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Cowra Japanese Garden & Cultural Centre

May 19, 2021 / Australia, Cowra, NSW / 0 comment

Cowra Japanese Garden & Cultural Centre

The Garden is a must-visit at any tie of year, but is particularly stunning in spring. Opened in 1979, the Cowra Japanese Garden & Cultural Centre is a tangible monument to peace and reconciliation between two countries.

The Garden is a stunning example of Japanese design with its traditional landscaping, and was created to support and advance the cultural relations between the people of Cowra and the people of Japan.

The five hectares of garden were created in the style of a Kaiyushiki (strolling) garden, by Ken Nakajima, to symbolise the Japanese landscape. The two lakes, streams and waterfalls provide a safe haven for local birds, as well as Koi carp whom can be fed from one of the viewing platforms overlooking the lake. We saw plenty of ducks, including a mum and her babies.

Other special features of the Garden include a traditional Edo Cottage, an authentic open-air Tea house and a Bonsai House. The Cultural Centre joins the main building, featuring exhibitions from local and regional artists.

We enjoyed brunch at the Cowra Japanese Garden & Cultural Centre, with a beautiful view over the Garden. The Cafe serves modern Australian and Japanese cuisine and offers both indoor air conditioned and outdoor terrace dining.

http://www.cowragarden.com.au

Check out more things to do in Cowra.

Get your complete Central West NSW Road Trip itinerary.

Find more things to do in the Orange NSW region including a visit to the Heifer Station.

Find things to do in Cowra NSW including the Cowra Japanese Gardens.

Enjoy the towns of Millthorpe and Carcoar.

Find plenty of things to do in Parkes.

Find things to do in Dubbo.

Read more about things to do in Mudgee.

Read more about visiting Gulgong NSW.

Find more NSW road trip ideas.

Carcoar, the town that time forgot

May 18, 2021 / Australia, NSW, Orange, Travel / 0 comment

Carcoar, the town that time forgot

Visit the historic village of Carcoar in the NSW Central Tablelands. Take a walking tour of the preserved 19 century buildings set amongst picturesque green hills.

The tiny town of Carcoar can be found 260 km West of Sydney, and approximately 40 minutes equidistant from Bathurst, Orange and Cowra.

The third-oldest settlement west of the Blue Mountains, Carcoar is a beautiful spot to visit year-round, but particularly during autumn when the leaves are changing colour.

Nestled in a valley alongside the Belubula River, Carcoar is an historic gem with a large number of well preserved 19th century buildings. A walking tour is the best way to enjoy the town, with maps available from the National Trust.

The oldest building in the village is believed to be the 1849 convict-built stables of Stoke House, which is now a museum full of interesting historic gems to peruse.

Highlights also include well-preserved Georgian buildings along the main street, St Paul’s Anglican Church built in 1848 and the century-old courthouse.

The buildings now house museums, shops and cafes, with the highest capita of museums to people of anywhere in Australia. If you wish to stay the night, Carcoar has a wide range of accommodation options, from restored heritage buildings to boutique B&Bs.

Carcoar was settled by Europeans in 1821. There was extensive bushranging in the area particularly after the discovery of gold (which is still mined commercially in the area). The first daylight bank robbery in Australia occurred in Carcoar in 1863, at Carcoar’s Commercial Bank. Today, the building is home to a private toy museum with over 2000 toys of various kinds on display.

To reach Carcoar, take the turn-off on the Mid-Western Highway, the A43.

Get more information on Carcoar here, here and here.

Get your complete Central West NSW Road Trip itinerary.

Find more things to do in the Orange NSW region including a visit to the Heifer Station.

Find things to do in Cowra NSW including the Cowra Japanese Gardens.

Enjoy the towns of Millthorpe and Carcoar.

Find plenty of things to do in Parkes.

Find things to do in Dubbo.

Read more about things to do in Mudgee.

Read more about visiting Gulgong NSW.

Find more NSW road trip ideas.

