You can’t visit Bathurst without visiting Mount Panorama.
Whether you’re into car racing or not, I’ll bet that’s what most Aussies immediately think of when they hear someone mention Bathurst.
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And while Mount Panorama is probably the most famed racing circuit in the country, the regional NSW city offers plenty of other interesting history and attractions.
Bathurst is Australia’s oldest inland European settlement, which I only learned a few weeks ago when I was doing a bit of Googling before our most recent visit there.
It was also the site of our first payable gold find in 1851, which triggered Australia’s first gold rush.
The place even produced a prime minister, Ben Chifley, Australia’s 16th prime minister.
Without even touching Google to find gems for your itinerary, there’s a lot to love in plain sight when you’re in the area.
The surrounding rolling hills that lead you into the hub, the picturesque Victorian architecture, the preserved historic buildings, heritage parks, cool-climate vineyards and boutique eateries and distilleries.
One day, my kids and I will return there for longer than a day and take in more than just the racetrack.
The mountain’s iconic name etched into the hillside.
But, even if you go just for the racetrack outside of a racing event, it’s worth a stop.
It’s where the Bathurst 1000 is staged; one of two endurance races on the Supercars series calendar each season.
The track is accessible to the general public whenever there is not a race on.
People live on Mount Panorama.
And despite the regular noise, there is also one heck of a large mob of resident kangaroos that choose to dice with death by living on it, too.
The 1000km two-driver race is held on the second weekend in October every year and we visited mid-week in June, so we were lucky enough to have access.
My L-plater had the keys and his yellow badges, so he got the honours of throwing the car into the track’s famed sharp corners, dicey chicanes and fast downhill straights as he drove the six-ish-kilometre circuit a couple of times.
Taking in the view from Brock’s Skyline.
Of course, Conrod Straight might see 300km/h speeds on race day, but us mere mortals with standard licences — or learner permits in my son’s case — are restricted to travelling at 60km/h.
You can’t really get a grasp on the 174-metre rise and fall of the track on TV, but it’s absolutely noticeable when you travel the track in a vehicle.
As my dad, who was driving his own car there at the same time, said, “It gives you an even better appreciation for the skill of those drivers.”
The view from the top of the mountain stretches far beyond the racetrack.
Equally impressive is the view from the mountain’s scenic boardwalk and lookout if you want to give your eyes a rest from the road and go for a walk instead.
From the lookout, you don’t just get views of the whole iconic racing circuit, you also get panoramic views of the surrounding countryside.
There aren’t many things more Aussie than Bathurst and Mount Panorama.
The all abilities accessible track includes 420 metres of elevated walkway along what’s known as Brock’s Skyline, named after racing legend Peter Brock, aka the King of the Mountain.
At the base of the mountain, out the front of the National Motor Racing Museum, you’ll also find a bronze statue of the late champion, who had 10 wins at Mount Panorama in his lifetime.
Unfortunately, we couldn’t go into the museum, because we passed through on a Tuesday, which happens to be the only day of the week it’s closed.
It was a bit of a shame, but it also indicated that if that’s the optimal day for it to close, it’s probably the quietest day on the hill, ensuring we didn’t get stuck in a traffic jam with motor racing enthusiasts on tour.
Maybe that’s why there were so many ’roos taking refuge in the middle of the track, too.
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