Oberon, NSW: What are the best things to do?

The best things to do in Oberon, NSW, include Lake Oberon, the Oberon Common Wetlands and Gairloch Garden.

Oberon, NSW, is a small town just to the west of the Blue Mountains. It is often lumped in with the Blue Mountains region, although it’s technically part of the Central Tablelands and gravitates towards Bathurst rather than Katoomba.

Oberon is best known as one of the gateways to the Jenolan Caves, but there are other things to do in Oberon itself. The Oberon and District Museum isn’t especially gripping, although the 3D model of the town as it was in the 1930s is pretty cool. Otherwise, it’s photos of the olden days and an awful lot of farming equipment.

Things to do in Oberon, NSW: Lake Oberon and Oberon Common

The best things to do in Oberon tend to be outdoors. Lake Oberon, a reservoir created by the Oberon Dam, is popular for fishing and well stocked with brown trout. You can go camping or picnicking in the Reef Reserve at the north-western end of the lake.

The Oberon Common is the main park in town, with a series of ponds and wetlands. Several bird species can be spotted going about their business near the water. The Oberon Common also has walking and cycling trails, plus free barbecues, an adventure playground and a more traditional playground.

Things to do in Oberon, NSW: Gairloch Garden & Mayfield Garden

But it’s arguably gardens that Oberon does best. Gairloch Garden is a cool climate garden, covering more than 2,400 square metres. There’s an abundance of hedging and trellises, and lots of loving detail. Walk through and you’ll find bird aviaries, a walk-through fernery, a fairy garden, metal sculptures, a croquet lawn and garden chess.

Arguably more impressive still is Mayfield Garden, just north-west of Oberon in Mayfield. Here, you’ve got waterfalls, a Chinese pagoda, a rhododendron dell and a maze. And, in the summer months, you can go camping among the flower beds.

Lily pads at Mayfield Garden near Oberon, NSW. Photo courtesy of Destination NSW.

Other highlights of Oberon include truffle-hunting tours. The drive from Sydney to Oberon takes just under three hours.

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