Our parks and gardens with over 100 display flower beds and 200km of exotic street trees form the basis of Orange’s reputation as the colour city.
Visit magnificent Mt Canobolas, an extinct volcano 1,395m above sea level with spectacular 360° views from its summit of the surrounding countryside. Taking one of the walks offers opportunities to see a wide range of fauna - rosellas, cockatoos, parrots, lorikeets, grey kangaroos, wallabies, wombats, koalas and small possums. Federal Falls will delight all and in particular bird watchers and photographers. The name comes from two Aboriginal words, 'coona' and 'booloo' meaning two headed beast or conjoined twins. There is a 360 degree view from the summit, which is often snow-capped in winter. The mountain is now part of a 15 square kilometre area controlled by the National Parks and Wildlife Service, which offers various walks including Bald Hill; to Young Man Canobolas and Federal Falls to Mount Towac.
Below Mt Canobolas is Lake Canobolas, a well established artificial lake. The lake offers picnic and barbecue facilities as well as a wide range of leisure activities including sail-boating, swimming, fishing and during the warmer months paddle boats and kayaks are for hire. There is a walking track around the lake and a fully restored old pumphouse.
Ophir Reserve is the site of Australia’s first payable gold find.
Orange is blessed with a number of beautiful parks and gardens with Cook Park being the most famous. Established in 1873 Cook Park takes up an entire city block and features a begonia house, sunken garden, bird aviary, duck pond, arts and crafts shop and a magnificent array of trees and plants. Robertson Park and the Orange Botanic Gardens are a delightful place to visit and relax with open days being held throughout the year. Our parks with over 100 display flower beds and 200km of exotic street trees form the basis of Orange’s reputation as the colour city.
Carcoar Dam features swimming, boating and camping in the foothills of the impressive Blayney Wind Farm while at Borenore Caves Reserve you can explore the Arch Cave – but make sure you bring a torch.
Gosling Creek Reserve surrounds a reservoir of water with a shared walking/bike riding trail and fishing opportunities for Golden Perch and Trout. A leash free dog exercise area is nearby. Take the signposted walk and learn about the old mine sites, fish in the river or try your luck gold panning before camping overnight.
The region hosts two National Parks - Nangar and Goobang. Both offer accessibility by 2WD vehicles and a number of rewarding walks for the nature enthusiast.
