Our restaurants, cafes, vineyards and bars draw visitors from all over the world.

Throughout the year organisations such as Brand Orange capitalise on the region’s excellence via a series of events designed to highlight the very best food and wine on offer.

However not everyone who visits the region comes here to drink wine and dine out. 

Orange has a growing reputation as a place to host a range of major sporting events from running festivals to football matches. 

Last month the NSW government announced plans for Orange to host one of the state’s premier cycling events, the Orange Challenge. 

It’s expected to bring an estimated $1.5 million over the next three years.

The Orange Challenge is designed to showcase the region to cycling enthusiasts from around Australia. 

According to the Minister for Tourism Stuart Ayres the one-day 170km ride will highlight the beauty and diversity of Orange and surrounding towns and give visitors and their families the opportunity to spend time exploring the area.

The NSW government worked with Bicycle Network to secure this event, however there’s no doubt it’s Orange’s tourism sector that will benefit the most.

As Brand Orange executive director Rhonda Sear told the Central Western Daily this event could open up a whole new market for the region and raise the profile of Orange as a cycling destination.

With the addition of a range of new cycling parking stations throughout the city Orange City Council is rolling out the welcome mat to cyclists.

By catering to cyclists we’re encouraging a diversity of visitors to the region and that can only prove a good thing for our reputation and economy.