Queensland’s Gail and Vic Apps are spending the next few days around the Central West after arriving by caravan.

They stopped by the tourist information centre to grab some brochures, they’ve spent the last two years travelling Australia.

“We’re staying between Orange and Bathurst at Macquarie Woods,” Mrs Apps said.

“We love the fact the town has kept its trees and its so easy to get around with a caravan. We’ll be doing a few day trips to Lucknow, Molong, Bathurst and Millthorpe,” she said.

“The next stop is Lake Wallace and after a few days we’ll head back to Queensland,” Mr Apps said.

The couple’s first impressions of Orange were positive.

“It all looks lovely around because you’ve had some rain,” Mr Apps said.

“The last time we came through we went straight through on the way to somewhere else. We thought we’d stay and have a good look around.”

Groundstone Cafe opened next to the information centre 12 days ago and manager Katie Braddock said the venue’s reputation was already spreading.

“It’s been growing steadily and consistently, we’re getting great feedback from travelers and residents,” Ms Braddock said.

“We’re hoping to create more of an incentive to visit the civic precinct and we hope to provide people with their first taste of Orange.”

Meanwhile, the phones have been ringing hot at the Orange Visitor Information Centre, with tourists searching for accommodation. Orange City Council’s tourism manager Glenn Mickle said staff took an estimated 100 calls a day, with many asking about where to stay.

“With the Bathurst 1000, Australian National Field Days and the Orange Wine Festival it’s been a busy few weeks,” Mr Mickle said.

He said the newest civic building’s “multi-functionality” would be to the city’s advantage.

“It’s visible for visitors, easy to find and when they get here there’s a cafe with local produce and when the museum opens that will enhance it,” Mr Mickle said.

He said as well as tourists visiting the centre, there had been an increase in residents visiting, which he said were city’s best tour guides.

Orange’s Denise Murphy said she liked the view the new building gave residents and visitors.

“You get an outlook over some of the city and Robertson Park,” Mrs Murphy said.

Janita Murphy agreed and said she had brought visitors to the old tourist centre in the past. “I”m glad they’ve kept the local produce, it’s good for Orange.”