Feast on farm-fresh produce and gourmet eats, thrill to outdoor adventures and cosy up at bucolic retreats in the historic Hawkesbury region of New South Wales, less than an hour’s drive northwest of Sydney.
Spend your days seeking out quaint mountain villages like Kurrajong and Bilpin, flourishing orchards, heritage trails and national parks. Feel a sense of freedom in the foothills of the Blue Mountains as you explore the history-steeped towns of Windsor and Richmond, the riverside hamlet of Wisemans Ferry, and, of course, the meandering Hawkesbury River.
Taste the country goodness
Connect with local producers and talented chefs as you indulge in the Hawkesbury’s bountiful harvest at roadside stalls and historic cottage restaurants. Savour atmospheric fine dining in the foothills of the Blue Mountains at Lochiel House, an 1825 cottage in Kurrajong Heights. Feast on regional produce in the beautiful courtyard garden or by the open fire indoors.
Make a game of gathering your own bounty of produce on the Hawkesbury Harvest Farm Gate Trail. Imagine you’re a farmer for an afternoon and pluck crisp apples, peaches and nectarines straight from the branches on pick-your-own fruit adventures in the region’s many orchards, or simply stock up at farmgate stalls. Reward yourself for your efforts with cider tastings at Bilpin Cider or Hillbilly Cider in Bilpin.
Recharge with real-fruit ice-cream and apple pies at Tutti Fruitti in Kurrajong Heights. The roadside landmark has been a favourite stop on the foodie trail for around two decades. Then drive down the Bells Line of Road to try some craft ales with unusual combinations of flavours at Gypsy Fox Brewing Co in North Richmond (open Friday to Sunday), or sample wines and pick up olives, jams and barrel-aged vinegar at Tizzana Winery in Ebenezer.
Shields Orchard, Bilpin Credit: Destination NSW
Young girls enjoying a day of apple picking at Shields Orchard, Bilpin.
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Shields Orchard, Bilpin Credit: Destination NSW
Young girls enjoying a day of apple picking at Shields Orchard, Bilpin.
Fishing, Wisemans Ferry Credit: Destination NSW
Friends enjoying an afternoon of fishing on the Hawkesbury River, Wisemans Ferry.
Fishing, Wisemans Ferry Credit: Destination NSW
Friends enjoying an afternoon of fishing on the Hawkesbury River, Wisemans Ferry.
Wonder at a bygone era
Revel in a sense of discovery as the river’s inlets and small beaches reveal themselves from the vantage point of a kayak from Hawkesbury River Kayaks. Or take the wheel of one of Able Hawkesbury River Houseboats’ roomy craft – some sleeping up to 12 guests – and pilot your way along the Hawkesbury River from Wisemans Ferry.
Gain fascinating insights into harsher times on the Old Great North Road, one of just 11 Australian Convict Siteson the UNESCO World Heritage List. Let your imagination roam free as you learn, via the Convict Road app, about the hardships of the convict workers who carved out the road as you hike the 9km trail overlooking the Hawkesbury River in the rugged bushland of Dharug National Park.
Relish the looks on your children’s faces as they explore the farmyard and all its friendly chooks, cows, sheep and horses on special event days at Rouse Hill Estate, which was established as a family home in the early 1800s.
Revitalise with a longer stay
Rekindle your romance with a luxury getaway at eco-certified Spicers Sangoma Retreat. An idyllic distraction from your busy life, the all-inclusive resort is hidden away in the lower reaches of the Blue Mountains near Richmond. Stretch out in a comfortable suite after a Thalgo spa treatment at Crowne Plaza Hawkesbury Valley in Windsor. Or get your grown-up thrills at Blueberry Hills on Comleroy, a children-free boutique retreat with guesthouse rooms and cottages on a blueberry farm at the foothills of the mountains in Kurrajong.
Delight the kids as they hunt for yabbies in the dam, paddle canoes and meet all the farm animals at Bilpin Country Lodge, set on four serene hectares of gardens, farm and bushland just off the Bells Line of Road.
If you’re feeling adventurous, share an idyllic break with your extended family or friends at Hawkesbury River Kayaks’ four-bedroom Riverbend Cottage, which you can only reach by kayak, hire boat or water taxi.
Need to rejuvenate and recharge? Check in to Billabong Retreat at Maraylya, a 20-minute drive east of Windsor. Be nourished with organic whole food and truly unwind with yoga, mindfulness and meditation at this eco-retreat. Supercharge your recovery with a deep sleep in one of the retreat’s deluxe cabins, treehouse ensuite rooms or lodge and cottage rooms with shared bathrooms.
Hawkesbury River Credit: Destination NSW
Hawkesbury River. This is the high res copy of this image.
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Hawkesbury River Credit: Destination NSW
Hawkesbury River. This is the high res copy of this image.
Spicers Sangoma Retreat, Bowen Mountain Credit: Destination NSW
Woman relaxing in the bath with views at Spicers Sangoma Retreat, Bowen Mountain.
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Spicers Sangoma Retreat, Bowen Mountain Credit: Destination NSW
Woman relaxing in the bath with views at Spicers Sangoma Retreat, Bowen Mountain.