Millthorpe Day Trip: How To Spend A Day In Milthorpe

May 18, 2021 / Australia, NSW, Orange, Travel / 0 comment

Milthorpe Day Trip: How To Spend A Day In Millthorpe

The perfect day trip in the Orange region, Millthorpe is a heritage-listed village with historical buildings, restaurants, shops and wineries. There are plenty of ways to spend a lovely day in Milthorpe.

A stroll through Milthorpe is like taking a step back in time to the 1900s in regional NSW. The cobblestoned streets are lined with relatively unchanged 19th century buildings that now house contemporary restaurants, boutique homewares stores and charming accommodation.

For a detailed look at Millthorpe’s past, take a tour of the Golden Memories Museum, or download the village walking map to your phone and take a gentle walk around the streets while soaking in its charm.

We enjoyed dining at the Railway Station Cafe and browsing the Millthorpe Chocolate shop inside. The Millthorpe Railway Station is a fine example of 19th century building that has been well maintained.

Millthorpe Chocolates is a locally grown business using the finest Belgian Couverture Chocolate and ingredients. The chocolate is hand tempered and is hand crafted.

Millthorpe Chocolates is a locally grown business using Belgian Couverture Chocolate. The chocolate is tempered and crafted by hand.

There is a lovely lolly shop on the main street that is impossible to walk past without buying something.

How to get to Millthorpe:

The historic town is 20 minutes’ drive southeast of Orange, 10 minutes from Orange Airport, and 30 minutes west of Bathurst. The drive from Sydney is 3 hours 30 minutes.

By train: the Western XPT arrives every day from Sydney at 11.48am on its way to Dubbo, then departs at 4.11pm. Book tickets online with NSW Trainlink or by phone 13 22 32.

Read more about Millthorpe Village here and here.

Get your complete Central West NSW Road Trip itinerary.

Find more things to do in the Orange NSW region including a visit to the Heifer Station.

Find things to do in Cowra NSW including the Cowra Japanese Gardens.

Enjoy the towns of Millthorpe and Carcoar.

Find plenty of things to do in Parkes.

Find things to do in Dubbo.

Read more about things to do in Mudgee.

Read more about visiting Gulgong NSW.

Find more NSW road trip ideas.

6 Things to do in Orange NSW

May 18, 2021 / Australia, NSW, Orange, Travel / 0 comment

Six Things to do in Orange NSW

Orange is a large regional centre with art galleries, wineries, hikes and leisure activities. There are plenty of things to do in Orange on a regional NSW road trip. Here are three of our favourite discoveries:

Lake Canobolas

Lake Canobolas is a man-made reservoir located near Orange, a popular spot for recreation since the 1970s.

Cycling, sailing, canoeing, walking, swimming, triathlons and dragon boating are some of the sports/activities held here.

Kids will love the Apex Adventure Playground on the eastern bank.

Bring a picnic or bbq lunch or grab a bite from the Lakehouse kiosk.

There is a walking track around the lake that is great for bird watching and wildlife spotting.

Be sure to walk over the top of the reservoir, it’s a great view of the water gushing over the side.

Lake Canobolas is open daily from early morning until sunset. Dogs are permitted within the park but must be on a lead.

Heifer Station Winery

The Heifer Station was built on land that was once one of the biggest cattle stations in Orange. In 2016, Heifer Station opened their cellar door in a 100 year old wool shed, nestled in a beautiful garden with farm yard animals dotted around (or free roaming).

Get more info on visiting the Heifer Station.

heiferstation.com

Cook Park

Enjoy the stunning seasonal colours of Orange in Cook Park, a 4.5 hectare park in the centre of Orange named after Captain James Cook.

The park was laid out in a traditional Victorian design in 1873, with straight paths and rows of trees.

Cook Park also features duck ponds, kids’ swings, an aviary with birds, the Lattice Fernery and Cook Park Guildry.

Cook Park is an easy 10 minute walk west of the Orange CBD via Summer or Kite Streets.

Spilt Milk Gelato

You must try this delicious gelato made with the best ingredients from Aussie farms.

spiltmilkbar.com

Racine Bakery

This bakery is a must-visit – if you can manage to find it! Racine Bakery can be found behind a strip of shops, with the entrance in the Woolworths car park. They sell the most delicious bread, cakes, pastries, sandwiches, salads, pies and sausage rolls, all hand-made on site.

