The township of Camden is located on Dharawal land and is regarded as ‘The Birthplace of the nation’s wealth’. Camden is home to a wonderful selection of offerings from nature walks, historical finds, eateries, galleries and so much more.
Walking the tree-lined streets just as they are turning into the bright autumn hues makes for a perfect day out with the family. Arriving in Camden, you will start to notice the historic buildings that line the main street, Argyle Street. The Jacarandas which run straight through the main town are a cornerstone of Camden, celebrated at the annual jacaranda festival, and are lit up every evening at sunset.
To start your day, head to one of the many cafes located in town. Dear Coffee – serving Campos coffee has found its home in a converted industrial warehouse space and is one of the most popular cafes in the area.
After grabbing your first coffee of the day head over to one of the newest gems in Camden, ‘Sweet Treats by Rhi’. This newly opened dessert bar has been going from strength to strength over the past year. With a newly opened store and double the size, you’ll be sure to find something that tickles your fancy.
You are sure to be spoilt for choice! One of the hardest decisions is choosing between the classic cupcakes, brownies, muffins, cookies or one of the newer additions – Tim Tam balls. If choosing one is too difficult, why not try a little bit of everything like we did!
After filling up on all your sweet treats, head on over the road to the historic Camden Cottage, built in 1840 for the family of Henry Thompson, a prominent businessman and miller of Camden, which is now home to the beloved Epicure Store.
Owned and operated by Renee, Epicure is a specialty cheese and providore store selling the finest quality cheeses and accompaniments. The refined range of Australian and imported cheese is at the heart of the Epicure mantra, with every cheese finely and knowledgeably selected by Renee.
Next door in the historic Macaria building, is the Alan Baker Art Gallery. The impressive building makes for the perfect gallery space with separate rooms showcasing an evolving collection of Alan Bakers works. The current exhibit titled Portraits of Camden features 40 delightful charcoal drawings executed by Alan D. Baker during Camden Art Group sessions.
If you are more interested in learning about the history of Camden, head across the road to the Camden Museum. The museum is in the old Fire Station, which was originally built shortly after 1867 and originally used as a Temperance Hall and meeting venue.
After checking out the historical precinct of Camden, head to one of the many local eateries for some lunch. Choices are endless in Camden with options ranging from cafes, restaurants, and pubs. Some of our favourite places to visit include Jally’s Café – a healthy alternative serving a selection of plant-based foods. The courtyard located out the back is the perfect spot to sit on a sunny day! Squeeze & Grind located up the end of Argyle Street is also another favourite. Serving up a selection of breakfast and lunch foods, as well as a great selection of cocktails, craft beers and wine.
After filling up on some lunch, why not take a walk down to the Nepean River along the Camden Cycle Way track. The track winds it’s way along the Nepean River. Walk on over to little sandy bridge where the track crosses over into Elderslie. Following the track down into Elderslie, you will pass through the Elderslie Grass farms – one of the coolest and most instagramable moments in Camden!
If you decide to spend a night in Camden, you will again be spoilt for choice with the options for dining and drinking. For a casual meal, head on down the end of Argyle Street to Dirty Birds, a popular casual restaurant serving up the best fried chicken beers and cocktails. If you are after more of a sit-down restaurant, Barenz is the place to be. Located in the middle of Argyle Street, you can spend hours people watching, dining and drinking. With a wide selection of menu items to try and drinks to match, Barenz is the perfect place for couples and families of all ages.
If you are after something a little more special, why not head over to The Highlands, Camden. Camden’s only fine dining steakhouse. Walking into the venue you will be met with a trendy interior space unlike anything else in town. The refined menu has a selection of wonderful beef and seafood options and celebrates the history of the nearby cowpastures.
The wine list has been expertly selected to complement the food offerings on the menu – making for a perfect venue for a long dinner and drinks. If you are still in the mood to continue drinking and socialising, head to one of the many pubs located along Argyle street. The Royal Hotel – located next door to the Highlands makes the perfect transition space from the fine dining restaurant into a pub-like atmosphere. With a dedicated Gin bar serving up a selection of the finest gins and tonics. Other local pubs include the Camden Hotel, Plough and Harrow, and the Crown Hotel, located down near the Camden Show Grounds.
Camden is a destination you can spend multiple days exploring and still have so much to see! We would recommend spending a whole weekend exploring all Camden has to offer. Local accommodation can be found at both Camden Valley Inn, The Crown Hotel, as well as through Airbnb. We hope you love Camden as much as we do!
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