Castle Hill as its name suggests, is a hilly suburb sitting on land of the Bidjigal clan of the Dharug people. It is an area with a very rich Indigenous and European history and is today a suburb flourishing with culture. Your day out in Castle Hill will be filled with learning about the area, witnessing incredible views of Western Sydney, and of course, some excellent food.
Begin your day in Castle Hill at the Metro Station, which is an easy public transport options for around the Northwest area. You’ll find plenty of good coffee options around here, including Espresso Lab and Cosmo Coffee. You’ll also find electric vehicle parking bays at Castle Towers – best to enter the car park via Felton Street.
If you’ve travelled by car, you can get your coffee from Courtyard Café located inside Castle Hill RSL on Castle Street. This sunny and spacious café has a great seasonally inspired menu for a fresh and locally sourced light meal.
Next, visit Castle Hill Heritage Park Reserve to immerse yourself in nature and history. Visitor parking is found at the end of Heritage Park Drive off Old Castle Hill Road. If you’re travelling with children, they will love the cool, modern playground.
This is the site of the earliest and one of the least known Government Farms dating back to 1801. It was the site of the first convict rebellion on Australian soil, which occurred in 1804. The Heritage Park Trail is an incredibly informative walk with many educational signs about the significance of Castle Hill.
The signs follow the history of the land from its use by the Dharug people, as a convict farm, a church, lunatic asylum, and farm.
The park is also home to one of the largest remaining Blue Gum High Forests in the world, which is a critically endangered ecological community. There are plenty of walking tracks around the heritage park for all fitness levels, including some steeper paths for those looking for a challenge. Make sure to stop and take in the terrific views from the hilltop.
After the Heritage Park, you’ll be ready for some food. Head straight to Castle Hill RSL. Recently renovated, the RSL is complete with so many food options that there’s something for everyone.
Visit Jin Yan - an institution in The Hills district, for their very popular Yum Cha as well as the fabulous à la carte menu offering Chinese favourites like lobster, crab, Peking Duck, and Sesame Prawn Toast. Jin Yan is often busy, so get in early to beat the rush.
If you feel more like a bistro-style lunch, head to the Courtyard Kitchen for the best grain-fed steaks, fresh seafood, pasta and other club classics. If you’re with kids, the little ones will love the playground, and the gaming arcade will keep the big kids entertained. Here you’ll also find the irresistible menu at Wokafella BBQ – proudly making their signature BBQ duck and wontons. Grab yourself a meal and a cool beverage and enjoy a long lunch here any day of the week.
Castle Hill is also the site of Powerhouse Castle Hill, which hosts historic collections and is a great place to discover items of state significance. Powerhouse Castle Hill has also become the site of the Powerhouse Museum’s Collection and will support conservation, preparation, and exhibition-making functions across all venues. Visit and take a tour into the nation’s past and you’ll learn some very surprising things about Australia.
For dinner options, you can head to The Piazza in Castle Towers which has some excellent restaurants. We love PappaRich for their comprehensive and delicious menu full of Malaysian favourites. There’s also Enigma, Gami Chicken and Beer, Taste of Shanghai, and Motto Motto.
And if you’re a sports fan, join the locals and head to the Sports at 77 bar in Castle Hill RSL to watch the game on the big screen with a beer. This is also where you’ll find Short Cut, serving ribs, wings, burgers, and decadent desserts – definitely the food you want to be eating while watching the sport.
To top the day off with some sophistication, you need to visit Lucy’s Neighbourhood Bar just downstairs in Castle Hill RSL. This is a stylish bar with an excellent range of their very own cocktails perfect for winding down.
After a day out exploring, you have not even skimmed the surface here in Castle Hill. With a great and vibrant community, we know you’ll be back again to keep exploring Sydney’s Northwest.
This article is proudly presented by Castle Hill RSL