Entry via woolworths carpark, 166B Summer St, Orange

racinerestaurant.com.au

Gracie Burger

We loved these brightly coloured burger and fries meals from Gracie Burger, with an option for a chickpea patty in lieu of meat for adult and kids meals.

Fantastic fries and shakes, too!

gracieburger.com.au

Accommodation

We stayed at the Mercure Orange during our stay. The hotel was clean, conveniently located and well run.

Get more info on visiting Orange.

Get your complete Central West NSW Road Trip itinerary.

Find more things to do in the Orange NSW region including a visit to the Heifer Station.

Find things to do in Cowra NSW including the Cowra Japanese Gardens.

Enjoy the towns of Millthorpe and Carcoar.

Find plenty of things to do in Parkes.

Find things to do in Dubbo.

Read more about things to do in Mudgee.

Read more about visiting Gulgong NSW.

Find more NSW road trip ideas.

Avoca Beach NSW Australia: Great for kids and dogs!

May 13, 2021 / Australia, Central Coast, Dog-Friendly Sydney, NSW, Pets, Travel / 0 comment

Avoca Beach NSW Australia

Enjoy the sparkling water of Avoca Beach, the perfect spot on the Central Coast for families (and dogs!).

Located about 30 minutes from Gosford, Avoca Beach is a popular spot for locals and Sydney-siders. Avoca Beach stretches 1.7km, with a beautiful shallow rock pool at the southern end.

There are plenty of cafes to enjoy a hearty brunch at the southern end also. The cafes all feature outdoor seating, making this a fab spot for families and dogs to enjoy casual meals right by the water.

We love to grab snacks or smoothies from the Avoca Beach Kiosk next to the life saving club, or a delicious meal at Point Cafe.

Point Cafe offers all-day breakfast, a kids’ menu and a variety of dishes to suit dietary requirements.

There is a large, fenced playground behind the surf life saving club, and a grassy park next to it.

A large bathroom block is located next to the playground.

Keep walking past the rock pool and you’ll find a rock shelf with more little rock pools that are great for exploring.

For more aquatic fun, hire a kayak, pedal boat or stand-up paddleboards from Aquafun Avoca Lake and splash around the lagoon.

The official off-leash dog area is from the surf club parking lot down to the North Avoca end of the beach on the opposite side of the lagoon. This is technically the space between two beaches, Avoca Beach and North Avoca Beach.

Avoca Lake backs on to the beach. Hire kayaks, pedal boats and stand-up paddleboards from Aquafun Avoca Lake and splash about the sparkling waterway or paddle to the large island in the middle of the tranquil lagoon.

If the weather isn’t in your favour, catch a movie at the Avoca Beach Picture Theatre, which opened in 1948 and is a lovely little single screen vintage theatre.

The fourth Sunday of every month you’ll find the Avoca Beachside Markets creating some extra bustle in town, with lots of local food and crafts on offer.

Avoca Beach NSW is an easy 90 minute drive north of Sydney and an 80m drive south from Newcastle. To reach it by public transport is a bit of an effort but do-able – catch the train from Central to Gosford or Newcastle to Gosford, then change to a bus to take you to Avoca Beach. It will take around 2 hours to reach Avoca Beach via public transport.

I’d suggest staying a few days either at Avoca Beach or in the general area to explore all of the Central Coast gems.

Avoca Beach NSW is located at the end of a long no-through road. There is limited parking so allow time to find a spot if you are on a schedule, or arrive early to ensure an easy park.

Get more info on Avoca Beach.

Find more things to do on the Central Coast.

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Hillbilly Cider Shed & Pizza, Bilpin

May 7, 2021 / Australia, Bilpin, Blue Mountains, NSW, Travel / 0 comment

Hillbilly Cider Shed & Pizza, Bilpin

Enjoy crushed cider using Bilpin, Blue Mountains apples and woodfired pizza at Hillybilly Cider Shed.

