NSW’s regional food trails follow the produce as much as the wine — apple orchards on the way into the Blue Mountains, cherries and cool-climate wine around Orange, and the older wine-and-cheese traditions of the Hunter Valley and Mudgee.
Bells Line of Road: Bilpin’s Apple Country
Bilpin, on the Bells Line of Road between Sydney and the Blue Mountains, is known as the “Fruit Bowl of Sydney” — roadside stalls sell apples, stone fruit and local produce direct from growers, especially through autumn harvest season. It’s a genuinely different, quieter route into the mountains than the main Great Western Highway.
Orange: Cool-Climate Wine and Cherries
Orange, in the Central West, sits at higher altitude than the Hunter Valley, producing a distinctly cool-climate wine style. It’s also one of the country’s main cherry-growing regions, with pick-your-own orchards running through the December harvest. Ross Hill Wines and Mortimers Wines are two of the region’s cellar doors.
Mudgee: Wine and Regional Produce
Mudgee pairs its wine industry — First Ridge Wines and Lowe Family Wine Co among them — with a strong regional produce scene, including some of the state’s more organic-focused growers.
Hunter Valley
Beyond its wineries, the Hunter Valley has an established cheese and produce trail alongside the cellar doors — see our full Hunter Valley wineries guide for details.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Bilpin known for?
Bilpin is known as Sydney’s “Fruit Bowl” — roadside stalls on the Bells Line of Road sell apples and stone fruit direct from local growers.
When is cherry season in Orange, NSW?
Cherry season around Orange typically runs through December, with some orchards offering pick-your-own.
