Winter may be just around the corner, but that doesn’t mean you should stay home. There’s always something to do here in the Hawkesbury Valley, no matter the weather or season. Crowne Plaza Hawkesbury Valley is conveniently located in the heart of Hawkesbury Valley. From here, you can explore the stunning Hawkesbury Valley in its entirety, all-year round. The warm season is great but, it can get a little too warm as the heat slows travellers down. Winter is a great opportunity to discover new destinations and go on exciting adventures. Your next adventure is about to begin. Book with us and escape to the Hawkesbury Valley this winter. Keep reading to find out all about Hawkesbury’s Winter wonders.
Explore Hawkesbury’s Vineyards & Wineries
The Hawkesbury Valley is home to some of the best wineries in NSW. Whether you’re visiting during the summer, or whether you decide to travel during the winter, we recommend that you spend some time exploring some of the region’s best wineries and vineyards.
Ironbark Distillery
This award-winning distillery is all about perfection. If you’re looking for high-quality, world-class spirits that are not mass-produced and blended to taste, then you have to visit the Ironbark Distillery. All spirits produced at Ironbark are made with locally-sourced produce and water. They are bottled by hand and great attention is given to detail. Their gin is truly one of a kind!
Spirits at Ironbark distillery are born of a passion to produce the finest spirits in the world. With several international and domestic awards, this distillery proves that all it takes to create quality products is a drive for perfection—and just really good wine.
37 William St, North Richmond NSW 2754
Krinklewood Vineyard
There’s nothing pretentious about this organic vineyard. Krinklewood is undeniably one of the most beautiful wineries in the region. The tasting staff are friendly and well-informed, always willing to share their expert knowledge with their visitors.
Krinklewood’s gorgeous location offers relaxing moments and is the perfect setting to enjoy a glass of locally-produced wine with a bit of cheese. Children will love the beautiful peacocks that bob around in the yard. Krinklewood Vineyard is one of those places that makes you want to keep coming back for more. Definitely well worth the drive if you find yourself close to the Broke area.
712 Wollombi Rd, Broke NSW 2330
Tizzana Winery
Tizzana is one of the most well-known wineries in the Hawkesbury Valley, and for a good reason. With more than 100 years of history under its belt, this winery knows how to produce great quality wine. The Tizzana, Tizzana Selection and Federation labels that are available for testing at the cellar door come with their own sets of masterfully-produced spirits.
Tizzana’s beautiful and serene setting offers views of the vineyard and the spectacular Hawkesbury River. This winery is conveniently located just miles away from Windsor.
518 Tizzana Rd, Ebenezer NSW 2756, Australia
Explore Hawkesbury’s Local Food
The Hawkesbury is also home to many local markets. Stroll through the streets of Windsor or treat yourself to the best of Hawkesbury’s local produce in Richmond.
Windsor Mall Sunday Market
Conveniently located close to Crowne Plaza Hawkesbury Valley, the Windsor Mall Sunday Market is always filled with fresh local produce, quality handmade homewares, and other goods. The beautiful streets of Windsor just add to the whole experience. Local bands and buskers offer great entertainment to locals and visitors alike.
George Street Mall, Windsor, NSW 2593
Bilpin Market
This community-run market in Bilpin is open every Saturday. You’ll find many stalls here, all filled with fresh and locally-produced fruit and vegetables. In other stalls, you’ll even find freshly-picked flowers and herbs as well as a wide collection of arts and crafts made by locals.
2482 Bells Line of Rd, Bilpin NSW 2758
Richmond Good Food Market
A small food market located in the heart of Richmond, only minutes away from Windsor and Crowne Plaza Hawkesbury Valley. Here you’ll find only the best of Hawkesbury’s local produce. From freshly-baked delicious pretzels in a variety of flavours to fruit and vegetables that are freshly picked from the local gardens and fields. Keep an eye out for the delicious treats sold at the local kebab shop!
118 March St, Richmond NSW 2753, Australia
Hawkesbury Harvest Farmers and Fine Good Market
Aside from fresh local produce, in this market, you’ll also have the chance to taste tempting gourmet food made from locally-sourced meats, fish and cheeses. Pick from a wide range of homemade jams to take home or try the exquisite woodfired sourdough bread. Castle Hill is only a 35-minute drive from Sydney; the perfect outing opportunity for a delightful Saturday morning in the country.
