IF you and the kids are looking for some family entertainment over the school holidays, why not take a drive up Bells Line of Road and stop along the Harvest Trail?
The Bilpin orchards and the Mount Tomah Botanic Gardens are offering family-friendly activities, and you can take in some fresh autumn air while you’re at it.
Pick your own fruit
This is a great opportunity to show the kids exactly where their food comes from and how it’s grown. Nine Bilpin orchards are open this school holidays for families to pick their own autumn fruit, each farm with its own speciality.
Autumn is apple season, and you can pick from pink lady, fuji, granny smith, braeburn, red delicious and crimson snow. You can also pick your own persimmons, chestnuts, walnuts and tomatoes, and purchase jams and local honey. One orchard is even offering free tractor rides for the kids.
Find out which farm offers what, and check their opening hours by visiting the Farm Gate Trail website at www.harvesttrailsandmarkets.com.au.
Garden of Yuck and Yum
This is a self-guided trail for children and families at the Mount Tomah Botanic Gardens. Follow the map to find the five secret locations, explore the garden, enjoy hands-on activities and learn some delicious and disgusting things about plants.
The tour is designed for children aged 6-13 years, but everyone is welcome. Tour kits are $6.50 each, and can be purchased from the Visitor Information Centre. They include a quiz, a puzzle and a prize at the end - families can share a kit but the kids might want their own.
The tour runs through to Wednesday, May 31. Mount Tomah is a cool-climate garden, and is in its prime at this time of year. Call 4567 3000 for more information.