Author: cdrennan

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.

Arrive before 2PM for a 3PM ceremony – Easter Sunday 16 April 2017

 

Welcome to the Bush Chapel at The Grange. We’re so glad you can make it! 

Special friendships and relationships take time, so today is gratitude for the time spent together, the learning and wisdom gained. Today is also gratitude for the love and support you have given us to, that enables us to accomplish what we do together and sustains us.

Let’s be together and acknowledge each other and our family and community….

In…. Sci fi themed costume… (yes, you too)

 

Where is the Bush Chapel?

Come to The Grange, 48 Selsdon St, Mt Victoria.

As you enter the Grange (end of Selsdon Street) look for signposts and lights leading to the bush chapel.

-33.585181, 150.251673 if you need coordinates to land your UFO

or (click for larger view)

 

Sunday 16th April from about 6PM.

BYO Whatever! So far on the agenda:

Kids Movie Room

Grownups Movie Room

Outdoor fireplace – BYO hipflask and yarn

Other Fun brought by you (watcha gonna bring?)

Stay tuned as we fill in the details.

We understand, you already have plans or its too far to come. We will miss you, but that’s ok!

If you want to join us and say hi via skype – we are going to be online from about 5:30-6 and 9-10pm on Sunday the 16th April. You can get us on skypename: cindidrennan and if you register through our eventbrite page we will keep in touch and contact you at a prearranged time.

If that sounds too hard, please let us know and let’s make it an excuse to catch up for dinner or an outing next time we happen to visit your planet, space station or asteroid.

Anything is possible.

You probably already have questions! Fire away!

 

Where is it all happening? 

The Grange
Selsdon St (end of) where it meets Wentworth St,
Mt Victoria NSW

33°35’4.63″S 150°15’12.39″E

https://www.barker.nsw.edu.au/Community/the-grange

How do I get there?

If you are driving take the M4 from Sydney and head towards Lithgow.  It’s about a 2 hr drive depending on the traffic in Sydney. Stop in Mt Victoria! If  you go down the Mt Victoria Pass, you’ve gone too far!

Parking: Please park on Selsdon Road.

Roadworks: There are lots of road works happening around Mt Victoria – please slow down to 40km.

Train: You can catch the train to Mt Vic and if pre-arranged we can collect you from the station (or it’s a 10 min walk)

Maps and more info here or below.

Where and When’s the actual … you know … the nuptials?

For the tear-jerker, be there Sunday 16 April afternoon by 2pm. For the laughs, be there from Sunday morning til night, and for all the other good times, you’re welcome as long as you like. Weekend activities are all listed on the itinerary here

Where is the Bush Chapel?

Come to The Grange, 48 Selsdon St, Mt Victoria.

As you enter the Grange (end of Selsdon Street) look for signposts and lights leading to the bush chapel.

-33.585181, 150.251673 if you need coordinates to land your UFO

or (click for larger view)

Will there be food or drink?

Yes. We are having a party and will be providing as much as we can. We welcome contributions, cakes, treats, nibbles, sci-fi themed food. If you are planning to partake heavily of the bacchanalian temptations, bring some extra along.

What should I wear?

Sci-fi themed attire. You will be the odd one out if you don’t. Worse still, you may be subject to facepainting.

INFORMATION FOR PEOPLE WHO ARE PLANNING STAY MULTIPLE NIGHTS:

Registrations have closed and all rooms are fully booked now.

What’s the plan for food/meals?

The first two days (Good Friday / Easter Saturday) will be self service in the central kitchen at The Grange. Dinner times we are making DIY Pizza on the Good Friday, and Chicken with side dishes on Easter Saturday.  Some people are keen to cook for others so we’ll work out a plan for sharing cookups, and in between times people who want to make snacks or meals for themselves will be able to.

Sunday will involve lots more people arriving so we plan to do wedding feast a la buffet style, so you’re not tied to one table! Mingle! Chat! Sit and talk to Craig’s folks, then go talk to Cindi’s! Come and dance, or hang in a hammock with your nibbles!

Will it cost anything?

Contribute towards the accommodation if you want to and can, here is a guide.

• Accommodation works out to $31 per person per day.
• Communal Food and beverage works out to about $10 per person per day.

You can make a payment to our paypal account with a description including your name so we know who its from, and email makeitso @ projectroom.com so we look out for it. 

paypal.me/illuminart

What do I bring? 

• Bedding if you’re staying at the Grange (unless you’re from a really long way away, in which case do please ask us to provide it rather than pay for excess baggage!
• Your sci fi outfit (or you are sent off to make one in the costume room)
• Stuff for the costume room – old material or things that could be turned into a costume for someone
• Camera, board games, things to read or make
• Drinks or snacks to share, or to help with meals. eg bring cereal or jam you like for breakfast