Things To Do in the Hawkesbury- Attractions

Featherdale Wildlife Park

Address: 217 Kildare Road, Doonside
Phone: 02 9622 1644
Hours: 9am-5pm everday (closed Christmas day)

It's an unusually windy and warm October day, but weather doesn't get in the way of the pint-size audience filling the wildlife park.

''Where are the flying foxes''? From within the reptile enclosure comes a high-pitched squeal, ''Ooh, look at his nose'', referring to the pig-snout turtle. School holidays and the volume level soars as laughing kids make their way through the displays of the furry, the scaly and the feathered.

Under a leafy umbrella, we observe a black-beak buzzard, its patterned wings a stunning display of brown, black and white high fashion. At Easter, the keepers bring out coloured eggs and these buzzards cleverly use handy rocks as the tool for breaking the eggshells.

Surprises are often just around the corner: enter a darkened enclosure where ghost bats hang upside down -- an occasional flap of the wing gives away their spot, pleasing and petite little creatures. Of course, the photogenic darlings of everyone are the koalas, but don?t overlook the handsome swamp wallabies – sweet humoured and charming.

Feedings are scheduled routinely throughout the day – and certainly when the park opens at 9 am, everyone is hungry! You can bring your own picnic, for shaded tables are plentiful throughout the park. Still, the park's sausage sizzle smells marvellous.

Mount Tomah Botanical Gardens

Set along historic Bells Line of Road and above Bilpin, Mount Tomah is the cool-climate garden of New South Wales Botanic Gardens Trust. “Cool” because it sits 1000 metres above sea level. ” Cool” because the 70-acre garden features plants, trees and flowers of the Southern Hemisphere mountains – botanical life that is simultaneously hardy and colourful.

Footpaths, waterfalls and granite-lined trails endow the gardens with a unified and seamless ambience. Plants and trees from diverse mountain ranges – Japan, China, Chile, Korea and North America – are clustered as “plant communities” (separate gardens) and each has a unique character and quality.

We regard Mount Tomah Botanic Gardens as a “village” for it has all the characteristics of one: a restaurant (modern Australian cuisine) with distant views out to Mount Yango and closer ones to Mount Wilson that leave you staring in wonder, picnic and barbeque facilities (free), a gift shop and a gallery for art exhibitions. The newest addition is the Waratah Education Centre for special and unusual classes. People movers allow everyone access to the Gardens.

Muru Mittigar

Address: 89-151 Old Castlereagh Road, Castlereagh (Penrith Lakes)
Phone: 02 4729 2377
Monday-Friday 9am-4pm; Saturday 10am-2pm; Sunday by appointment only

On a delightful spring day at the Centre, we tagged along with a group of happy hyperactive Year Two students as they learned about Aboriginal games, painting, storytelling and dancing. These laughing, squealing children learned unconsciously. ''We're here to have fun,'' one little guy shouted as he ran down the trail to the field where, after a bit of instruction, he would try to throw a beautifully painted boomerang.

Meanwhile, in the art room, another group heard about designs and styles meaningful to Aboriginal people. Paint readied and brushes in hand, a momentary calm settled over these children as they painted in teams.

After lunch, storytelling and a performance by a talented musician on the didgeridoo filled out their day. Fatigued by the excitement, the outdoors and activities, they headed toward their bus, but not before a great show of affection for the instructors.

Muru Mittigar is an authentic cultural and artistic experience, interactive and enriching. We discover the significance of Australia's ancient past and realise why local Aboriginal communities are reviving their traditions. Do it for real is a fitting tag.

Rouse Hill House and Farm

Address: Guntawong Road (Off Windsor Road), Rouse Hill
Phone: 02 9627 6777
Entrance Fee

With convict labour, construction of the Georgian-style stone house began in 1813 and was completed in 1818. The owner, Richard Rouse had thoroughbred horses so he hired a leading architect of the day to design the stables. Such a beautiful design of wood stalls one does not expect to see in a stable. Stable hands were provided accommodation and, most likely unusual for the day, the large stone tack room was heated in the 1800s by a massive fireplace. Six generations of the Rouse/Terry families owned the property and lived in the house continuously for 180 years. For those who love history, 19th century buildings, furnishings and rambling gardens, this house is filled with beautiful relics and memories belonging to generations.

