This is the ever growing list of interesting things to do round or near Mt Vic if you come up for the Friday as well or arrive early and want to see the sights (independently of what’s in the main itinerary)
A stack of bush walks including the Little Zig Zag and the bushrangers cave, Clarence Dam, and Pulpit Rock reserve. You can also visit the Conservation Hut for interpretive information, a cuppa and views from the nearby lookout. Visit the wild walks website for a great selection of local walks, but bear in mind its Easter so the very popular ones we would normally recommend might be crowded (but if you come before Easter are well worth trekking: National Pass (returning via the undercliff track), Grand Canyon, Wentworth Falls track to name a few). * We are probably going to take a walk to Victoria Falls and Asgard mine on Easter Friday.
Clarence Dam. It’s unlikely to be hot enough to swim… but if you feel a hankering to go to the local beach, it’s worth it for walks and views. Best waterhole ever (listed in Red Bull’s top wild swimming spots). It is a well kept locals secret hideaway so ask us for instructions on how to get there (as there’s no map online).
Excellent Historical Society Museum in the old Mt Vic railway station (closed Good Friday).
Mt Vic Flicks – the local cinema is a real old fashioned gem with leather seats and choc top icecream. Highly recommended!
Hartley Village – this is a historic village at the bottom of Mt Victoria Pass. Ye Olde Buildings have interpretive signage, and there’s a bonza metal-arts studio called Talisman Gallery and a short but excellent river boardwalk. It’s only another 15K or so to Lithgow too.
Lithgow area – Blast Furnace Park contains the ruins of Australia’s first iron smelter. Great for photographers. The State Mine Heritage Park offers tours and is suitably industrial! Also industrial: the Small Arms Museum. A little more genteel is Eskbank House, which has lovely explorable grounds. Check out all the Lithgow options here.
Horse riding in the Megalong Valley (google it, heaps of options), and Sulky rides at Blackheath.
Bygone Beauties – the Teapot Museum, has thousands of teapots and does a fab devonshire tea (Closed on Good Friday). Cindi will be taking a group here on Sunday morning.
Mount Tomah Botanic Gardens – Not just beautiful… it’s spectacular. It’s open on Good Friday, and features The Botanists Way Discovery Centre for “tales of daring and discovery, botany, canyons and of the traditional custodians, the Darug”.
Tarana Village and Evans Crown walk. It’s a bit of a drive but as a day trip it’s worth it. The Tarana village has a cute pub, and the cafe *might* be open. There’s fishing in the nearby lake, and the Evans Crown walk is very interesting for the granite tor rock formations. Take a picnic!
Planes Trains and Automobiles – the absolutely cool museum/shop of old toy trains and Antique Toys… its on the Great Western Highway at Blackheath. And if you love games shops you would also appreciate Afternoonified, the steampunk gameshop in Halfpenny lane, Katoomba.
Rhododendron Gardens at Blackheath – ok so not the right time of year for the Rhodo flowers, but nevertheless very beautiful!
Bicycle riding (bike hire can be organised in advance)
Victory Theatre Antiques – cafe and antiques at Blackheath is well worth a visit, both for the cafe and for the amazing collection of vintage goods on sale; and its on the main street of Blackheath – great Mountains ambience overall.
Lots of Antique shops (some might not be open Good Friday): for example Cob Webs – a cool antique store on the Great Western Highway near Mt Vic. Some links here: https://heyantiques.com.au/Blackheath/
Galleries at Blackheath and Katoomba (too many to mention all, but options are Hat Hill gallery, Blackheath Gallery, and the regional Cultural Centre at Katoomba)
Scenic World at Katoomba, features a cable ride from one cliff face to another… with a clear floor to look down at the trees tooooo far below! Walks and trains take you down to the valley floor. *** School holidays are busy but you can get an early bird discount. Arrive onsite before 10:00am and save $11 off the family price! Includes unlimited rides on the Railway, Skyway, Cableway and Walkway.