Hillbilly Cider is the creation of Shane and Tessa McLaughlin, who moved to an orchard in Biulpin in 2007 and were inspired by their surrounds to brew this now local favourite Blue Mountains cider.

Hillbilly Cider is the only cider in the world that uses the Julie™ apple, the first new commercial apple discovered in the Sydney/Blue Mountains area since the Granny Smith apple 100 years ago! The Julie™ was a chance seedling discovered by Bill and Julie Shields at their orchard located next door to the Hillbilly Cider shed.

Drop by the Hillbilly Cider Shed to try their cider and also to enjoy some very fine woodfired pizza.

There is plenty of outdoor seating and a large grassed area for kids to run around. Dogs are welcome!

During winter, there is a log fire burning inside the shed to keep visitors cosy and warm.

Bookings are always advised, but you can also drop by and grab whatever table you can find that’s free.

The pizzas are Neapolitan-style pizzas. All bases and sauce are made at the Hillybilly Cider Shed. Gluten-free bases are available, as it a vegan pizza.

We highly enjoyed Margheritas (Neapolitan tomato sauce, Fior di latte, Grana Padano & fresh basil, $19) and a Pepperoni (Neapolitan tomato sauce, Fior di latte and beef pepperoni, $23).

Hillbilly Cider
2230 Bells Line of Rd, Bilpin
Hours: Mon-Thur 10am-4pm, Fri-Sun 10am-6pm.
Wood fired pizzas available from 11.30am to eat in or take away.
https://hillbillycider.com.au/

Find more things to do on a Bilpin and Blue Mountains day trip.

More things to do in Sydney

Find a list of the best things to do in Sydney with kids.

Find things to do in Sydney for free.

Explore the best Sydney gardens and parks.

Get a list of the best kid-friendly beaches in Sydney.

Find the best animal experiences in Sydney.

Chase waterfalls in Sydney.

More things to do on the Central Coast.

Visit the best kid-friendly restaurants in Sydney.

Find the best high teas in Sydney.

Things to do in the Southern Highlands.

Head to one of the best museums in Sydney.

Check out things to do in Sydney on a rainy day.

Enjoy one of the best ocean pools in Sydney.

First time visiting Sydney? Get tips for first time visitors to Sydney.

Cool down at one of these free water parks in Sydney.

Find the best vegetarian and vegan restaurants in Sydney.

Get a list of the best playgrounds in Sydney.

Find the best ice cream and gelato in Sydney

Things to do in the Blue Mountains.

Plan amazing NSW road trips.

Pick your own fruit: fruit picking Sydney.

The best things to do in Western Sydney and Parramatta with kids.

Visit the most beautiful Sydney gardens.

Explore Sydney’s best parks.

Find things to do in Wollongong.

Find the best high teas for kids in Sydney.

Breenhold Gardens Mount Wilson Sydney

May 3, 2021 / Australia, Blue Mountains, NSW, Travel / 0 comment

Visiting Breenhold Gardens in Mount Wilson, Sydney

Enjoy spring and autumn colours at the heritage-listed Breenhold Gardens in Mount Wilson, a two-hour drive from the Sydney CBD. The Garden Estate of Breenhold is one of the most extensive privately owned garden properties in Australia.

Breenhold Gardens are only open during autumn and spring to the public, however are also available throughout the year for private hire for weddings, film shoots and special events. The Great Gatsby was filmed here!

The garden estate is comprises of 45 hectares of gardens, parkland and native bushland. It was the creation of the late Thomas Breen (Snr) and his wife Charlotte, who commenced its planting and landscaping in 1965.

Breenhold Garden has grown and developed over the years, and now includes thousands of exotic and indigenous trees and flowering shrubs from every continent.

Set aside a good few hours to leisurely explore the six stone walled gardens, bush trails and forest walks. There are extensive lawns for playing and picnicking.

We visited during autumn, when the deciduous trees of Breenhold Gardens were in full colour. Japanese maple, beech, birch, oak and many varieties of pines and cedars have been planted alongside native tree ferns and eucalypts.

