Apart of the Wollondilly Shire, Picton is a rural town located 80km outside of the Sydney CBD. Full of history and character, Picton is home to many historic building and railways, a viaduct, eateries and a botanic garden.
Heading into Picton from Sydney, you travel over the Razorback Ridge on the Old Hume Highway and enter Picton on the main street, Argyle Street. Picton is a popular place for motorcyclists and day-trippers from Sydney, looking for great views and great food offerings. Head down to Picton on a sunny morning to appreciate all that the quaint town has to offer.
When first arriving in Picton head down to one of the many cafés such as ‘Rae + Wood’. Locally owned and operated, Rae and Wood serve up Campos blended coffee with a selection of local produce with some rustic vibes in both their décor and plating up. Rae and Wood is the perfect first stop to pick up a takeaway coffee before heading over to the botanic gardens.
Head out on foot and explore the lovely streetscapes or jump in the car and head down to the Picton Botanic Gardens, the walk from the main street of Picton to the botanic gardens is only 10 minutes.
The Botanic Gardens feature six kilometres of running and walking tracks, making for a perfect destination to explore the flora and fauna of the area. With a number of BBQs and seating options, the gardens become a destination for families and friends alike, especially in the warmer months. Explore all the gardens have to offer, including the purpose-built wooden gazebo surrounded by greenery and flowers in bloom.
After seeing all there is to see in the gardens, head back to the town centre of Picton for a spot of lunch. For a small town, there is a wonderful selection of food outlets including Smoke N Grill, an authentic smokehouse serving the best burgers and smoked meats within Wollondilly. Or perhaps try the new guy on the block Moses Barnes, a trendy new chic café making the most of its outdoor courtyard. With murals by renowned artist Le Grizz, Moses Barnes is making a name for themselves as the place to be seen in Picton. A selection of lunch and dinner options, as well as cocktails and coffee by Allpress there is sure to be something here for everyone.
After fuelling up, take a walk around the historic town centre of Picton. If you’re up for it, follow the Historic Picton Walking tour which takes you through all the historic sites within the town. A great starting point is across the road from Moses Barnes, the Picton Courthouse, built-in 1864.
Head up Argyle street to the intersection Of Argyle and Menangle Street and see the Old Picton Post Office as well as the National Australia Bank. Continuing up Argyle Street take a walk up to the George The IV Inn, Picton’s original historic pub. The state heritage-listed site is an original Cobb & Co stop. It’s home to a huge range of locally made beers and ciders, including Cedar Creek Cider.
If time permits, head on over to the other side of town and bare witness to the Picton Viaduct. Close to Picton railway station, it was built for two lines of track and although it is not the first railway viaduct built in the state, it is considered unique because it is the oldest still in use today.
With so much to see and do in Picton, we recommend heading down in the morning to make the most of your day, even end up back at The George IV Inn for dinner and meet some of the locals.