There’s a growing shift in how we think about travel, and more than ever especially this school holiday and going forward, “holidaying at home” is starting to make real sense.
With ongoing infrastructure challenges at Mt Victoria and surrounding mountain routes, trips in and out of the region are taking longer than usual. Delays, detours, changing conditions and fuel prices have added a layer of complexity that many locals and visitors are feeling.
But perhaps there’s an upside.
Across Bathurst, Blayney, Lithgow and Oberon, everything you need for a meaningful break is already here. No long drives, traffic headaches or complicated planning — just a region waiting to be explored at your own pace.
It might be a morning coffee in town, followed by a scenic drive you’ve never taken before. A visit to a local gallery, a walk through autumn colour, or a stop at a lookout you’ve driven past countless times but never paused to enjoy.
And it ties in perfectly with the idea we’ve been talking about — taking the time to park, play and picnic. There are countless spots across the Central West where you can do just that. A quiet park in Blayney, a playground stop in Bathurst, a bush setting in Lithgow or a lakeside picnic in Oberon. Simple moments, close to home, that don’t come with the pressure of long-distance travel. We’d love to see where you end up — share your photos to our socials at facebook.com/thevillagevoicecentralwest or Instagram @villagevoice_cw, and tag #parkplaypicnic so others can discover your favourite spots too.
What this moment is really asking of us is to slow down and look around. To support local businesses, explore our own backyard and rethink what a “holiday” actually needs to be.
Because sometimes, the best getaway isn’t about how far you go — it’s about how present you are when you get there.
