3 Popular winter day trips from Sydney
Sydney – New South Wales – Australia
Things to do in winter outside Sydney
Sydney has much to offer as a city destination but it is also interesting to venture further. When you have seen more than a glimpse of Sydney or enjoyed some of its festivals, there are numerous day trips from this harbour city in New South Wales worth exploring. We did three popular ones in winter.
Hunter valley to explore some wineries
Blue Mountain for its spectacular view
Royal National Park – Wattamolla cove
Hunter Valley Wineries
The rain was pelting down on a miserable winter’s day in June in Sydney. Short of getting cabin fever, what better way to spend the day than sample some wineries from Hunter Valley which is about two hundred and fifty kilometres from Sydney.
We only managed to see three of the hundred and fifty or so wine growers, a minimal cellar door taste of what you can find in the Hunter region, Australia's viticultural historic area dating back to the early 1800’s.
Roche Estate
As we reached the first winery, Roche Estate, the rain stopped. The estate is situated on the corner of Broke and McDonalds Roads, Pokolbin. I was enthralled by the architecture and the garden which is used as a concert venue for national and international artists.
The Hunter Valley is renowned for its artisan gourmet delights such as cured meats, cheeses, chutneys and olives. For those with a sweet tooth you may even find some chocolate, jams and honey.
We strolled through Roche’s charming shop named Hunter Valley Smelly Cheese Shop and could not walk away without buying a few delectable culinary delights before we moved on to the next winery.
Lindemans
The rain stayed away but the day was cool with misty clouds rolling over the hills behind Lindemans which is also on McDonalds Road. We lingered in the gardens and appreciated the scenery around the vineyard but then moved on to the last winery.
Hunter Valley Gardens
At Hunter Valley Gardens we admired the chapel which is used for weddings. We had a light lunch and sampled some fermented crushed grapes and bought a few bottles of wine to enjoy later at our leisure.
I would have loved to explore the gardens but there was an entrance fee and I felt it did not warrant the cost for the limited time we would spend there. It is large establishment and has a boutique shopping village with boutique retailers and outlets selling local produce and one could easily spend many hours there.
Fun fact:
Hunter Valley Semillon is widely considered the iconic wine of the region but the Hunter produces wine from a variety of grapes including Shiraz, Chardonnay, Cabernet Sauvignon and Verdelho.
Map
Blue Mountains
Our second day trip was to Blue Mountains, a World Heritage site. It is an Australian highlight on many tourist’s bucket list because of its spectacular scenery. We drove to Katoomba which is just over a hundred kilometres west of Sydney.
Along with many other tourists, as we walked onto Echo Point Lookout I was not disappointed. The area is great for hikers and photographers with many bushwalking trails, paths and steep stairs and walkways. The vertical cliffs with the eucalyptus forests, tree ferns and waterfalls are worth seeing.
The distinct blue hue is caused by sunlight shining on minute droplets of oil released from the leaves that is mixed with the misty droplets of moisture in the air.
Echo Point Lookout on the edge of the plateau is the best place to see the imposing Three Sisters weathered sandstone peaks as well as the panoramic views of Jamison Valley, Ruined Castle, Mount Colong and Mount Solitary.
We walked the steep steps leading to Three Sisters along with so many other tourists. I would have loved to see the view of Blue Mountains from a different angle such as the skyway or the cableway, but the queue was too long for us to wait.
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Royal National Park
The Royal National Park, the second oldest national park in the world is almost on the outskirts of Sydney. Situated on the coast it is a great place for whale watching, fishing, hiking in the bush or coastal walks as well as birdwatching. There is an entrance fee into the park.
We chose to explore Wattamolla cove which is in the park, about sixty kilometres from the city.
Wattamolla Beach has a lovely lagoon, creek and waterfall as well as popular picnic spots near the parking area. The beach is great for families for swimming, fishing, snorkelling and bushwalking. There is also a path leading to a lookout point for whale watching between June and August.
Fun fact:
Wattamolla means "place near running water". The Aboriginal name was recorded as Watta-Mowlee by Matthew Flinders, but is today spelt Wattamolla.
Map
These day trips are by no means all one can do if you want to venture away from Sydney, but it is a great start.
Looking for some Brisbane day inspiration? You’ll find some here!
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About the Author
ALMA VAN AS | ROAMING FOX
Alma is a South African travel blogger and writer. She hopes to inspire you with facts and fables about her adventures, road trips and international travel.
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