The city’s gold-rush past is easy to read in the heritage setting of Bootleg Dining in the old Royal building in Bathurst. Head upstairs to the sepia-toned speakeasy-style dining room to enjoy bountiful produce from the Central Tablelands in dishes such as spinach pappardelle or burrata with peperonata puree and parsnip crisps. Expect house-made sourdough and pasta, chook cooked over charcoal and a menu with a distinctly modern Australian twang. 108 William St, Bathurst; bootlegdining.com.au

Norma Joan sits somewhere between a classic dining room and late-night lounge, all charcoal tones and Chesterfields in a handsome space that spills into a courtyard twinkling with fairy lights. The menu is grounded in seasonal produce while the name – Norma Joan – nods to a more nostalgic style of hospitality. Like a hug from grandma. It’s one of many reasons Bathurst locals like to explore their own backyard. Shop 4/142 William St, Bathurst; normajoanbathurst.com.au

It ain’t Texas. Wooh. But you can get a taste of southern US dining at B Town BBQ in Bathurst. Follow the scent of smoke curling out of The Oxford to B Town BBQ, where low-and-slow brisket, pulled pork and fall-apart-tender ribs will please the most purist of pitmasters. Order big and lean into the mess with your tough-as-nails country cuz on hand to help you mop up this mountain of meat. 170 William St; btownbbq.com.au

Dogwood, BX offers visitors to NSW’s Central West a taste of the southern US states. Named after a fictional town in the old US of A, it’s the sort of place that may well save the day when you have hangry teens in tow. They’ll stop yanking your reins when they get to wrap their face around a quarter-pounder Dogwood burger or comforting plate of mac ‘n’ cheese at this dinky, down-home diner. 80 Keppel St; dogwoodbx.com.au

Take in the history of this old church on Ribbon Gang Lane on a tour with Heritage Walks of Bathurst. The staff at the vibey venue will likely add to your clutch of bushranger stories when you settle in here for a pizza and a pint. Sit in the old church gardens, festooned with fairy lights, or inside around the warm, cosy fire in winter. Learn a few line dances on YouTube so you can move with confidence when the DJ starts to play. 1 Ribbon Gang Ln, Bathurst; churchbar.com.au

A short drive from Bathurst, The Rockley Pub is one of the best pubs in the country to build a road trip around. Move through the mountains to the meadows to reach the heritage-listed village that chef and restaurateur Matt Moran has helped put on the map. Expect seasonal plates using ingredients sourced from the Moran Family Farm, a solid wine list and good old-fashioned country hospitality. 2 Budden St, Rockley; therockleypub.com.au

Bathurst is all rolling green hills in summer, trees blooming gold in autumn, streets lined with cherry blossoms in spring, and snow dusting the ground in winter. Drop down a gear to admire the landscape on the drive to Bathurst Grange Distillery, where farmland opens out into orchards and vineyards. The small-batch spirits reflect the region – measured and characterful – in the heritage-listed distillery, which has a new restaurant onsite. 3249 O’Connell Road, Brewongle; bathurstgrange.com.au

Make sure you tip your hat to the locals when you wander into The Victoria. Established in 1876, The Vic is a vibe. It’s where locals gather to see portraits of their grandparents – drawn by local artists – and tell tall stories about the pub’s colourful past. Call in after a day spent trackside at Mount Panorama for live music and a cold beer. Order the crispy skin pork belly with colcannon, caramelised apple and calvados jus. 3 Keppel St, Bathurst; thevictoriabathurst.com.au

Retreat to the glow of the fireplace in this atmospheric brewery set within a rustic heritage-listed former flour mill in Bathurst. Doesn’t matter if the day outside is desolate and grey; the proudly female-led brewery exudes warmth and country hospitality. Enjoy a Hazy Pale or Bathurst Bullet while listening to live music and chatting to men with beards that are long and unruly and women who rock their RM Williams from day to night. 2a Piper St; recklessbrewingco.com.au

The bushrangers who roamed these parts might be dust in the wind. But their spirits live on in the historic O’Connell Hotel. Located on the banks of the Fish River, the pub is divided into various dining rooms and a cosy front bar with a roaring log fire. There are many reasons to stay, but the live music, fire, beer garden and university crowd invite the affection of road-trippers. 2408 O’Connell St, O’Connell; oconnellhotel.com

The men and women who congregate at the Renzaglia Wines cellar door all seem to be in uniform: heavy coats, beige trousers, hats and boots. Try not to be hypnotised by their casual glamour, seemingly plucked from a Horse & Hound flat lay. Focus on what’s important: tasting top drops like Winooka Park Shiraz Cabernet Sauvignon from Wambuul Valley. Bookings at the cellar door are essential. 38 Bosworth Falls Rd, O’Connell renzagliawines.com.au

Discover the richness of regional life by booking a long weekend at Bishop’s Court Estate in Bathurst. The historic Victorian mansion once served as the residence for the first Anglican Bishop of Bathurst. Your prayers will be answered with a lie-in at the boutique hotel while propped up in bed with the papers. Listen to the leaves snapping and crunching underfoot with a walk around the estate. And sign up for a cooking class. 226 Seymour St; bishopscourtestate.com.au

Wake early to watch the fog draw back over the landscape like a curtain during your stay at Littlebourne Guest House. The 1830 homestead – all shining hardwood floors and high ceilings – has six elegant suites with iron tubs and garden views where you can pretend you have a quaint, small-town lifestyle, if only for a few days. Invite your kindly benefactor for croquet on the lawn and a G+T by the fire. 4031 O’Connell Road, Kelso; littlebourne.com.au

Want to move to the country and eat a lot of peaches? Try a treechange on for size at Lawsons Estate on Macquarie Farm, which offers four self-contained stays: the faithfully restored 1814 Homestead, Convict Barracks, Shearer’s Quarters or Men’s Hut Cottage. Manifest trading your corporate existence with a new life in the country with a soak in the outdoor spa overlooking farmland. 3397 O’Connell Road, Brewongle; lawsonsestate.com.au

The Wool Store brings a slick, inner-urban edge to Central NSW that leans into the romance of a time warp from another era. From the team behind Wilga Station, The Wool Store is aimed at those who want an escape to the country within easy walking distance of parks, restaurants, bars and cafes. The 1875 former wool store is more Brooklyn Heights than Bathurst, with five loft-style apartments plus a knockout penthouse. 121A Keppel St, Bathurst; wilgastation.com.au/city