We all know that the recent fire season has had a really big effect on local Blue Mountains businesses. So, how can we help? We can visit!
We recently took a drive out to Bilpin because I wanted to see the land and how it had been affected. I also wanted to show our support to the local businesses who have taken a big hit. I thought it also might be helpful to write a blog showing a few of the places we love to visit so that you too might consider making trip with the family.
As a family, we love to go fruit picking and Bilpin has some great orchards with a variety of produce to pick. The kids love it and so do we. It feels so good to pick your own fruit and know you are supporting local businesses. The properties are always so beautiful to walk through and sit in. It’s just wonderful. On this particular trip, we went to “The Fruit Bowl”.
There is a shop with a lot of fruit and vegetables available for purchase, as well as lots of other local produce. There is also a cafe with plenty of indoor and outdoor seating. The menu includes pastries, sandwiches, and sweet treats. There is a cute little climbing dome with slides, and despite how old it is, my kids loved it! There are of course toilets and even some gardens that you can walk through. We started our day here, bought some fruit and jam, and spent some time on the slide. We decided not to go fruit picking as it was really hot, but you can and should stick around to do so.
Click here to look at the website for The Fruit Bowl, Pincrest and The Pines.
The next stop was Bilpin Cider, which is fast becoming one of favourite places to visit. My daughter is quite obsessed with their cider, so we always leave with a six-pack. You can also do tastings of the various ciders that are available.
You’ll find a selection of outdoor activities that you can do on the grounds, such as shuttlecot, a large connect-4, ring toss, and skittles. The grounds are so lovely to walk through and there are a lot of comfortable places to lie down with a picnic blanket and relax (they provide picnic blankets, too). There is a food cart on site that sells pies, cakes, and, if you place an order, cheese, meat, and lunch hampers. We had a cheese and meat platter while we were there, followed by some fresh apple pie. Sitting on the deck with cold apple ciders while the kids played games–such a lovely time.
We then made our way up to Mt Tomah Botanical Gardens. This is one of my absolute favourite places. In fact, we had our wedding reception here, so it is always special. We arrived at the Gardens at around 3pm and headed straight down to the discovery room at the kids’ request. There was an exhibit that showcases flora and fauna, indigenous history, and lots of information about the Blue Mountains. There were also things to touch, feel, and watch–lots of fun.
Finally, we took a stroll through the gardens, which are just beautiful. There are cute little paths, bridges, and ponds that make it enjoyable for the kids, too. Often, they will have activity packs for the kids, such as a treasure hunt or science trail. We finished with a hot drink at the cafe before we left. The cafe even has a few kids options (Click here to view) as well as colouring and the most beautiful view.
After a long day, we headed home. But if you have more time, you might stop at:
Mt Victoria Memorial Park–Click here for pictures and directions
Mt Victoria Museum–Click here for website link.
I hope this inspires you to consider a day trip out to Bilpin, there is something there for everyone in the family.
