Blue Bottle Tours

BACK ROADS TO THE HUNTER VALLEY
Four Wheel Drive Tour
HEAR – the birds of the gum trees, the cicadas in summer, the stories of convicts,
SEE – some of the oldest buildings/structures in Australia and dirt roads through the forest,
TASTE – fine Australian wine, home cooked cakes and other Australian foods,
FEEL – the fresh air of the country and
SMELL – the eucalypts
This tour is designed to give you an experience of the Australian bush. We travel up from the Northern Beaches into the beautiful tall eucalyptus forests of the Galston Gorge and on to historic Wiseman’s Ferry on the Hawkesbury River. Along the river were some of the earliest farms in Australia. It was here that the early colonists finally found more fertile soil.

We drive onto the river punt, cross the famous Hawkesbury River, and continue north to St Albans for morning tea. Here we spend some time in one of the earliest hotels in Australia, The Settler’s Arms, and sample a typical Australian morning tea.

After morning tea, the dirt track winds its way through farming land and bushland joining up with one of the oldest roads in Australia. I can tell you stories of the early convict gangs sentenced to work on the road and show you one of the campsites along the route.

We arrive in Wollombi for lunch – your choice, order a sandwich from me, or choose a pub lunch or a gourmet restaurant meal.

In the afternoon I plan to take you to some local boutique vineyards where you can sample some of the world famous Hunter Valley Wines.

On the drive back, time permitted, and especially if we haven’t seen a kangaroo today, we can stop at an Australian wildlife park or maybe drive down to the coast for fish and chips, or stop and have a famous Australian meat pie (as these are optional experiences, they are not included in the cost of the day).

Please note: route may vary due to bushfires or floods

Max tour group – four people

The Hunter Valley Trip is proving popular. Its called Convict Trail to the Wineries. I travel along the Great North Road, built by convict chain gangs, across the famous Hawkesbury River and onto one of the first inns built in Australia, at St Albans. Then travel through pristine bushland, into Wollombi for picnic lunch (included) and visit from three to five boutique wineres.