Tour d’Central Tablelands of NSW Part 1 of 2

21 Sep Tour d’Central Tablelands of NSW Part 1 of 2

Posted at 13:50h in Alistairstravel by
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September 2026

O’Connell NSW – 2nd to 4th September

On Wednesday 2nd we met our friends at the O’Connell Hotel’s camping paddock; five couples camping in four caravans and one camper van. The weather was pleasantly warm. However the next day a widespread cold front came through.

A row of various campers and caravans parked on a grassy field during sunrise, with trees in the background.
4th September at 6.38am – Four Caravans

After the first night of noisy trucks passing by the paddock, John and Barbara moved their camper van to the back of the paddock to be as far away from the road as possible.

Two white camper vans parked on a grassy field with tall trees in the background during sunrise, casting long shadows.
6.39am – One camper van (to the left of photo)

O’Connell is a small village approximately 20 kilometres south east of Bathurst. It consists of the hotel, a church (now a residence) next to “The Covent” bed & breakfast, plus a small cafe, all on the main road. The village is home to 653 residents (2021 Census). Camping in the hotel paddock is free if you have meals and drinks at the hotel.

Exterior view of O'Connell Hotel, a yellow building with green awnings and a sign above the entrance, surrounded by shrubs and gravel.
6.37am – Front of Hotel

A view of a rustic building with large windows and a covered outdoor seating area, surrounded by grass and trees during twilight.
5.58am – Rear of Hotel (It was a cold at that time of the morning, but nature called)

A scenic view of a church with a pointed black roof, surrounded by trees and shrubs, set against a clear blue sky.
The Church that became a residence

A rustic yellow house with a metal roof, situated along a gravel path and surrounded by greenery under a clear blue sky.
The Cafe (it was shut at time of photograph)

A sunny outdoor seating area with black chairs and a long table, featuring a large blue umbrella. Nearby, flowering trees bloom against a clear blue sky.
Outdoor seating at the cafe

Ben Chifley Dam

From our base at O’Connell the camping mob visited the Ben Chifley Dam, which provides water to nearby Bathurst NSW.

A rocky dam with a road on top runs along a lake, surrounded by green hills and trees under a partly cloudy sky.
The Dam Wall

A serene landscape featuring a winding river surrounded by lush green fields and rolling hills, dotted with trees under a partly cloudy sky.
The Spillway

A scenic view of green hills and trees beside a calm lake under a partly cloudy sky.
Looking Across The Dam

Oberon NSW – 4th to 7th September

After breakfast on Friday 4th we moved camp to the Oberon Showground.

Oberon is approximately 200 kms west of Sydney, 46 kms south east of Bathurst and 23.6 kms south east of O’Connell.

A campsite with several caravans and cars parked on grassy land, with smoke billowing from industrial buildings in the background under a clear blue sky.
All set up at Oberon, with smoke stacks from large wood processing factory in background

Wood processing is a major industry for the district. Other industries there are farming and forestry.

Due to its elevation (1,113 meters) Oberon usually receives snow during the winter months. At the time of 2021 census, Oberon had a population of 3,319 people.

A red Mazda SUV parked in front of a camper trailer on a grassy field, with other vehicles visible in the background under a clear blue sky.
Our car and van at Oberon

The blokes having a chinwag.

An older man sitting comfortably in a camping chair under an awning, wearing a baseball cap and glasses, with a relaxed expression on his face.
Martin and his wife Rita were the organisers of this trip

Two older men sitting outdoors, one wearing a brown hat and a blue jacket, while the other has a serious expression and is dressed in a black puffer coat, with a green van in the background.
Patrick (left) and John (right) with Norm’s green van behind

Interior of a cozy restaurant featuring tufted leather seating, wooden tables, and decorative mirrors on a dark blue wall.
The Royal Hotel Bistro in Oberon, where Maggie and I had dinner one night

Scenic view of a golf course at sunset, surrounded by rolling hills and trees.
View from the Oberon golf course club house, where we all had dinner one night

In the main street of Oberon is an outstanding example of Art Deco architecture.

