Have you ever thought about becoming a tourist in your own backyard?

The region in which we live and work will look even better when you start to look at it through the eyes of a tourist rather than a resident. And, you can rediscover what the area offers without spending days on the road. 

Hop up in the morning, decide where you want to go for the day (or an overnight stay), load up the car, the kids – and even the dog  – and head out to see the wonders on your own doorstep.

Less than 30 minutes drive north of Cowra and 50 minutes southwest of Orange is the historic township of Canowindra – a wonderful and unique place which should be on everyone’s Western NSW bucketlist.

You may find that a day trip is simply not enough time to cram in all that  Canowindra offers – try staying a night or two at Eddy's of Canowindra (which is an historically restored convent) or the more contemporary Pop’s Hill (with sensational 360 degree views of the countryside). These are perfect for couples or groups to be based when exploring the area.

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Full of character and charm, step back in time when you visit Canowindra, take a peek at bushranger history, get up close with bizarre fish fossils with crocodile-like jaws from 360-370 million years ago, enjoy some of the best wines in the state or float sky-high in an awesome hot air balloon.   

Blind Freddy's Bushranger Tours will take you to where the likes of Ben Hall, Frank Gardiner and Johnny Gilbert roamed during the gold rush era of the 1860s.

And, for a truly unique and interesting experience in our own backyard, head to the Age of Fishes Museum, which is a hidden gem. 

One of only two museums of its kind in the world, you know it’s good if Sir David Attenborough has popped in for a visit. 

The museum’s website invites visitors to “imagine a world ruled by fish. Long before dinosaurs roamed the Earth, the mighty rivers of the Central West teemed with bizarre ancient fishes: armoured fishes, fishes with lungs, and some huge predators with jaws like crocodiles”.

Canowindra is also known as the balloon capital of Australia, with the excitement and colour of the Canowindra International Balloon Challenge taking to the skies each April. But companies provide hot air ballooning experiences at other times during the year – try a sunrise flight for something truly magical.