Blue mountains and Hunter valley trips
Mar 20th, 2005, 07:06 AM
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Blue mountains and Hunter valley trips
Hello,
Blue Mountains:
I am planning a 2 day trip to the blue mountain from Sydney in august 2005. We love hiking. We would to walk for 4 hours with a nice scenery even it's a bit cold. Which place worth it? Which nice accomodation would you recommend for one night?
Hunter valley:
I am also planning a two day trip to Hunter Valley in august 2005. I know that it's not the best season!!! I am french so I know a bit wine. Anyway, it is a unique occasion... We are looking for a nice place to sleep and also a good restaurant (not too expensive - $45 AUD dollars per personn would be fine). What are the must SEE?
Thanks for your kind answer. Of course, we will have a car.
Olivier
Blue Mountains:
I am planning a 2 day trip to the blue mountain from Sydney in august 2005. We love hiking. We would to walk for 4 hours with a nice scenery even it's a bit cold. Which place worth it? Which nice accomodation would you recommend for one night?
Hunter valley:
I am also planning a two day trip to Hunter Valley in august 2005. I know that it's not the best season!!! I am french so I know a bit wine. Anyway, it is a unique occasion... We are looking for a nice place to sleep and also a good restaurant (not too expensive - $45 AUD dollars per personn would be fine). What are the must SEE?
Thanks for your kind answer. Of course, we will have a car.
Olivier
Mar 21st, 2005, 08:12 PM
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Olivier - the "best" bushwalk in the Blue Mtns, would have to be the "Grand Canyon" Walk. You need to drive north of Katoomba, staying on the main highway, and just before the town Blackheath, there is a turnoff signposted to Evans Lookout. Take this road, and a short distance along, you will see a spot where cars park, this the commencement of the best walk in the mountains. There are a lot of steps going both down into the valley, and also back up to the ridge, then a short walk back to the carpark.
The Hunter Valley makes the "best" Semillon in Australia. Look out for Tyrells Vat 1 or 69 (I can't remember the exact numbering....it costs around $60 per bottle, but well worth it)
The main attractions, are of the course the wineries/restaurants, but the Hunter Valley Gardens have now become a good place to visit.
The Hunter Valley makes the "best" Semillon in Australia. Look out for Tyrells Vat 1 or 69 (I can't remember the exact numbering....it costs around $60 per bottle, but well worth it)
The main attractions, are of the course the wineries/restaurants, but the Hunter Valley Gardens have now become a good place to visit.
Mar 21st, 2005, 09:43 PM
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Hello Tignard
The Blue Gum walk is certainly a great hike, but you do need to be very fit to make the climb out at the end of the walk . . . you are climbing up a narrow cliff-face path, and it is really steep!
I would suggest you call in at the Blue Mountains Visitor Centre, located at Glenbrook (first town you come to as you drive up the highway from Penrith). They have plenty of guide books and free literature about the walks in the entire mountains area. Speak with the helpful staff, and they will advise on walks suitable for your ability and time frame. It's a beautiful part of the world, so enjoy!
Same advice for the Hunter Valley; when you get to Cessnock, call at the Visitor Information Centre for local maps, accommodation advice etc. Or you can access www.winecountry.com.au for their information.
I'll be staying in the Hunter and dining at Amanda's On The Edge in a couple of weeks, so can let you know the result!
I've know both these areas for many years, so let me know if you'd like any more info.
The Blue Gum walk is certainly a great hike, but you do need to be very fit to make the climb out at the end of the walk . . . you are climbing up a narrow cliff-face path, and it is really steep!
I would suggest you call in at the Blue Mountains Visitor Centre, located at Glenbrook (first town you come to as you drive up the highway from Penrith). They have plenty of guide books and free literature about the walks in the entire mountains area. Speak with the helpful staff, and they will advise on walks suitable for your ability and time frame. It's a beautiful part of the world, so enjoy!
Same advice for the Hunter Valley; when you get to Cessnock, call at the Visitor Information Centre for local maps, accommodation advice etc. Or you can access www.winecountry.com.au for their information.
