Series 4: Episode 21

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Series 4: Episode 21

This week on Discover Downunder we continue our journey along the Greater Blue Mountains Drive in NSW. There are 18 Discovery Trails, throughout the mountains, each trail can be accomplished in a day trip, weekend, or short break.

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Our first port of call was a winery, no pun intended.

The Tizzana Winery is an hour’s drive from Sydney on the Hawkesbury River.

The winery was established by Dr Thomas Fiaschi, a leading surgeon of the time, and an authority on viticulture.

In 1882 he purchased around 230 acres at Sackville Reach and planted 5 acres of grapes. Before long he had 55 acres of vines and built the winery in 1887 to handle the vintage.

Vine cuttings were imported from Italy and France, which the doctor skilfully turned into outstanding wines.

In 1949 the last vintage from those original plantings took place.

All the wines were sent from Tizzana to Sydney via the Hawkesbury River.

Sadly in 1995 the winery was attacked by vandals and set on fire.

Very little survived, just a shell and memories.

Peter and Carolyn Auld began the wineries restoration in 1969.

A further five acres of vines were planted in 1980 including Shiraz, Cabernet Sauvignon and Muscat.

For cellar door sales and tastings, the winery is open weekends and public holiday from midday. They will open at other times during the week by prior arrangement.

The Dharug National Park is situated on the Hawkesbury River, just under a 2 hour drive from Sydney.

This spectacular park is full of natural wonders, with colourful sandstone features, it covers an area of around 14,000 hectares.

Between the years 1826 and 1836, the historic Old Great North Road was built by convicts to connect Sydney with Newcastle and the Upper Hunter Valley.

Vast amounts of sandstone rocks were carved for the road’s retaining wall by these men.
The enormous effort by these, often harshly treated convicts, eventually took its toll and the road was never finished.

You can still see today, the carvings of the convicts in the rocks from over 170 years ago.

A little further down the track is Hangman’s Rock. Although it is questionable that anyone was actually hanged here, it is still a fantastic natural rock formation, with a mysterious past.

There are many great trails to walk in this area with camping, picnic and barbecue facilities.

Only an hour and a half from Sydney is the home of a wonderful woodland garden.

Fernbrook Garden and Gallery is situated at Kurrajong Height's near the top of Bellbird Hill.

Garden designer and horticulturist Les Musgrave made this stunning garden his life long work.

This area was chosen by Les for its enriched soil and climate suited for the type of plantings he had in mind.

From an old rundown farm and apple orchard to 12 acres of tropical plants and natives.

Meandering pathways, lead the visitor through the gardens to mini rainforests, lilly-pilly and sassafras trees.

Designed to showcase the colours of the seasons, it is a brilliant display, whatever the time of year.

And someone who truly does appreciate this garden is well known botanical artist, Elaine Musgrave.

Her intricate and realistic paintings of plants, flowers, nuts and fungi are simply extraordinary.

Elaine draws her inspiration from what she sees around her and the Fernbrook Garden certainly supplies that.

This is a great attraction with both the garden and the gallery in harmony with the abundance of natural beauty in this garden.

And to a garden of a different kind at Mount Tomah, situated one hour 45 minutes from Sydney and is one of the most loved attractions in the Greater Blue Mountains.

The Mount Tomah Botanic Garden was opened to the public in 1987 and has over 5000 cool plant species, collected from all over the world.

Two of the more unusual trees here include The Monkey Puzzle Tree from Chile. Monkey’s are attracted to the delicious nuts it produces however, how they actually manage to get the nuts is a puzzle in itself, as they are covered in large spikes.

The other tree of interest is one of our most important botanical discoveries, the Wollemi Pine, also known as the ‘Dinosaur Tree’, was only discovered in 1994.

An officer with the NSW National Parks and Wildlife service David Noble, noticed an unusual tree in the Wollemi National Park whilst out walking.

This discovery made international headlines, and still draws a lot of interest from overseas.

The Wollemi Pine is now available for sale at the Sydney, Mt Annan and Mt Tomah Botanic Gardens or at selected nurseries.

There’s an excellent visitor centre and book shop for all the information you need including guided walks through the gardens.

Lithgow is just over a two hour drive east from Sydney, and if you love your trains, then this is the place for you.

The Zig Zag is a full size, narrow gauge tourist railway 10 km east of Lithgow.

Originally constructed to transport people and produce from the Western Plains in NSW to Sydney in the 1860’s, and was an engineering feat at the time.

Take a step back in time and remember a time when train travel was taken at a more leisurely pace.

This unique railway winds its way through the mountains offering exceptional views.

With a number of different train experiences available The Zig Zag Railway steam train, makes a steep descent from Clarence to Bottom Points Stations, through viaducts and spectacular scenery. The return journey takes about an hour and a half.

Steam services operate on weekends, public holidays and NSW School Holidays.

The Sunday Steam and Vintage Railmotor Tour, is one where you can learn about the history of the trains and takes about two and a half hours.

Well that’s where we ended our discovery of the New South Wales Greater Blue Mountains Drive.

If you intend to explore the Greater Blue Mountains Drive, then the Greater Blue Mountains Touring Guide is packed full of information on accommodation, attractions and useful handy hints whilst you are travelling this great scenic drive.

With 18 unique discovery trails to explore whether if be one day or one week, this guide will help you along the way.

Why not pick up a copy at any of the many visitor centres throughout the area, or log on to www.greaterbluemountainsdrive.com.au

PRODUCTS AND CONTACTS BLUE MOUNTAINS

RV SHOWCASE: Compass Caravan's Navigator Sextant

Ph: (03) 9308 3411

www.compasscaravans.com.au

TIZZANA WINERY

518 Tizzana Road,
Ebenezer NSW 2756

Phone: (02) 4579 1150 or logon to their website www.winery.tizzana.com.au

FERNBROOK GARDEN & GALLERY

2 Queen Street
Kurrajong Heights
NSW 2758

Ph: (02) 4567 7330