Connect to makers, growers, locals and nature in NSW this month, with engaging farm visits, new tours across both the land and sky, inspiring places to eat and drink and new accommodation that will transform you.
EXPERIENCES Pick-your-own produce
Experience the joy of pickin
g fruit straight from the tree and flowers straight from the soil they are grown in with the new Central Coast pick-your-own produce seasonal guide. Pick oranges at Meliora Farm, sunflowers at the Giving Farm, pecans at Artisan Estate Farm Stay and more.
A country cycle
Get closer to the dramatic peaks of the Warrumbungles and the intriguing rock sculptures of Pilliga on the new seven-day Hike and Bike tour from Australian Cycle Tours. Explore scenic country backroads on an e-bike, then venture further into the valleys and peaks on foot. Groups are small and accommodation includes rural farm stays and camping throughout the trip.
Seeing South Coast stars
Journey through the night sky above Nelsons Beach with Jervis Bay Stargazing, newly launched by the acclaimed team behind Blue Mountains Stargazing. The 90-minute tour is guided by an astrophysicist and includes constellation storytelling, views through state-of-the-art telescopes and binoculars, and a souvenir.
Do the locomotion
Feel the chug of a traditional steam train during Bathurst Steam Weekend from 10-12 June. Climb aboard a special 1.5-hour ride from Bathurst to Wimbledon and return, or book a half-day experience that takes you to Orange and back. Choose from open saloon seating or a compartment for up to six. Plus, ticket holders get 20% off admission to the Bathurst Rail Museum!
FOOD & DRINK Dinner in a church
Dine and drink in a Federation Romanesque-style church at Bowery Kitchen and Bar, a new Blue Mountains bistro in Katoomba. Created by the team behind nearby Avalon Restaurant, the menu is inspired by dishes from around the globe, while cocktails from the bar utilise Australian-made spirits.
Ciao Central Coast
Serving up woodfired pizzas and authentic antipasti in Mediterranean-inspired surrounds, Lago Cucina is a chic Italian trattoria in the newly renovated Budgewoi Hotel on the Central Coast. Head in for slow-cooked ragu and crisp zucchini flowers and linger for a drink at the terrazzo bar.
Graze your way through Hastings
A delicious way to experience the Mid-North Coast’s Hastings region is via the self-drive Hastings Farm Gate Tour. From Friday to Monday over the June long weekend, local farmers will open their gates for visitors to sample their produce and learn their farming methods. Pick up pastured beef from Doraville Organics, native bushfoods from Barbushco, yoghurt and cheese from Hastings Riverland Milk and more.
Meet the brewer
Gerringong’s family-run craft beer brewery Stoic Brewing has launched a behind-the-scenes tour run by their head brewer, Jono. On the 90-minute tour, visitors will see the brewing process from grain to glass, learn the history of the business, be treated to a guided tasting featuring Stoic’s signature brews and get a t-shirt to take home.
Mega tasty
Immerse yourself in a true farm-to-table experience at Megalong, a new Blue Mountains restaurant beautifully nestled into a Megalong Valley farm producing its own olives, berries, honey, poultry, beef, herbs, vegetables and more. Executive chef Colin Barker (ex The Boathouse on Blackwattle Bay) transforms the farm bounty into an exquisite and ever-changing set menu served to an elegant dining room with views of the farm.
ACCOMMODATION Escape to the hinterland
Tucked between rolling farmland and lush rainforest, settle into Selah Valley’s three new luxury cabins in Tyalgum, in the Tweed hinterland. The one- and two-bedroom self-contained cabins feature modern kitchens, dining and lounge rooms, bathrooms, private decks, and outdoor firepits with endless nature views.
Stylish stay in the Gong
Hotel Totto offers a cool new place to stay the night in Wollongong. Just a few minutes from the beach, the 150-room property features minimalist design, self-service check-in, a ground-floor cafe and the Mediterranean-inspired restaurant and bar, Basta.
