Family-friendly Adventures in Mudgee
Thinking of visiting Mudgee with the kids? We’ve got your family-friendly itinerary sorted, with plenty of places to visit, eat, sip & see…
Get Back to Nature
Nature is the ultimate playground! The Mudgee region is packed with adventure spots for explorers of all ages.
Putta Bucca Wetlands walk: a breezy 2km return walk that’s pet-friendly, accessible & provides a parking area. Ideal for bike riding, bird watching, fishing and walking.
Fern Gully: this 2.5 km circuit bushwalk is near Rylstone. The diverse walking trail takes about an hour to complete - expect giant tree ferns & twisted vines, rock formations, waterfalls & stunning look-outs.
The Drip Walk & Hands on Rock cave: an easy 3km return walk & a great location to enjoy a day trip with the family. A few minutes’ drive from the Drip car-park, you’ll find the Hands on Rock cave - a significant cultural site to the local Wiradjuri people; home of ancient Aboriginal hand paintings.
Ganguddy - Dunns Swamp: this hidden oasis has about 5km of waterways to explore. Experience the beautiful rock escarpments, natural gorges & an abundance of wildlife on a guided paddling tour with Southern Cross Kayaking.
Glen Willow Sculpture Walk: a gorgeous loop track through Lawson Park, winding along the Cudgegong River & connecting with Walkers Oval & Glen Willow Sports Complex, showcasing sculptures by local & national artists.
Family-Friendly Cellar Doors
Lowe Family Wine Co
The Mudgee region is home to a range of family-friendly wineries. Here’s our picks:
Lazy Oak Vineyard has kids’ grazing boxes & activity packs, plus giant Jenga & Connect 4 - and plenty of space to roam!
Lowe Family Wine Co - grab a map & explore the Tinja Farm, filled with vines, beautiful gardens & friendly farm animals like the emus & donkeys.
Robert Stein Wines - home of the Motorcycle Museum. The family will love this rare motorcycle collection owned by the vineyard’s founder, Robert Stein. Even better, entry is free!
Skimstone has a large outdoor chess set & playground.
Logan Wines has a great open space for the kids to run around, as well as a chalkboard to scribble on.
The Barn at Blue Wren has a sandpit & space to play.
Small Batch Brewery has play equipment & a kid-friendly setting.
Three Tails Brewery has board games, a relaxed beer garden & kid-friendly food & drink menu to bring the whole family along.
Family-Friendly Dining
Old Wheels Grind
When it comes to dining with the fam, these are our top picks! Bookings always recommended.
Kelly’s Irish Pub for a quality pub feed, while the kids enjoy the outdoor play area.
Lawson Park Hotel for the outdoor boat play area & kids’ menu with free paddle pop.
Mudgee Golf Club for the best Chinese in town! The kids will love the outdoor tractor play equipment.
Grab a gelato at Byron Perry.
Mudgee Bakery & Alby & Esthers are fab morning tea spots & make a great babycinno.
Old Wheels Grind is the perfect outdoor place for kids to roam & play, eat fresh-baked donuts & gelato, while parents kick back with coffee & treats of their own.
The Paragon Hotel has a kids’ room & colouring in & a fab kids’ menu, including Wednesday night $10 kids’ meals with any burger.
The High Cube on Lions Drive is a hidden gem for cafe fare, with plenty of outdoor space so kids can play between meals.
Club Mudgee has a special where kids eat free on Sundays & features an outdoor playground.
Family-Friendly activities
The Pump Track
Here’s our picks for the best activities for the whole family:
The Pump Track is designed for all ages from toddlers to adults & is one of the largest in NSW. Bring your bikes & scooters!
Splash at Mudgee Pool & Water Park, located right in the heart of CBD near the Lawson Park.
Bring your bike or scooter & head out on the Lawson Park Sculpture Walk, a paved track along the Cudgegong River. Lawson Park also has a newly-installed pirate-themed playground.
Play putt-putt golf, check out the bees & taste lots of varieties of local honey at Mudgee Honey Haven.
Ride on the Mudgee Miniature Railway - operates every second Sunday of the month from 10am - 2pm
Explore the night sky at Mudgee Observatory. Bookings are essential.
Take a hot air balloon ride over the vineyards with Balloon Aloft.
Enjoy the country views via horseback with Mudgee Horse Riding Centre.
Hire e-bikes and cruise around Mudgee!
Robertson Park playground is good for all ages & abilities.
Mudgee Library has a great kids’ collection, a spot for children to colour & draw, and regular activities during the school holidays.
The Mudgee Movies, shown monthly at the Town Hall, offer a children’s film.
Visit Gulgong
Gulgong Adventure Playground
Step back in time to explore Gulgong - a historic gold-mining town & the childhood home of bush poet Henry Lawson. Here’s our picks for a day trip to Gulgong:
The Gulgong Gold Experience is located at the Red Hill mining precinct & is open Wednesday to Sunday.
Gulgong Pioneer Museum - open daily, this award-winning museum is home to one of the finest collections of Australiana history in the country.
Play at Gulgong Adventure Playground.
Shop at Stacks - a must-see iconic bargain shop-come-tourist attraction!
Visit Rylstone
Guluu Gallery
Find some delicious spots in Rylstone - the perfect stop after a visit to Ganguddy or Fern Gully.
29 Nine 99 yum cha is a Mudgee region icon, with tasty dumplings & quirky atmosphere.
The Lollipop Shop is - as the name suggests - a very kid-friendly place to visit with little ones in tow.
Visit unique main street stores like Rylstone Retro Records or Folkologie & check out artwork at places like Guluu Gallery.