Exterior view of Malachi Gilmore Hall, a two-story white art deco building from 1937, featuring angular architectural details and large windows under a clear blue sky.
The Malachi Gilmore Hall 1937

Visit to Kanangra Walls Lookout

Two people walking along a dirt path surrounded by bushes under a clear blue sky.
Patrick and John on the path to the lookout

A panoramic view of rolling green mountains under a clear blue sky, featuring a prominent rocky cliff on the right side.
View of Kanangra Walls from lookout

A panoramic view of a rugged cliffside with layered rock formations, surrounded by dense greenery and trees, set against a clear blue sky.
Another view of Kanagra Walls from Lookout

Mayfield Garden Visit Sunday 6th

The renowned Mayfield Garden is an easy 11.5 km drive from Oberon. It is a spectacular cool climate garden, even when many of the trees and flowers have not yet bloomed for the season.

A tall obelisk standing in the center of a pond, surrounded by fountains that spray water into the air, with green hedges and a cloudy sky in the background.

The garden and adjacent land is owned by the Hawkins family. It was created and designed by entrepreneur and former investment banker Garrick Hawkins, along with his family.

A serene garden landscape featuring a small waterfall flowing over stacked stones, surrounded by bare trees and lush greenery.

A vibrant garden scene featuring a field of yellow daffodils in the foreground, surrounded by lush green leaves and clusters of pink azalea flowers in the background.

While the silver birch trees are bare, the striking markings in the bark can be seen more clearly.

Close-up of white birch tree trunks with smooth bark, surrounded by a garden with rocks and green foliage.
Silver Birch

A tranquil garden scene featuring a pond filled with lily pads, surrounded by bare trees and colorful vegetation along the shore.

A serene garden landscape featuring a path winding through lush greenery, bare trees, and a tranquil pond surrounded by water lilies.

An older woman standing on a red bridge in a garden setting, surrounded by bare trees and greenery.

A serene outdoor scene featuring a stone structure with an archway, a waterfall flowing underneath, and a surrounding garden area with sparse trees and a reflective pond.

A scenic view of a stone wall waterfall flowing into a calm pond, surrounded by bare trees and grassy areas under a partly cloudy sky.

A serene park scene featuring a calm pond with a winding path, surrounded by vibrant flowering plants and trees in various stages of bloom against a cloudy sky.

Scenic view of a lake surrounded by greenery, featuring a single tree with autumn leaves, a stone-lined shore, and a distant bridge amidst a cloudy sky.

A scenic pathway lined with lush green grass and flowering shrubs, flanked by tall trees against a cloudy blue sky.

A scenic view of a red bridge spanning over a calm lake, surrounded by lush greenery and colorful flowering trees against a clear blue sky.

A wooden boardwalk leading through a scenic lakeside park with lush greenery and flowering cherry trees in the background under a partly cloudy sky.

A serene landscape featuring a wooden bridge over a rocky area near a pond, surrounded by lush greenery and blooming pink trees.

A winding dirt path surrounded by vibrant pink rhododendrons and green foliage, leading toward a serene lake with trees in the background.

A scenic view of a garden with a pond, surrounded by trees including a willow and bare branches, set against a cloudy sky.

A tranquil garden scene featuring a calm pond reflecting the surrounding trees and landscape. The foreground includes lily pads, while the background showcases bare trees and vibrant foliage in autumn colors under a cloudy sky.

The visit to Mayfield Garden was my favourite part of this trip, although the whole adventure was all very enjoyable, despite the cold weather.


I want to give thanks to Martin and Rita for organising our Tour d’Central Tablelands, plus give thanks to our other travelling companions John and Barbara, Patrick and Heidi and Norm and Di.

While this is the end of Part 1, there’s plenty more to be revealed in Part 2.

Until then, I hope you stay safe and well.

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6 Comments
  • Wayne Richmond
    Posted at 14:07h, 21 September Reply

    🙂

    • Alistair Dewar Photography
      Posted at 11:00h, 22 September Reply

      👍

  • Heidi Pauly
    Posted at 16:22h, 21 September Reply

    Beaut photos & commentary, thanks Alistair

    • Alistair Dewar Photography
      Posted at 10:56h, 22 September Reply

      Thank you Heidi

  • Gregory J Flint
    Posted at 19:13h, 21 September Reply

    Great photos and dialogue, as usual. Beautiful scenery. Last time I was in Oberon there was six inches of snow everywhere! Well done, Alistair!

    • Alistair Dewar Photography
      Posted at 10:58h, 22 September Reply

      Thanks Greg, it was cold enough without the snow while we were there. Must have been rather special to be in Oberon when it snowed.

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