Spring is also a beautiful time to visit Breenhold Garden, when hundreds of flowering azaleas and rhododendrons, as well as Japanese cherry trees, magnolia and dogwood fill the estate with beautiful colour once again.

Breenhold Gardens are dog-friendly! Well behaved dogs are permitted to enter but must stay on a leash at all times.

There are very basic bathroom facilities available at Breenhold Gardens, but no cafe / shop to purchase food or drinks. I highly suggest bringing your own picnic from home and a blanket to spread out on, or stopping by the Grumpy Baker in Bilpin on the way past to pick up some of the most delicious pastries you’ll find in Sydney.

You can also do what we did and drop by Hillbilly Cider for pizza afterwards. It’s also super dog-friendly!

Breenhold Gardens
Price: Entry fee
29 The Avenue, Mount Wilson
breenhold.com.au

Find more things to do on a Blue Mountains day trip.

More things to do in Sydney

Find a list of the best things to do in Sydney with kids.

Find things to do in Sydney for free.

Explore the best Sydney gardens and parks.

Get a list of the best kid-friendly beaches in Sydney.

Find the best animal experiences in Sydney.

Chase waterfalls in Sydney.

More things to do on the Central Coast.

Visit the best kid-friendly restaurants in Sydney.

Find the best high teas in Sydney.

Things to do in the Southern Highlands.

Head to one of the best museums in Sydney.

Check out things to do in Sydney on a rainy day.

Enjoy one of the best ocean pools in Sydney.

First time visiting Sydney? Get tips for first time visitors to Sydney.

Cool down at one of these free water parks in Sydney.

Find the best vegetarian and vegan restaurants in Sydney.

Get a list of the best playgrounds in Sydney.

Find the best ice cream and gelato in Sydney

Things to do in the Blue Mountains.

Plan amazing NSW road trips.

Pick your own fruit: fruit picking Sydney.

The best things to do in Western Sydney and Parramatta with kids.

Visit the most beautiful Sydney gardens.

Explore Sydney’s best parks.

Find things to do in Wollongong.

Find the best high teas for kids in Sydney.

Canberra National Zoo & Aquarium

April 20, 2021 / ACT, Australia, Travel / 0 comment

Canberra National Zoo & Aquarium

Visit Australia’s only combined zoo and aquarium and get up close to Aussie icons and endangered species at Canberra National Zoo & Aquarium.

Canberra National Zoo & Aquarium is spread over 47 picturesque acres. The animals have large enclosures and keepers who are dedicated to their care and enrichment. Animals living at the Canberra National Zoo & Aquarium have either been rescued and unable to be returned back to the wild or were bred as part of a regional breeding program.

The National Zoo & Aquarium contributes heavily in a large number of breeding programs designed to help save a number of animals from extinction. They also raise money through their National Zoo & Aquarium Conservation Trust (NZACT) to donate to a number of local and overseas conservation initiatives and charities.

NZACT (the National Zoo & Aquarium Conservation Team) is a volunteer organisation that works with the National Zoo & Aquarium to save some of the worlds most endangered species from extinction through breeding programs and educating zoo visitors as well as fundraising and donating to a number of local and overseas organisations, including Free the Bears, The Snow Leopard Trust, the RSPCA, 21st Century Tiger and Traffic.

The National Zoo & Aquarium is larger than it looks, so set aside the better part of a day to explore it all.

Be sure to check out daily keeper activities to learn more about the animals as they receive a feed or enrichment. On weekends and during school holidays, additional keeper talks are added to the schedule. Visitors also have the chance to meet or feed some of our the animals.

We did a tour of the National Zoo & Aquarium and really enjoyed learning from one of the experts about the animals who lived there.

Our keeper called every animal by name, down to the geese, and described their personality and individual circumstances such as how they came to be living there, as well as giving us further information about the species in the wild. It’s clear that these animals are very loved and cared for by their keepers.

The National Zoo & Aquarium has a large, excellent playground that will occupy kids for hours, so be sure to visit at the end of the day when you’ve seen everything else that you’ve got on your agenda.

