Unforgettable moments you can only have in this part of NSW

Forget the beach and head inland, where excellent food, wine and shopping await.

I love a girls' weekend, but it usually involves a coastal location as we jostle with the crowds trying to wrangle the best ocean views to enjoy with our glasses of bubbles. When someone suggested the NSW Central West for the next girls' trip, I was like, "Really?" Always up for an adventure, we jumped in the car and put on Go West, thanks Pet Shop Boys, and did exactly that.

Bathurst may be known worldwide for Supercars roaring around Mount Panorama each October, but here's a hot tip: it's also the dark horse of regional NSW that's about to bolt into the spotlight for so much more. It's a 2.5-hour drive west of Sydney and, while it may be Australia's oldest inland European settlement, there's nothing old fashioned about this city - it's bold, colourful, entertaining and entirely welcoming.

We drive along streets lined with colourful autumn leaves and head straight to Keppel Street. If you need retail therapy this is the place to start, and our first stop is Dejorja & Co for some boutique shopping, where I snapped up some super-cute and colourful earrings by local jeweller Plastic Cactus. Just up the road is the Vintage Vibes Emporium, where we spent ages checking out old vinyls and beautiful treasures from bygone days. William Street is another shoppers' paradise, just a couple of minutes' walk away. Pop into Gorgeousness Boutique and Gorgeousness Home; they're next door to each other and full of gorgeous (as the name suggests) homewares, clothing, jewellery and more.

For lunch we head to Church Bar and Woodfired Pizza. It's on Ribbon Gang Lane, a tiny historic street in the centre of town, named after a notorious gang of 10 bushrangers who were publicly hanged for their crimes here in 1830. On a nice day grab an outdoor table in the grounds of this old Anglican church, or otherwise check out the stunning architecture inside. The pizzas are all named after Bathurst locations and we selected the Ribbon Gang (pepperoni and buffalo mozzarella on a tomato base) and Mount Panorama (mixed garlic mushroom and truffle oil with buffalo mozzarella).

If wine, breweries and distilleries are more your thing, Bathurst has that, too. Vale Creek Wines and Winburndale Wines are worth a visit, and a must-do is Renzaglia Wines, it's family owned and operated by Mark and Sandy Renzaglia. Their cool-climate reds are delightful and a few years ago NSW Governor at the time, David Hurley (now the Governor-General) selected one of the couple's chardonnays to include on the official wine list for Government House.

Bathurst Grange Distillery is new-ish to the scene and they're making a range of gins and whiskies, including the sweet and fragrant rose garden gin. If you're keen for an afternoon beer by the fireplace head to Reckless Brewing Co to try out their award-winning range of craft beers.

With a full belly and bags of shopping, check-in at Lachlan Terrace was easy thanks to a lock box at the front door. It's in the heart of Bathurst and freshly refurbished with a modern interior. The two-storey terrace is perfect for a girls' weekend, with three bedrooms, a fully-equipped kitchen, cosy big lounge to settle into with a glass of wine, or a huge dining setting if you prefer your girls' chats at a table with a cheese platter in front of you.

For dinner we head to the recently renovated George Hotel (across the road from Machattie Park which once was the site of the old city jail and is a stunning place to wander). The George is cosy with a fireplace and a huge range of sophisticated meals - think pan-seared salmon, crispy skin pork belly, slow-braised lamb shank and a sticky date pudding that will leave you wanting more.

The next morning we have a quick breakfast at The Hub, where the coffee and much of the food is locally sourced or grown, before jumping back in the car for a 50-minute drive west to Orange. Back in 1846 Orange was proclaimed a village, and Major Thomas Mitchell named it in honour of Prince William of Orange, a general he had served with in the British forces during the Napoleonic Wars. These days that little village has grown into a major centre filled with great places to stay, shop and eat (some restaurants are hatted) and plenty of live entertainment.

Read more on Explore:

We head straight to The White Place, a stunning boutique located in a house, so be prepared to take your time and wander through all the rooms to check out the homewares, clothes, jewellery and furniture. Orange is known for amazing bakeries so the Sugar Mill is our next stop where I pair a decadent chocolate eclair and cappuccino. The Sonic is a one-stop-shop for all things home, fashion and coffee, located in an old Masonic hall - but there's no need to learn a secret handshake, simply walk around and enjoy the artworks on the walls (they're for sale) and colourful displays.

Tonight we stay at the Oriana Orange Retro Hotel and Resort, a mid-century delight that has me hooked from the moment we arrive - the 1960s architecture, the plush, eclectic stylings, and the European cuisine with a modern twist in the delightful Peacock Room Restaurant. Grab a cocktail and your coat to sit by fire pits in the huge outdoor space, or in summer swim in the Californian-style pool while sipping cocktails served from the cabana.

We return to the Peacock Room next day for brunch (it's on Saturday and Sunday from 12pm-3pm) and another delightful meal. This time I eat chicken liver pate with Pedro Ximenez reduction and nutty brioche, followed by a creamy chicken and mushroom casserole with potato mash for main.

There's so much more to Bathurst and Orange than we could fit in this jam-packed 72 hours: more wineries to visit, day trips to surrounding towns and villages, and of course a drive around Mount Panorama (it's a normal road when there's no race on). If live music and theatre is more your style, check out Bathurst Memorial Entertainment Centre or Orange Civic Theatre for a huge range of touring acts to give you yet another reason for a girls' trip to the Central West.

The writer was a guest of Visit Central NSW. See visitcentralnsw.com.au