Road trip: Sydney to Blue Mountains and Orange

From here it's about 20 minutes to Wentworth Falls, where there are a number of good choices for a breakfast and a coffee including Bakery Patisserie Schwarz, with its huge range of sandwiches and strudels, and the Conservation Hut, where you can admire the panorama of rock formations while tucking into your meal. After lunch take an easy stroll to the Princes Rock Lookout for a view across the falls described by Charles Darwin as "exceedingly well worth visiting".

Just five minutes down the road, Leura is considered by many to be the Blue Mountains' most appealing village. Take a stroll along Leura Mall, lined with boutiques, galleries and charming antique stores. 

Just over an hour's drive from Katoomba lies one of the area's most spectacular sites, the Jenolan Caves. While indigenous Australians knew about the caves, which they called Binoomea ("dark places"), the first cave was not officially discovered by European settlers until 1848 (though local legend has it that outlaw James McKeown had previously used the caves as a hideout).

Much of the cave system, which is believed to cover about 40km, remains unexplored, but a number of spectacular caves can be toured with a guide, including some that feature sound and light shows. Tickets for each cave are sold separately. Among the most popular are the Pool of Cerberus Cave and the River Cave; the latter featuring stunning stalactites, stalagmites and limestones shawls. If you prefer something more strenuous, adventure caving options are also available.

Due to COVID-19 lockdown restrictions the caves will be closed for a little while longer, but it's still a must-visit as there's still plenty to do above-ground in the World Heritage listed precinct. Breakfast at Chisolm’s Restaurant and Caves Café, before discovering the charms of Caves House hotel and seeing some of Australia’s most iconic or rare wildlife in their natural habitat. 

Australia's oldest settlement, Bathurst, with its Victorian buildings lining the town's streets has some enticing options for lunch. Enjoy excellent pizza at Church Bar + Woodfired Pizza or tuck into salads and southern barbecue at B Town BBQ at The Oxford Hotel. Beer fans may want to make a stop at boutique beer company Two Heads Brewing.

After lunch, visit the Australian Fossil and Mineral Museum, which has the internationally renowned Somerville Collection on display, which includes not just a dazzling selection of brilliantly coloured gems and minerals but also an astonishing collection of fossils, including fossilised dinosaur eggs and opalised fossils found only in Australia. The highlight of the collection is Australia's only T. rex skeleton.

With full and happy tummies, it's two hours to the town of Orange, which enchants visitors with its heritage buildings and vibrant food and wine scene. If you're ready for a coffee, try Byng Street Local Store, Nimrods or The Agrestic Grocer, which also sells some of the area's best local produce.

Alternatively, you may want to head straight for one of the area's acclaimed cellar doors. Philip Shaw Wines, Ross Hill Wines and De Salis Wines are all recommended. You can also sample a range of local drops at one of Orange's inviting wine bars, such as the heritage listed Union Bank Wine Bar. For dinner, the hot picks include Lolli Redini (try their twice baked gruyere cheese souffle) and Racine. Both restaurants are deservedly popular, and have been affected by lockdown restrictions. so it's wise to call to reserve a table in advance.