Blue Mountains & Lilianfels with Hunter Valley & The Convent, Self drive
5 days / 4 nights
Begins / Ends Sydney

• For those that love wine and food this self-drive journey offers a huge range of delights – from Lilianfel’s fabulous restaurants to Chez Pok & Robert’s in the Hunter Valley and all the little boutique producers and cafés in between.

• There’s plenty of opportunity to be active, bush walk, tour the Jenolan Caves, hire a bike & ride the wine country, or experience the joy of hot air ballooning

• Pampering treatments at Lilianfel’s Spa.

Day 1 - To The Blue Mountains, Lilianfels, 2 nights

Collect your hire car and ‘head for the hills’ … quite literally! The Blue Mountains are named for the blue haze generated by the eucalyptus oil that hangs in the air above the forest and they comprise over one million hectares of land on Sydney’s doorstep.

On your way through the mountains you may like to stop for a stroll in the pretty villages of Leura and Wentworth Falls or perhaps visit the Falls after which the town is named. The scenic railway boasts the steepest incline in the world and there is a scenic skyway as well.

Your 2 night stay will be at Lilianfels - set in two acres of English-style gardens this is a luxurious five star country retreat. Facilities include a spacious lounge with cosy fire, a reading room, billiard room, a fabulous indoor swimming pool, tennis courts, mountain bikes and a health spa.

Day 2 - A day of pleasure

Spend the day at your leisure. From Lilianfels you can enjoy stunning views of the Jamison Valley and Three Sisters rock formation. The Blue Mountains National Park is on your doorstep and there are both short and long trails on which you will discover valleys, waterfalls and lookouts. All the while keep an eye out for native fauna; it is abundant but very shy.

The 26 villages and townships of The Blue Mountains are home to many galleries, arts, crafts and antique shops as well as restaurants and cafés. Mt Tomah Botanic Gardens is a lovely place for a wander and is the cool climate annex to the Sydney Royal Botanic Gardens. Stop in Katoomba for a ‘sweet-fix’ at the historic Paragon Restaurant, the home of hand-made confectionery since 1916. The restaurant with cosy wood panelled booths is an ideal rendezvous for late breakfasts, morning and afternoon teas and lunches.

Both Lilianfel’s restaurants are award winners so we suggest you dine in tonight – be sure and make reservations.

Day 3 - To The Hunter Valley

On the beautiful drive north you may care to stop at historic Windsor - set on a high bank of the magnificent Haweksbury River, at the foot of the Blue Mountains. Established as a river port in 1810, the town provided early Sydney settlers with grain from the farming country around. Nearby is Richmond - the starting point for the scenic Bells Line of Road. There is a magnificent park in the town centre and many historic buildings still in use today.,

Not too much further is Wollemi National Park, NSW's largest wilderness area that protects the largest remaining forested wilderness in NSW, including the Colo-Capertee river system. The Colo River and its gorge is undoubtedly one of the most spectacular in Australia.

Arriving into the Hunter Valley near Pokolbin, stay 2 nights at The Convent.

Day 4 - Explore The Hunter Valley

Stay close to home and enjoy The Convent - visit the vineyards, get to know a llama at the Lavender & Llama Farm, take a horse and carriage ride or visit the popular Hunter Valley Cheese Factory along with the many gift and antique stores in the area. Take a walk along the 8 kms of pathways in the display gardens at Hunter Valley Gardens. Enjoy a picnic and include some of the local produce and of course, the wonderful wine.

Or head to the Upper Hunter where cliffs, mountains, forests, wombats and kangaroos, wedge-tail eagles, colourful parrots, tiny blue wrens, vibrant rural towns, tiny villages and historic homesteads ensure there is plenty to do and see.

Nature lover’s will enjoy Barrington Tops - go bush walking, swimming, canoeing and horse riding. Enjoy a picnic lunch in World Heritage surroundings next to fast flowing streams, laze in the sunshine and admire the beautiful scenery – the Antarctic beech forests, the waterfalls, the sphagnum moss areas – Gondwanaland – how little some areas have changed.

Day 5 - Return to Sydney

To mark a special occasion, or just for the joy of it, take a sunrise hot air balloon flight over the Hunter Valley Wine country and finish with a champagne celebration breakfast.

The drive to Sydney is at your own pace. Return your hire car or if you wish to keep it for further travels, just let our consultants know your requirements.
 

Options & Upgrades

• Add a hot air balloon flight to your Hunter Valley stay

• Up-grade to a luxury hire car

• Let us arrange a local expert guide to show you the best of the Blue Mountains and / or the Hunter Valley – private tours will be planned to suit your personal interests.