Discover The Hawkesbury

Saturday

9am Arrive at the Visitor Information Centre to collect local maps and Hawkesbury information. Head through Richmond to start your day with a short bushwalk to the Vale of Avoca lookout.

Enjoy this beautiful natural lookout of the Grose Valley. To get there drive through Richmond and cross the Hawkesbury River to North Richmond.  Turn down Grose Vale Road and then 6km further on turn into Cabbage Tree Road - park your car at the gate at the end.  A 1.5km walk up the fire trail gets you to the breathtaking Vale of Avoca lookout.

11am Have you worked up an appetite? It’s only a quick 5 minute drive to Kurrajong Village for lunch. The village is the perfect place to stop and enjoy the unique and quirky shops where you can pick up gifts or something unique for yourself.  The views from Kurrajong’s cafés and restaurants are a delightful surprise so take in the vista while enjoying a delicious meal. If you’d prefer to continue enjoying the outdoors get your lunch to take away - check out The Deli La Na, it's a cute little deli who offers all sorts of delicacies and delicious treats and walk to pretty Memorial Park.

2.30pm Continue along Bells Line of Road west up to Bilpin to visit Hillbilly Cider or Bilpin Cider.  Both cider sheds offer  cider tastings, cider sales as well as a selection of light meals. The quirky cider shed at Hillbilly Cider offers delicious wood fired pizzas - and a must-try is firm favourite the Apple Calzone!  Bilpin Cider offers burgers, tacos and delicious charcuterie boards - make sure to try their delicious apple pie for dessert.

4.30pm It's time to walk off all that scrumptious food so make your way back to the historic town of Richmond for a self guided walking tour utilising the free booklet that you collected at the Visitor Information Centre earlier in the day.  Alternately the guide can be found online here.  Richmond is one of the Hawkesbury's five towns that Governor Lachlan Macquarie established in 1810. The town can be easily accessed by car or train and easily explored by foot.

6.30pm On your walk you will notice the heritage pubs that still stand proudly along the local streets in Richmond.  The oldest being   The Royal Richmond Hotel this is one of the oldest continuously operating pubs in the country and boasts seasonal offerings that highlight   local producers, farmers and gardeners from around the Hawkesbury.  Enjoy a meal or a night-cap and relax and unwind.

When it's time to get a good night’s rest. The choice is yours – choose from luxury accommodation, comfortable motels, houseboats, caravan parks, character filled B&Bs or tent sites - we have it all.  Whatever your budget you will find accommodation in the Hawkesbury that's right for you.  Click here for a comprehensive listing of places to stay.