Detour - Bilpin and Mt Tomah

If you're interested in a beautiful day with an easy drive in the countryside, head up to the Mt Tomah Botanic Gardens via Bilpin. The drive to Bilpin is an easy 90 minutes, so you can either stop for fruit picking, buy some pies and produce or have a restaurant meal before heading onto the gardens. We were checking into the Jungle Lodge in the Botanic Gardens that afternoon for a two night stay, so we took the time for a leisurely lunch of woodfire pizzas at the Apple Bar, and grabbed some sensational blueberry and apple pies at the Bilpin Fruit Bowl.

Ten minutes up the road lay the Mt Tomah Botanic Gardens, with the chef's hatted Tomah Gardens Restaurant by Sean Moran, should you wish to indulge, though bookings are recommended.

 The Gardens themselves are perched high with stunning views from the information centre. The gardens have plenty of picnic tables and barbeques so you can bring a picnic if you'd prefer.
















The website lists what's on and they usually host free or low cost children's activities in the school holidays. A great way to get the kids outdoors.

The gardens are open 9 to 5.30 on weekdays and 9.30 - 5.30 on weekends, so make a day of it!

Practicalities:

Apple Bar http://www.applebar.com.au/

Bilpin Fruit Bowl http://www.bilpinfruitbowl.com.au/default.aspx





Mt Tomah Botanic Gardens http://www.bluemountainsbotanicgarden.com.au/whats-on/

Jungle Lodge http://www.bluemountainsbotanicgarden.com.au/accommodation/the-jungle-lodge-accommodation/

Further Reading:

A Room With a View 

Jungle Lodge, Mt Tomah

Linking with #GardenAffair