Held each spring, the Mudgee region's biggest food and wine festival brings the whole town out

More than 60 local food and wine producers set up along Mudgee's main streets, with live performers keeping the crowd entertained. Entry is free, and tasting packages with a souvenir glass are available if you'd like to sample the local wine properly.

Mudgee is home to some of Australia's finest wineries, run by small producers who take real pride in showing visitors around. Join a group tour or book a private tasting – either way, the flavours here are something else.

What sets Mudgee apart is proximity – you're eating and drinking close to the source. A number of local farms, Blue Wren Farm among them, double as restaurants, so the produce is fresh and the kitchens are run by people who care. And there's nothing quite like tasting a wine at the vineyard where it was actually made.

The countryside around Mudgee is worth exploring on its own terms – farm life, sun-drenched vineyards, or a walk through Goulburn River or Wollemi National Park. There's something here for most tastes.

City life moves fast and rarely stops. Mudgee runs at a different pace – locals know how to enjoy the good things, whether that's a long lunch, a fine glass of wine, or an afternoon browsing the boutique shops.

Mudgee's history runs deep, and locals are proud of it. Born from gold prospecting and farming, the town has kept its own identity, visible in its museums and the heritage buildings that have been so well looked after.

Don't mistake the quiet streets for a lack of things going on – Mudgee keeps a busy events calendar, from art shows and wine tours to live music from regional talent and themed nights out at local venues.