Canberra National Zoo & Aquarium
Scrivener Dam, Yarralumla, Canberra, ACT 2611
Hours: Daily, Open 9:30am–5:00pm every day of the year, except Christmas Day.
https://nationalzoo.com.au

Find more things to do in Canberra with kids.

Lennox Gardens & Nara Peace Park Canberra

March 30, 2021 / ACT, Australia, Travel / 0 comment

Lennox Gardens & Nara Peace Park Canberra

Stroll through the serene Lennox Gardens on the shore of Lake Burley Griffin, Canberra. Lennox Gardens is the perfect spot for a relaxing family picnic or bbq with plenty of green space, shady trees, and the landscaped Beijing Garden and Canberra Nara Peace Park to explore.

Tucked away in a quiet spot on the foreshore, Lennox Gardens are a little gem of a spot. With a stunning backdrop including Black Mountain, the Brindabella Ranges and the city centre, Lennox Gardens are also where hot air balloons launch, so if you’re up early you might see them taking off and flying over the lake.

Lennox Gardens is home to two landscaped gifts from Japan and China; each celebrating the sister city links between Canberra, Beijing and Japan’s ancient capital, Nara.

The Beijing Garden is designed in the imperial Chinese garden style of the Qing Dynasty (1644-1912). It features a traditional Chinese welcome gate, Chinese stone sculptures and a Chinese pavilion.

Canberra Nara Peace Park features a small Japanese themed garden, traditional wooden gate and gazebo, and cherry blossom trees.

Find more things to do in Canberra with kids.

Lennox Gardens
Flynn Dr, Yarralumla ACT

Tips for Visiting Oakvale Wildlife Park, Port Stephens

March 17, 2021 / Australia, NSW, Port Stephens, Travel / 0 comment

Tips for Visiting Oakvale Wildlife Park, Port Stephens

Meet native Australian and exotic animals at Oakvale Wildlife Park. Hand-feed roaming animals and enjoy the water park or a bbq lunch.

Oakvale Wildlife Park is 100% Australian owned and operated, and has remained a family business since opening in 1979 as a farm by the Samson family.

Set across 25 acres of bushland, Oakvale Wildlife Park strives to help teach visitors about native wildlife and how we can protect it. Over time, the family acquired various Australian wildlife species and decided to dedicate the park to wildlife conservation.

Oakvale has established multiple endangered species breeding programs where they release threatened and endangered species back into the wild for future generations to enjoy.

The park is quite large and entails a fair bit of walking to get around to see all of the animals and exhibits. The animals living at Oakvale Wildlife Park range from Australian native, domestic farm and exotic animals such as koalas, kangaroos, Tasmanian devils, goats, sheep, rabbits, alligators and ostriches.

Oakvale has put a lot of thought into the activities available for guests, ensuring that a visit is a whole-day activity. There are free roaming animals to be hand fed, keeper talks, feeding shows, two fenced, shaded playgrounds, free BBQ facilities as well as an onsite cafe, plus the excellent Splash Bay Water Park which is open year-round.

Pick up a schedule when you enter the park in the morning to ensure you don’t miss any of the activities.

FEEDING STADIUM

Daily at 11.00am & 2.00pm. Bottle feed baby farm animals and an opportunity to milk a cow.

TRACTOR-TRAILER RIDE
Departing at 11.15am & 2.15pm daily – free.

SHOW TIMES
Due to the health and safety of our guests, staff and animals and adhering to strict guidelines we will not be holding keeper talks during the NSW School Holidays.

ENCOUNTERS
There is the chance to engage in more intimate and personal animal experiences by purchasing individual Wildlife Animal Encounters.

There is plenty of free parking available, and the park has pathways to provide easy access for prams, wheelchairs, mobility scooters and walkers. The Tractor Trailer Rides provide great assistance for less mobile guests. Disabled toilets and showers are located on-site and there is a JennSwing in the playground (a full support swing seat for children with physical disabilities or special needs).

The Oakvale Cafe is located inside the main entrance and serves a selection of freshly made sandwiches and wraps, burgers and wedges, plus other hot and cold options from 10.30am – 3.00pm.