Mudgee to Wilderluxe Lake Keepit: A Roadtrip of Quiet Revelations
A Soulful Journey Through Wine Country, Painted Silos and Big Sky Stillness
Sometimes a road trip doesn’t just take you to a destination, it realigns you on the way. That’s what happens when you roll out of Mudgee with the windows cracked open, the scent of eucalypt in the air, and a quiet sense of anticipation tucked between your weekend bags. This isn’t just a drive, it’s a Mudgee to Lake Keepit roadtrip, and it’s all about the in-betweens: unexpected art on towering silos, historic wineries tucked into hillsides, and the kind of long horizons that ask nothing from you but to notice them.
In just over four hours, you’ll swap vineyard-cloaked valleys for sun-washed plains and the crisp hush of Wilderluxe Lake Keepit, nestled deep in Big Sky Country. Whether you’re chasing a romantic road trip from Mudgee, or simply plotting your next NSW road trip, this route is a masterclass in slow travel, local encounters, and beautiful design, on and off the road.
Departing Mudgee: A Morning Among the Vines
There’s no better starting point for a refined regional road trip than Mudgee. Sophisticated but never showy, Mudgee is a love letter to good food, better wine, and long mornings that stretch into lazy lunches.
Before hitting the road, pick up a buttery croissant from ALTHEA by Zin, grab a flat white to go, and if it’s time right, then take a slow lap through the Mudgee Farmers’ Market (monthly event) in Robertson Park for artisan food supplies. Whether you’re travelling as a couple or plotting a solo escape, Mudgee invites you to begin your trip grounded, nourished, and a little lighter.
Credit: Destination NSW
If time allows, stop at Logan Wines or Lowe Family Wine Co for wine stores to go, then point the bonnet north and gently drive toward the Liverpool Ranges.
Hollydene Estate Wines, Jerrys Plains: Vineyards, Views and Elegant Fare
A short 2-hour drive and just outside the sleepy village of Jerrys Plains, Hollydene Estate offers a beautifully balanced blend of old-world charm and fresh, contemporary design. The winery is built into the historic Arrowfield vineyard, but the interiors speak fluent modern country, vaulted timber ceilings, sandstone walls, and floor-to-ceiling windows that frame the vineyards like art.
This is a perfect stop for lunch at onsite Vines Restaurant or a late-morning wine tasting. The menu leans local, think stuffed chicken thigh, house-made meatballs and flatbreads, and seasonal produce plated with care. Sit outdoors if the weather’s fine and drink in that view, where gum trees cast long shadows over vines and the ranges ripple in the distance.
A quiet elegance clings to Hollydene. It’s less about labels and more about the land, the people, the wine.
Drive North: From Range to Plains
After Hollydene, the road unspools in ribbons through Muswellbrook and up past Murrunundi then Quirindi country. In the middle you have Plains Pantry for a sneaky treat, or quick shop for specialty homewares at nearby Iron and Sage. You’re now officially inland, where the skies stretch out and towns grow further apart. This section of the Mudgee to Lake Keepit drive is wide and open, stud farms, rolling cattle country, windmill silhouettes, and pockets of soft bushland.
Keep an eye out for wedge-tailed eagles overhead and the occasional kangaroo watching your passage from behind a fence line. Pull over often. Breathe deeply. Let the pace shift inside you.
Gunnedah Painted Silos: Art on a Giant Canvas
Just before the final stretch to Lake Keepit, take a short 15-minute detour through Gunnedah, a classic country town with a creative surprise. Towering above the rail tracks, the Gunnedah Painted Silos pays tribute to one of Australia’s famous poets, Dorothea Mackellar and evokes visions of 19th century life in rural Australia. This silo is one of several that have been painted by a Melbourne based artist known as Heesco.
It’s a moment of unexpected grandeur, sepia colour splashed across industrial form, celebrating the natural rhythms of the Liverpool Plains. Bring your camera or just stand and stare. It’s proof that art doesn’t have to shout. Sometimes it simply waits for you on the side of a road.
While in town, stretch your legs in Anzac Park or grab some yummy treats from Bitter Suite Cafe, yes, good food and service certainly does exist this far inland.
Wilderluxe Lake Keepit: Design, Nature and Space to Exhale
Arriving at Wilderluxe Lake Keepit feels like stepping into a well-kept secret. Nestled above the lake with only eight luxury Star Tents, the retreat is a rare blend of remote seclusion and elevated design. Inside your canvas pavilion: king-sized beds, plush linens, soft timber accents, star-gazing window and panoramic views of the mighty lake itself. Outside there’s birdsong, bush trails, and that signature stillness you came all this way for.
Evenings here are magic. As dusk slips in and the Big Sky Dreaming immersive experience lights up the lounge over a sundowner and nibbles, it’s hard to remember the last time you felt so connected to your surroundings or so content to simply be.
Whether you spend the next two days hiking, stargazing, paddling or doing absolutely nothing, Wilderluxe reminds you that the best luxury is often found in the quietest places.
Why This Roadtrip Works
The Mudgee to Keepit roadtrip isn’t for ticking boxes. It’s for travellers who prefer tasting over touring, landscapes over landmarks, stories over schedules. It’s one of the best road trips from Mudgee not because of what’s on offer but more about how it makes you feel.
There’s elegance here, but no airs. Adventure, but no need for four-wheel-drives or survival kits. Just wide roads, deep skies, small town stops, and a place at the end that somehow feels both grounded and otherworldly.
It’s a road trip for people who want more from their escape and know that sometimes, “more” looks a lot like less.