I'll be staying in the Hunter and dining at Amanda's On The Edge in a couple of weeks, so can let you know the result!
I've know both these areas for many years, so let me know if you'd like any more info.
Mar 22nd, 2005, 02:54 AM
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Hi, teignard!
There are so many walks in the Blue Mountains that it would be hard to single one out as "better" than any of the others.... really, it may depend, in August, on which day you happen to come up. If it's one of those foggy, drizzly days for which the Upper Mountains are famous, you might be better going only as far as the mid-Mountains and doing one of those walks. Otherwise, Katoomba certainly has the most variety -- you can walk for one hour or one day on the various trails.
I think the suggestion to make your first stop the Glenbrook Tourist Information Centre is a good one -- they will know what the weather is likely to be like on the day you get there, so they can advise, and give you all the maps you want. And, if you get there before they open, you can make a detour right at the turn-off where they are situated, go down through the village, turn left when you get to the railway line, and follow the road down to the entrance to the National Park (5 minutes), from which it's a further ten minutes to Euroka Clearing, where you can "breakfast with the kangaroos". When you're tired of wandering among kangaroos and listening to the white cockatoos, drive back out and by that time the Tourist Office is bound to be open.
Accommodation? If I had my choice, in the winter, I'd stay at one of those grand old guesthouses which have a sitting room with a fireplace. Now, I'm not sure which ones "do" that anymore, but there are two likely candidates at Mount Victoria, so that village would certainly be a possibility. My own favourite is (predictably... I hate to part with my money!) a cheapie... the Grandview at Wentworth Falls -- just far enough away from the tourist hub of Katoomba not to have succumbed to the high prices that some of the B&Bs near Echo Point now charge.
There are so many walks in the Blue Mountains that it would be hard to single one out as "better" than any of the others.... really, it may depend, in August, on which day you happen to come up. If it's one of those foggy, drizzly days for which the Upper Mountains are famous, you might be better going only as far as the mid-Mountains and doing one of those walks. Otherwise, Katoomba certainly has the most variety -- you can walk for one hour or one day on the various trails.
I think the suggestion to make your first stop the Glenbrook Tourist Information Centre is a good one -- they will know what the weather is likely to be like on the day you get there, so they can advise, and give you all the maps you want. And, if you get there before they open, you can make a detour right at the turn-off where they are situated, go down through the village, turn left when you get to the railway line, and follow the road down to the entrance to the National Park (5 minutes), from which it's a further ten minutes to Euroka Clearing, where you can "breakfast with the kangaroos". When you're tired of wandering among kangaroos and listening to the white cockatoos, drive back out and by that time the Tourist Office is bound to be open.
Accommodation? If I had my choice, in the winter, I'd stay at one of those grand old guesthouses which have a sitting room with a fireplace. Now, I'm not sure which ones "do" that anymore, but there are two likely candidates at Mount Victoria, so that village would certainly be a possibility. My own favourite is (predictably... I hate to part with my money!) a cheapie... the Grandview at Wentworth Falls -- just far enough away from the tourist hub of Katoomba not to have succumbed to the high prices that some of the B&Bs near Echo Point now charge.
Mar 28th, 2005, 04:38 AM
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Hello,
Thnaks for your kind and helpful answer.
Regarding the Blue Montains, we will stay at Alan's suggestion and will visit the information center before walking.
Regarding the hunter valley, the restaurant Amanda's On The Edge or Mojo sounds nice. For accomodation, I found this "Hunter Valley Cooperage Bed & Breakfast". It's a bit pricey but sounds very nice. Midweek, the rate is 199$ for a room including full cooked breakfast. It sounds to be a good value. What do you think?
Thanks,
Olivier
Thnaks for your kind and helpful answer.
Regarding the Blue Montains, we will stay at Alan's suggestion and will visit the information center before walking.
