This was published 6 years ago
The Trip: Fernhill chestnut farm, Mount Wilson, Blue Mountains
By Paul Glynn
Blue mountains canyon, valley and tops from Du Faurs Lookout at Mount Wilson. Credit: Alamy
NAME Paul Glynn
THE TRIP Fernhill Chestnut Farm – Mount Wilson – Blue Mountains
THE ITINERARY The group of four couples was looking for a venue to celebrate a Big Birthday. There were a couple of weeks to provide suggestions and this was the brief: A couple of hours from Sydney, enough to do to occupy us for a couple of days and it had to be self-contained for some budding chefs (we all enjoy entertaining).
The towns of Mount Wilson and Mount Irvine surrounded by the World-Heritage listed Blue Mountains National Park. Credit: Hamilton Lund Photographer
We eventually narrowed it down to Fernhill Chestnut Farm at Mount Wilson, about two hours' drive west of Sydney in the Blue Mountains.
The early Saturday morning drive up the Bells Line of Road was interesting via Richmond, with a stopover at Bilpin markets to get fruit and veg as well as a huge freshly baked apple pie. Arriving at "where's Mount Wilson" – as we now fondly call this amazing place – we were equally surprised with our accommodation at the six-hectare Fernhill Chestnut Farm.
Fernhill is off a canopy-covered through road, The Avenue, where Baz Luhrmann filmed his movie version of the Great Gatsby. It has a luxurious four-bedroom villa. Rob, the birthday boy, landed the master bedroom. We drew straws for the remaining three bedrooms, but nobody was disappointed. The designer kitchen had it all and when all the "oohs and aahs" of discovering the villa were finished, we adjourned to a deck overlooking the estate to begin celebrations. Everything turned out to be a great discovery as we did a self-guided tour of the property, with our Esky loaded into a wheelbarrow. There were just too many places to sit and enjoy the Fernhill experience, but we all agreed that under the trees in the bottom paddock was the pick.
With the chefs creating their special dishes and a wood fire roaring, dinner was served in the formal dining room. Discovering Mount Wilson was the plan for Sunday and we visited the amazing gardens of Bebeah, went down to the waterfalls and around to Wynnes Lookout for a picnic lunch and the Blue Mountains vista across to Mount Victoria.
BEST BITS: The surprise finding of the amazing and pristine village of Mount Wilson.
WORST BITS: Mount Wilson has no retail – zilch.
BEST TIP: Plan your menu well for both F&B.
WHERE TO NEXT: Going to Thailand.
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