Another beautiful day yesterday as we travelled from Orange out to Young and back again for the second day of our Girls on Tour trip. You can read about this trip here and then here. We started our morning out with breakfast at Byng Street Local Store & Cafe which was pumping on a busy Saturday morning – great food, coffee and atmosphere. I always think when a place is filled with locals it’s going to be alright!
Then it was in the car to head out to Young via Canowindra and Cowra. Beautiful countryside and easy driving as we made our way to one of my favourite places this trip: Canowindra. Just don’t ask some of the girls how you say the name!
This place is a gem of old country Australia. Some great stores we visited all open on a Saturday morning: we went into Rockstar Shop and wandered down Gaskill Street to the top to Finns Store which was pumping with locals all catching up and the odd tourist stopping in for coffee or a bite to eat.
Filled with clothing, furniture and other treasures the owner Jacki was great fun, full of laughs and life and bit by bit working on developing and growing this great store.
With the car filled up we headed onwards to Cowra where we stopped into Unearthed Homewares another great store owned by a young and cool chick who has filled the shop with great products and style.
It was back in the car to get out to Young, cherry capital of Australia to visit Sarah at Cint boutique that had the most amazing selection of clothing – you can visit her online as well. It was then lunch and some more shopping at S&AJ (found a stash of Emma Kate & Co diaries if anyone is looking I am sure you can go online and grab them, or give them a call).
I was so happy to meet up with a long time reader of the blog Patricia (who has NINE CHILDREN YOU GUYS). Gosh it’s been lovely to meet so many fabulous women, have a picture together. And I have to say one of my favourite things is when we are looking through their phone (if they are showing me something) they all have pictures of their roses or garden in their camera roll…my people! It’s been the BEST.
Then it was back again to Orange (with a kilo of cherries of course) to check into our hotel (we are staying at De Russie Boutique Hotel ) which has been a fabulous 2 bedroom apartment – work checking out for sure!
Then we had an AMAZING dinner at Mr Lim Korean & Chinese Diner which had food as good as Mr Wong in Sydney. Great fit out too – didn’t feel like we were in the country let me tell you!
A closing drink and back to bed exhausted after such a great and full day. Today it’s back home for me, a car filled to the brim and so many ideas and plans to head back this way again sometime soon. I have loved the big sky and countryside, the wonderful people, the businesses the creativity, the spirit of place and people that is out here. I truly recommend that you get out this way with the family, or friends, and see for yourself. There’s so many places like this all over Australia – not just out here in the Central West. People who are giving it a go: putting their creativity and business skills into bringing business to regional areas, who encourage tourists to visit and pass through, and it’s so important that we do our bit to support them. I know that so many people look to travel overseas when going on holidays, but I really want you to think about staying here, about exploring our own backyard and our cousins who live out here. Show them some support and be blown away by just how good it all is and what’s on offer.
I’ve had the BEST time. Thanks to Lou & Karlyn from Arlington Milne and Elms & King who have organised this, Georgia from Glasshouse Candles, Liz from her business Xtend Barre Northern Beaches and of course all the wonderful women who own and run their businesses out here. I have been inspired by all that you do – thank you!
Please go and check out these shops, visit online, spread the word and of course come and visit and do a little superior shopping yourself!
THANK YOU for sharing your road trip! Because of this & ONLY because you shared, I now have a Emma Kate Co. Diary on its way from S&AJ in Young (I’d been searching for one of those for a while now). Boy, I’m one happy little reader right now! Heading to Young next August so will be sure to check out your recommendations! Thanks Beth xx
Originally a harden girl here 🙌
Hubby is from young
next time your down that way you must pop into wombat hotel which is between harden and young and the only thing in the town is the pub!
Great counter lunch and wine or beer
Plus you need to stop into harden and stop at murrumburah before you hit the bridge we’re it takes you over to harden
It’s a twin town
Stop at the terracotta and the little honey shop and also the must on the list is tea and scones at the witchcraft at murrumburah
Love a local town and please if you stop in there do pop into the local tyre service on the Main Street and say hi to my dad and brother !!
Oh man! I wish I knew you were coming to Canowindra! It’s fantastic isn’t it!! Come back again sometime xo
So awesome to showcase the country businesses like this – love it!
Loved reading these 2 posts about your road trip. Haven’t visited this area and you’ve convinced me that I need to go. Plus I love reading about these fab entrepreneurs and small business owners in rural Australia – helps me remember that talent, passion and interesting places are not just in Newtown or Fitzroy. Thanks very much!
These have been great posts Beth, there are so many lovely places in country NSW. We recently found ourselves in Narrandera and I spied Juadine Interiors and Red Door Cafe (all one business). You know sometimes you spot a shop front and you just know you are going to love it before you even walk in? This shop is country town shopping gold if you ever find yourself in the area!
Thanks for sharing Jane – I will definitely be back out that way I loved it!