Two hours north of Canberra, Young is a fun detour on a trip from the country’s capital to Sydney, as well as being the cherry capital of Australia in its own right. If you’re in town towards the end of the year, you can enjoy the National Cherry Festival at the height of cherry-picking season, and in September the town’s many orchards are awash with pink blossoms. Visitors won’t want to miss the charming Young and Region Farmers' Market, or the great café scene in town: in particular, the Kettle & Grain café and the Art of Espresso are favourites with locals and tourists alike.
Next, check out the Young Visitor Information Centre to get your bearings, and to chat with passionate locals about what they love about their town. Make sure you pick up maps for the self-guided Heritage Walk and Shamrock Trail, which are a perfect way to savour the atmosphere of the town and learn about its rich history (almost two centuries of European settlement, and many thousands of years of indigenous settlement). There’s also the breathtaking and very unique Iandra Castle, and for a tasty treat, Poppa's Fudge & Jam Factory can’t be missed.
Nature lovers won’t want to miss the lovely Weddin Mountains National Park, the traditional beauty of the Chinese Tribute Gardens with its serene Pool of Tranquility or the romance of the Sunnyside Rose Garden.
Young is a thriving town with a fascinating past and a bright future, and it’s bound to be a highlight of an inland New South Wales adventure.