More Inspirational Stories
Bendooley Estate, BerrimaCredit: Destination NSW
Autumn at Bendooley Estate, Berrima.
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Indulge in incredible dining at refined restaurants and taste cool-climate wines at charming cellar doors in the idyllic Southern Highlands village of Berrima, a 90-minute drive from Sydney. Slow down and sleep in at your luxe stay, steep in the village’s colourful history and draw energy from the natural beauty of this magical region.
Wine and dine among the vines
Berrima’s elevation and cool climate is perfect for great pinot noir, chardonnay and sauvignon blanc. Sample them for yourself, as well as cabernet and merlot blends, at the Southern Highlands’ oldest winery, Joadja Estate, which was first planted in 1983.
See how Tractorless Vineyard’s highly regarded sparkling wines are made on an absorbing two-hour walking tour of this pioneering biodynamic vineyard before sampling its sustainably produced wines at the inviting cellar door.
Stay close to the action when you sample PepperGreen Estate’s premium wines at its impressive cellar door in the centre of town, before taking a seat at PepperGreen’s adjoining Tasting Room restaurant for a long lunch with optional wine pairings. (The Tasting Room also offers a one-course wine-and-dine lunch on Monday, Wednesday or Thursday.)
Drive out to the grand, picturesque Bendooley Estate on the edge of town to lose yourself in its Book Barn, which houses thousands of old and new books in a renovated hayshed. Browse through the incredible collection and linger over lunch at the Book Barn Restaurant before tasting the estate’s superb wines at the cellar door or dining at the adjoining Leo’s by Night restaurant. Extend your visit by staying onsite in one of Bendooley Estate’s luxurious cottages boasting glorious vistas of the serene lake, valleys and gardens.
Eschalot, Berrima Credit: Destination NSW
Elegant dish made from the freshest and highest quality ingredients at Eschalot restaurant, Berrima.
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Eschalot, Berrima Credit: Destination NSW
Elegant dish made from the freshest and highest quality ingredients at Eschalot restaurant, Berrima.
Bendooley Estate, Berrima Credit: Destination NSW
Family enjoying a walk around Bendooley Estate, Berrima in the Southern Highlands.
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Bendooley Estate, Berrima Credit: Destination NSW
Family enjoying a walk around Bendooley Estate, Berrima in the Southern Highlands.
Dive into the village’s history
Step back in time on the self-guided Berrima Historic Walk, starting at the Berrima District Museum, before continuing to one of Australia’s oldest licensed pubs, the Surveyor General Inn, built by convicts in 1834, and the Berrima Courthouse, a Regency-style sandstone-hewn building dating back to the 1830s. Visiting on a weekend? Explore the beautifully restored, National Trust-listed Harper’s Mansion – it’s open on Saturdays and Sundays.
Soak up the impressive knowledge of your Berrima Walking Tours guide on a fascinating Berrima Heritage Tour, or get into the spirit of one of Australia’s most haunted buildings on one of Australian Paranormal Phenomenon Investigators (APPI)’s occasional Berrima Courthouse Interactive Ghost Tours.
Stretch your legs on the Berrima River Walk, another gorgeous stroll through riverside heritage. Be transported to a turbulent past as you take in the interpretive signs telling the stories of the German merchant seamen, officers, executives and prisoners of war who spent World War I at Berrima’s German Internment Camp.
PepperGreen Estate, Berrima Credit: Destination NSW
Exterior of PepperGreen Estate Cellar Door and Tasting Room in Berrima.
PepperGreen Estate, Berrima Credit: Destination NSW
Exterior of PepperGreen Estate Cellar Door and Tasting Room in Berrima.
Shop, eat and repeat
Once you’ve filled your head with history, browse Australian and international contemporary art at Whitewall Art Projects, pick up quirky homewares at Archie + Dot, and stock up on relishes and jams at Mrs Oldbucks Pantry before learning how to blend your own tea during one of the store’s The Table experiences.
Savour some of the finest dining in the region – and feast on fresh, seasonal produce sourced from the restaurant’s own gardens – at the award-winning Eschalot, housed in a heritage sandstone cottage in the heart of town.
If you’re visiting on a weekend, retreat to the Zen Oasis weddings venue on the fringe of town and restore harmony to your diet with vegetarian and vegan Asian cuisine at its garden restaurant.
Refuel for an afternoon of exploring the Southern Highlands with a hearty lunch at Berrima General Store and Cafe or with a quiche and an exquisite pastry at Gumnut Patisserie. Or settle in for high tea and unwrap a freshly baked cupcake in the pastel wonderland of The Cupcake Co.
Tractorless Vineyard, Berrima Credit: Destination NSW
Tractorless Vineyard combines old world knowledge with new world techniques to create exceptional cool climate wines in the Southern Highlands, NSW.
Tractorless Vineyard, Berrima Credit: Destination NSW
Tractorless Vineyard combines old world knowledge with new world techniques to create exceptional cool climate wines in the Southern Highlands, NSW.
Wingecarribee River, Berrima Credit: Destination NSW
Morning sun shining over the Wingecarribee River in Berrima.
Wingecarribee River, Berrima Credit: Destination NSW
Morning sun shining over the Wingecarribee River in Berrima.