You can’t beat a great country bakery. The Grumpy Baker may be small but there’s no shortage of delicious baked goods to start or end your day. The specialty here is the home-style pies and sausage rolls, made from the flakiest of pastry with hearty fillings like the Hungarian beef goulash or spicy chicken harissa. One bite and you won’t be grumpy anymore. You may be an hour and a half from Sydney but you can still get your regular coffee order, be it an almond latte or macadamia cap, made on Single O beans. Look out for the historic petrol station which is now home to the bakery on Bells Line of Road.

Not just for horse lovers, Eden Farm Escape at Eden Equine is the perfect weekend retreat for nature lovers of all kinds. Stunning luxury lodges are scattered around the property with scenic views across the neighbouring UNESCO World Heritage Blue Mountains National Park. The expansive property offers a great many places to explore, as well as dams to swim in and horses to ride (by appointment). Animal lovers can handfeed the local residents in the morning, including the goats, alpacas, and chickens at Cluckington Palace. You might even get a fresh warm egg for breakfast if you’re lucky.

Don’t be fooled by its name, you won’t find a more civilised cidery than Hillybilly. Stroll among the lush apple trees or take a seat on the shaded picnic table and get to work on the cider tasting paddle, which includes five pours of your choosing. Make sure at least one of those includes the Crushed Apple, a seriously crisp and refreshing tipple made from local mountain apples. There’s also pear and berry varieties, as well as double fermented French-style vintage ciders made using the traditional champenoise method. The kitchen is equipped with a woodfire oven and the line-up of classic housemade pizzas make the perfect food match.

Pull on your sneakers and pack a water bottle, there’s plenty to see and do at the Blue Mountains Botanic Gardens at Mount Tomah. Expect rolling blue hills as far as as the eye can see, with over 28 hectares of curated cool-climate gardens backing on to 244 hectares of untamed wilderness. Discover hundreds of plant species for yourself on a solo expedition or learn about the garden’s history on a guided tour, led by one of the garden’s volunteers. Keep your eyes peeled for over 150 native bird species, as well as brush-tailed possums and sugar gliders.

It may be a small town, but Bilpin is big enough for two great cideries and we strongly recommend adding both to the itinerary. Spread out in the overgrown garden, where picnic tables are shaded by great weeping fruit trees. Start with a cider paddle, which includes any five pours of your choosing. If it’s your second time round, try the great non-alcoholic varieties, which include apple cider spiked with ginger, raspberry and lemon. The onsite kiosk sells cheese and charcuterie platters as well as homemade apple pies made from local Bilpin fruit.