United States. She’s passionate about providing inspiration and information to others wanting to travel with their dogs, whether close to home or internationally.
Very useful information for us! Thks