Bilpin is a town situated in the Blue Mountains, within the local government area of the City of Hawkesbury. On the traditional land of the Darug People, Bilpin was heavily affected as a result of the 2019 – 2020 Black Summer bushfires. Having made an amazing transformation, the historic town is again thriving with cellar doors, orchards, and history. The smell of fresh gum leaf is in the air and the transformation from a blackened landscape to one that is bursting with life is invigorating.
Start your day off at Tutti Fruitti along Bells Line Road, open Thursday-Monday. Tutti Fruitti specialises in homemade goodness. Check out some of their homemade jams, chutneys, honey, and vinegar. Grab yourself one of their amazing homemade real fruit ice creams and grab a seat in their lush outdoor garden space.
After enjoying some time in the sun, head further down Bell Line Road to the Bilpin Fruit Bowl. A family institution within the Bilpin area, the Bilpin Fruit bowl sells amazing fresh produce and a whole range of other snacks and souvenirs. One of the cool aspects of The Bilpin Fruit Bowl is the ability to venture out onto their farm to pick your own fruit!
Across the road from the Bilpin Fruit Bowl is Mountain Bells Café. A vegan and gluten-free friendly café focusing on using locally grown fruits. Have a walk around the garden, grab yourself something to eat or a coffee, sit back, and enjoy the surroundings!
If you’re in the mood for something alcoholic, the next two places will be sure to suffice! Firstly, head to The Hillbilly Cider Shed. Set just off Bells Line Road, walking into the shed feels like you’ve transported yourself into rural NSW. It’s such a cool fit-out and really plays homage to the Hillbilly Cider brand.
Heading into the shed you’ll be greeted with barrels of their ciders, in a range of different flavours and makes. Grab yourself a tasting paddle of alcoholic or non-alcoholic ciders as well as one of their amazing homemade pizzas!
Continue the ‘Cider Crawl’ up to Bilpin Cider Co – positioned once again along Bells Line Road. The cellar door for the cider features a range of 10 varieties of ciders, including 3 non-alcoholic ciders. With picnics available (hamper, blanket and all!) the cider cellar door is the perfect place to relax for a weekend picnic.
Be sure to grab yourself a homemade apple pie from the cidery and take a seat outside in the garden, watch some clouds, take in the sunshine and let yourself switch off.
Before leaving Bilpin, be sure to head up to the main town, a quick one-minute drive from Bilpin Cider. It's quaint, charming and a great little destination that feels like a world away.
The main town of Bilpin is dotted with a range of quaint antique stores, bakeries, and restaurants. The Grumpy Baker, which has locations all over Sydney, has opened on the main street of Bilpin selling freshly baked loaves of bread, as well as an extensive range of pastries and of course coffee!
Bilpin is the perfect place for a weekend drive. With all the major sites located along Bells Line Road, you can easily organise your day by starting at the base of Bells Line of Road and making your way slowly. The sweetest moment is when you turn around to head home and discover just how high up you are. The views on the drive back, looking into the Sydney Basin are breathtaking and give you a whole new view of all the places you just visited. There’s something in Bilpin for everyone, whether you’re out with the kids, or on a romantic little weekend road trip away.