Showground Rd, Castle Hill NSW 2154, Australia
Discover Hawkesbury’s Museums
Australia isn’t particularly known for extremely harsh winters, but at times, temperatures can drop significantly during the winter season, especially in higher altitudes. Experiencing the great outdoors should always be a priority, but you probably shouldn’t go hiking during a snowstorm. Take some time off to learn something new by visiting Hawkesbury’s unique museums.
Hawkesbury Regional Museum
This museum is located in one of Australia’s oldest settlements. Entry is completely free, but you can pay a small fee for group guided tours.
At Hawkesbury Regional Museum you’ll find various unique and interesting artifacts. Such as the celestial globe that belonged to John Tabutt or a diary kept by a member of HMAS Hawkesbury during World War II.
The museum was opened in 2008 and houses more than 6,000 items of material culture. Themes are based on the stories of the Hawkesbury River, land and people. Many items in the collection belonged to the pioneering families that settled Hawkesbury in the 19th century.
8 Baker Street, Windsor NSW 2756
Experiencing History
Cobham Hall was built in 1826 by convicts and was the residence of Solomon Wiseman and his family. This is one of the oldest Australian buildings of its age that’s still standing.
Cobham Hall is also known as the Wisemans Inn Hotel. Entry is free and the museum is open Saturdays, Sundays & Public Holidays. Take a peek of what life in a rich colonial home looked like.
If you’d rather experience life the way ordinary folk did back then, then you should travel north to the Australiana Pioneer Village. This NSW Heritage-listed village is set on 28 acres of scenic ground on the banks of the Hawkesbury River. The village is run by volunteers and opens every Sunday.
Local heritage-listed buildings were saved from demolition in the mid 20th century and were relocated here one at a time. The village offers a glimpse into the life of the people in Hawkesbury in the 19th century and is a must-visit for every traveller. In Australiana you’ll find a church, a shearing shed, a blacksmith’s shop as well as two eateries (The Damper Camp and The Oxboro Inn).
Cobham Hall: 6 Old Northern Road, Wisemans Ferry NSW 2775
Australiana Pioneer Village: 10 Rose St, Wilberforce NSW 2756
Rouse Hill House & Farm
This heritage-listed homestead and estate was the family home or Richard Rouse and his family. It was built in the Australian Georgian style and developed between 1813 and 1819.
With more than 20,000 objects that date back as far as 200 years, Rouse estate is a must-visit for anyone looking to learn more about Australia’s colonisation history.
Most of the property has been renovated several times throughout the decades and largely remains intact. The main house consists of 22 rooms, an arcaded courtyard, a staircase hall and two cellar rooms. You’ll also find an old garden filled with mature Araucaria pines and the picturesque bath house.
356 Annangrove Road, Rouse Hill NSW 2155
Vine Cottage Tool Museum
Vine Cottage Tool Museum exhibits a wide and varied range of tradesman tools that date all the way back to Australia’s early colonial era. The Vine Cottage was built by the Purcell family in the 1840s and was originally located along the Nepean River.
Local curator Bob Dennis dismantled the building and reconstructed it to its original format over the course of 10 years. The estate features a 4-tier water fountain and a blacksmith’s workshop with a wide collection of early tradesman’s tools.
The native gardens are filled with bird life and offer panoramic views of the Blue Mountains and Penrith Lakes. Vine Cottage is now part of the Munbilla Victorian property is one of Hawkesbury’s hidden gems, rich in history and cultural heritage.
218 Church Lane, Castlereagh NSW 2749
Kurrajong Radio Museum
Looking for something different? Kurrajong Radio Museum offers visitors a nostalgic trip through the golden years of radio. This museum features hundreds of items that are individually labelled for easy recognition. Exhibits include domestic, armed service, professional and commercial radios.
Discover display boards that trace the history of radio through the decades with particular relevance to the Australian scene. Try your hand at sending Morse Code! Alternatively, check out the radio station’s control room and listen to a tape recorder that’s probably older than you!
Drive a teleprinter or scroll through one of the finest and most extensive armed services radio collections anywhere. Take your whole family on an adventure like no other!
