Bella Vista is a hilly suburb in Sydney’s Norwest with great views overlooking Western Sydney including the Blue Mountains. Bella Vista is on the traditional land of the Dharug people and a visit to this charming Hills Shire locality is a surprising day filled with diverse cuisine, heritage properties, and an array of local businesses – with several Fortune 500 companies calling this place home.
Start your day at the Bella Vista Metro station. The metro in the Hills is an impressive attraction. It’s Australia’s only fully accessible driverless train service and is also the nation’s most technologically advanced. It is a great way to start your adventure. Each station majestically overlooks the track, with an incredible shaded sail nothing short of architectural mastery. Around the station are some great open spaces too, and you’re surrounded by manicured gardens and greenery. The Sydney Metro certainly feels like it has been taken out of the future.
Next, prepare yourself for some very, very good coffee as you head just over to Good Fella Coffee. Busy with customers from the nearby office workers, this is a very popular local café who are serious about their coffee. You’ll find special blends, Single O, and their signature bagels. Take time to sit and relax in this very cool and minimalistic café. They’ve also got some fun merch.
For some history and fresh air, you can visit Bella Vista Farm. This 20-hectare rural landscape is in the middle of Bella Vista on Elizabeth Macarthur Drive which was named after the original owner of the Homestead within the park. It is a heritage-listed site that is now owned by the Hills Shire Council.
Set atop a very prominent hill, you’ll drive up the Bunya Pine-lined driveway to the incredible 1800s two-storey homestead. Throughout the 1800s and early 1900s, the site was used by various prominent farmers for sheep and cattle farming. Explore the fascinating history by wandering through the park. Open days are held on the first Sunday of each month and you can explore on your own by reading the information signs along the way. It’s truly a little trip into the past.
For lunch, visit the retail complex off Lexington Drive. Here you’ll find many terrific food options from around the world including Billu’s for an incredible Indian meal, Zeitoun for tasty Lebanese bakery treats, and Bowl and Bean for something healthy!
A Western Sydney favourite for Indian street food is the restaurant Chatkazz. With a complete vegetarian and very tasty menu inspired by the North and South of India, you’re spoilt for choice with so much variety. We love their dosas, biryani, paneer, and pani puri – but of course, everything is delicious. If you know you know – check it out.
After lunch, get ready to have a hit at the newly opened Swing City. This venue is far more than just a driving range – although their facility is double-storey and fitted out with advanced golf tech in all the bays. You will also find mini golf and an amusement game arcade to keep the fun going for hours and for all ages. We also love their restaurant and bar, which is much needed after so many golf-inspired activities – and it’s so easy to relax in their many outdoor seating areas. Certainly, a weekend afternoon well spent.
Finally, make your way to the beautiful Bella Vista Hotel for a bit of fun. This is one of the area’s most popular pubs and entertainment venues, boasting huge floor space that gets transformed into a dance floor on weekends, no matter when you visit, you’ll have plenty of fun. Enjoy their Bella Vista inspired cocktails, including “Bella’s Favourite” which is a delicious mix of vodka, coconut and lychee liqueur and pineapple juice - settle in for a good evening.
With plenty to see and do, Bella Vista is a hub of excitement in the Hills Shire. We love the mix of history with modern technology which is paving the way for the future of Western Sydney. As a location with so much change, growth and development it’s a great place to explore and try something new.