Surrounding the western side of the Rouse Hill House and stables, the hills are green and slope gently away into significant pastures and down to a modest pond. Cattle graze quietly in the pasture, occasionally looking across the fence at a passing visitor. In the distance, the deep hue of the Blue Mountains fills the backdrop and from our vantage point, the trappings of modern day life are absent, the only remnant, a 1794 path used by settlers to travel from Parramatta to Windsor – known for many decades as the Hawkesbury Road.

Now owned by Historic Houses Trust, guided tours through the furnished Rouse home are offered to the public several times through the week. (Please call 02 9627 6777 for specifics). A range of fun classes for kids are held in the visitor centre and on the farm – check the school holiday offerings. The visitor centre and the ground are open to the public Wednesday through Sunday, 9:30 am–4:30pm for a reasonable fee. (Ask about the family entrance fee.) The visitor centre is much like a mini-museum – with photos and artefacts on display and great books to purchase. Wear comfortable and closed-toe footwear – you are on a farmstead.

[NOTE: From the Blue Mountains and Penrith, use Rouse Road access. There is good signage before the traffic signal on Windsor Road. However, if you find yourself on Rouse Road and it is closed due to flooding, turn around and go back to the signal at Windsor Road. Turn left toward Windsor. Continue straight through the traffic signal at Annangrove. Turn left onto Guntawong Road. It is only a short distance to the gated entrance of Rouse Hill House on the left.]

Tizzana Winery

Address: 518 Tizzana Road, Ebenezer
Phone: 02 4579 1150
Hours: Sat–Sun and public holidays noon–6 pm

On the road to Tizzana, a soft November rain falls, covering vineyards, waterlily lagoons and surrounding farmlands with a delicate mist. Some 20 minutes from historic Windsor, the country road bends and weaves. Without warning, on the damp hillside above the road, an imposing sandstone structure comes into view; you have been inexplicably transported into the Tuscan region of Italy.

In 1887 the vineyards at Tizzana were planted with imported French and Italian vine cuttings by Italian immigrant Thomas Fiaschi. A physician, Fiaschi had a practice in Windsor. The Fiaschi family continued the wine business after Dr Fiaschi’s death in 1927, until 1949.

Some years later, the abandoned three-storey building was set on fire by vandals. All that remained was a stone shell. In 1969 restoration was begun by Peter and Carolyn Auld, and today, wine-tasting continues in this beautiful building. For group tastings, the Aulds have an historic lecture and tasting with cheeses for a very reasonable fee. On-site group luncheons or dinner functions can be arranged.

During a recent restoration the Aulds have added luxury five-star (AAA rated) bed and breakfast accommodation – perfect for a “touch of Tuscany” without the cost of airfare and the pain of travel!”

Tobruk Sheep Station

Address: 5050 Old Northern Road, Maroota
Phone: 02 4566 8223

The Tobruk outback experience is historic in an unusual way – the history is embedded not solely in buildings or homesteads, but in the animals, the outback and a young colony looking for ways to survive. It is the outdoor life and the outback tradition that Tobruk carries on and with great fun and entertainment.

Tobruk is in a powerful and magical setting in the Maroota hills. On 150 acres, the view is of pristine valley hills and Blue Mountain peaks – perfect for a wedding or a party of friends. You are surrounded by a pastoral life with only the sound of sheep, goats and horses – and we seem to recall a rooster or two?

First, let’s talk about the ongoing programs. In addition to the regular programs, the owners have crafted a family day program – interactive and hands-on for little kids, school age ones and yes, teenagers too, along with their parents and grandparents. They learn under the experts to throw a boomerang, crack a whip, feed the animals, and shear a sheep. This is a great learning concept.

Group programs are run daily – school groups, domestic or international tours and corporate groups. A four-hour program of activities also includes a billy tea and Aussie damper in the morning and a great lunch or dinner – depending on the scheduled program – in the on-site restaurant with a view worth a thousand words. 

Now, about the pristine setting of Tobruk – for corporate team building, Tobruk is designed to have different activities and use different locations for those activities. Perhaps you want a more formal event? With 150 acres the choices are almost unlimited. Think white linen covered tables and pre-dinner wine out on the property at sunset, then moving to another location (weather permitting) for a starlight dinner. Is this a high activity group?  Plan a bush dance with great musicians and didgeridoo exhibitions.  We found the staff to be highly imaginative.

Bookings are required.

Quick Planner

© 2008 Villages of Hawkesbury | A minor production | Website by FX Design Studio
Home | Things to Do | Mount Tomah | Rouse Hill | Highlands | Lowlands | Ebenezer | Rouse Hill | Riverlands | Weddings | Contacts