842 Bells Line of Rd, Kurrajong Hills NSW 2758
Explore Hawkesbury’s Natural Wonders
Hawkesbury is a popular destination among visitors and for a good reason. The region offers countless opportunities for outdoor activities such as camping, bushwalking, picnicking, bird watching, cycling and much more.
Hawkesbury is home to four gigantic national parks, all with their own set of spectacular hiking trails and bushwalks. Most trails are accessible all year round, with the exception of a couple high-altitude walks in rough mountainous areas.
Wollemi National Park
Wollemi is the second largest national park in the state and part of the Greater Blue Mountains World Heritage Area. The Colo River that runs through the southern part breathes life into the area. Expect spectacular scenery and a range of bushwalking experiences in a diverse ecosystem, with hundreds of unique plant and animal species.
Wheeny Creek Reserve can be accessed from Comleroy Road. This easy walk is stunning during winter as waters rise, giving way to new life in spring. For experienced hikers, we recommend the long Bob Turners walking track. It descends down to the Colo Gorge a lovely picnic area with a natural pool.
Blue Mountains National Park
This park is extremely popular with canyoners and bushwalkers alike. Most of its spectacular scenic lookouts and walking tracks are accessible all year-round but extra caution should be exercised during winter time, especially if travelling in higher altitudes after snowfall.
That being said, some of the shorter walks are a great way to experience NSW wildlife during winter. For example, Poet’s Rock at the southern end of Lieutenant Bowen Drive offers amazing views of the Cumberland Plain and Sydney CBD. The Burralow Fire Trail leads down to Burralow Creek, where you’ll find the Crago Observatory and a wonderful bush camping area beside the creek.
Scheyville National Park
Scheyville National Park provides visitors with a perfect blend of history and natural beauty. Bushwalking, birdwatching, cycling, horse riding; you can do it all here. The famous migrant camp can also be found within the park’s boundaries.
The History Walking Trail starts at the Scheyville National Parks Office, takes visitors through the park as informative signs describe the early European occupation and colonisation of the area.
Many different tracks lead to the famous Longneck Lagoon. Here you can find a variety of bird species in their natural wetland environment. These walks are relatively short and tracks are easily accessible year-round.
Mount Wilson
Mount Wilson’s cool-climate gardens are about an hour’s drive from Richmond. The village is located in the middle of Blue Mountains National Park, providing travellers with plenty of opportunities for scenic walks.
Travel to Chinamans Hat from Du Faurs Rocks by following the track along the cliff top. Take in the stunning views of the town of Bell, Wollangambe River, Du Faurs and Bell Creeks. At Chinamans Hat you can find evidence of Aboriginal occupation by examining the grooves that were cut into the rocks with the help of sharpening tools.
The Du Faurs Lookout provides views over the spectacular canyons of the Wollangambe River, while the Wynns Rock Lookout provides equally spectacular views of Bowen’s Creek.
More Things to Do
Hawkesbury is truly an amazing piece of Australian land. Its unparalleled natural beauty and culture-rich history make it an ideal travel destination. Here are some more things to do during your escape to the Hawkesbury Valley this winter:
- Board tiny ‘Milo’ and explore the Hawkesbury River in style. This unique boat may be small but it is tough as nails. Milo brings a little old world charm to the river but is also equipped with the latest electronic and safety equipment.
- Discover Australia’s oldest church: Ebenezer Church, established in 1809 as the first non-conformist Church and extant school in Australia. The church council’s incredible effort to restore the building won them the NSW Heritage Branch Heritage Award.
- Spend a day horse riding at Hawkesbury Valley Equestrian Centre. Learn how to ride while taking in the spectacular views of the Nepean River and the Blue Mountains.
- Watch the races up close at Hawkesbury Race Club! With several events and special racedays throughout the year, Hawkesbury Race Club combines fun and excitement and brings joy to adults and children alike!
- Get an adrenaline rush at IFLY Indoor Skydiving. Enter a wind tunnel and experience the feeling of skydiving with the help of qualified instructors; an exciting and exhilarating activity that the whole family can enjoy.
Learn more about all the different attractions in the region.
What are you waiting for? Plan your winter escape in the Hawkesbury Valley now! Crowne Plaza Hawkesbury Valley is conveniently located between Sydney and the Central Coast. It’s the perfect location for all your winter adventures in the area. Book with us today!