Regarding the hunter valley, the restaurant Amanda's On The Edge or Mojo sounds nice. For accomodation, I found this "Hunter Valley Cooperage Bed & Breakfast". It's a bit pricey but sounds very nice. Midweek, the rate is 199$ for a room including full cooked breakfast. It sounds to be a good value. What do you think?
Thanks,
Olivier
Apr 3rd, 2005, 03:09 PM
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Tignard, whenever you read one of my posts, you need to know one thing about me... I am the world's biggest tightwad, and I just hate to part with my money, even though I love to see the world. For that reason, I blanched at your quote of just on two hundred dollars for a night at some fancy B&B.
If you want to spend that kind of money, by all means go ahead... but just be aware that these are prices dreamed up for tourists like yourselves. I would bet that there wouldn't be many Sydneysiders going up to the Hunter for a few days paying that kind of money for a place to sleep.
My memory of that area is that places like Kurri Kurri and Maitland had wonderful -- and not over-expensive -- old Australian pubs where you could stay overnight reasonably cheaply. Now, my memory, sad to say, is fifteen years old (nowadays my theme song is "Don't Get Around Much Anymore"!), so things may have changed in the 21st century.... these grand old places might well now be car-parks for the local supermarkets! However, please do check this rather-ridiculous URL I am about to cut-and-paste for you, as it may just well save you a hundred dollars:
http://www.pubstay.org.au/search_res...=FORM&FORM
(I couldn't believe that that would work -- you have to input the WHOLE thing) so I just checked it out, but, yes, that is a real URL!)
There are a couple of dozen tempting places on this site, if you think (as I do) that staying in an old traditional place that hasn't just been tarted up for the tourists is a nice thing to do.
Happy hunting!
If you want to spend that kind of money, by all means go ahead... but just be aware that these are prices dreamed up for tourists like yourselves. I would bet that there wouldn't be many Sydneysiders going up to the Hunter for a few days paying that kind of money for a place to sleep.
My memory of that area is that places like Kurri Kurri and Maitland had wonderful -- and not over-expensive -- old Australian pubs where you could stay overnight reasonably cheaply. Now, my memory, sad to say, is fifteen years old (nowadays my theme song is "Don't Get Around Much Anymore"!), so things may have changed in the 21st century.... these grand old places might well now be car-parks for the local supermarkets! However, please do check this rather-ridiculous URL I am about to cut-and-paste for you, as it may just well save you a hundred dollars:
http://www.pubstay.org.au/search_res...=FORM&FORM
(I couldn't believe that that would work -- you have to input the WHOLE thing) so I just checked it out, but, yes, that is a real URL!)
There are a couple of dozen tempting places on this site, if you think (as I do) that staying in an old traditional place that hasn't just been tarted up for the tourists is a nice thing to do.
Happy hunting!
Apr 4th, 2005, 03:09 AM
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Hello again Tignard
We're just back from a wonderful weekend in the Hunter Valley, and Amanda's on the Edge was all we expected! Can't be faulted for service, menu selection, quality of food, etc. Of course, for all this you are paying top dollar, but for our special family get together it was an excellent choice. They're open lunch and dinner, but make sure you book ahead.
We also discovered Toby's Coffees at Rothbury Estate - fabulous views over the estate, and excellent coffees.
As well as the huge range of wineries, the Hunter Valley gardens are well worth a few hours; strolling through the wide varieties of garden style, then sitting amid rose gardens for refreshments is a lovely way to spend some time! Come and enjoy!
We're just back from a wonderful weekend in the Hunter Valley, and Amanda's on the Edge was all we expected! Can't be faulted for service, menu selection, quality of food, etc. Of course, for all this you are paying top dollar, but for our special family get together it was an excellent choice. They're open lunch and dinner, but make sure you book ahead.
We also discovered Toby's Coffees at Rothbury Estate - fabulous views over the estate, and excellent coffees.
As well as the huge range of wineries, the Hunter Valley gardens are well worth a few hours; strolling through the wide varieties of garden style, then sitting amid rose gardens for refreshments is a lovely way to spend some time! Come and enjoy!
