A tour of Glenbernie Orchard is a fun – and delicious – holiday activity. Photo: Region.
It’s the most magical – and the busiest – time of year.
Between school holidays, visitors, and long summer days it’s the perfect time to enjoy a holiday at home and explore our own backyard.
The Illawarra is a top tourism destination for a reason, but it’s easy to overlook some of our hidden treasures.
Check out our guide to a top day out (or two) just north of Wollongong.
Glenbernie Orchard
If you need something that will keep everyone from grandparents to kids happy, you can’t go past Glenbernie Orchard.
The idyllic 100-acre property at Darkes Forest has been an orchard since the 1950s, and owned by the same family since 1939.
They grow apples, peaches, nectarines and persimmons, and produce their own honey, cider, juice and mead.
You can take a tour of the orchard and pick your own fruits from November to March.
Cider tastings are available year-round for the adults, and fresh wholesale fruit and honey can be purchased from the Apple Shack.
The tours offer visitors the opportunity to develop their palate in much the same way they would at a wine or whisky tasting.
The brewery recently took silver in the national cider awards for their premium bespoke products.
“Cider can have as much complexity and range as wine has,” orchardist Jo-Anne Fahey said.
“It’s not just a sickly-sweet drink you quaff down at parties.
“Our Rosie cider is shiraz grape skins fermented with apple juice, we do a honey cider ferment, a ginger cider and a champagne-style cider.
“We’re experimenting with more umami-flavours and with our own orchard we can control the apples we use.
“We’re moving towards special varieties from England and France that give us drier, more interesting flavours.”
It’s free to visit, although tours come at a cost.
To get to the orchard take the Old Princes Highway exit from the M1 and then turn left onto Darkes Forest Road. After 2.5 km or so turn right onto the Glenbernie Orchard Driveway.
Maddens Falls
If you’re looking for somewhere to burn all your new-found cider energy, Maddens Falls could be the ticket.
Directly opposite the orchard at Darkes Forest, this short, easy bushwalk is suitable for little legs, and those whose serious hiking days are behind them.
It’s also ideal for birdwatchers, so don’t forget your binoculars – look for local residents like honeyeaters, red wattlebirds and golden whistlers.
Tree frogs, brown froglets and banjo frogs are often heard too. Walk quietly to increase your chances of spotting wildlife along the way.
It’s about 750 m to the falls, and when you arrive you’ll be greeted by the acacias, native river roses and lush, sprawling ferns that mass around the water.
When you’re finished you can enjoy a picnic on the tables at the head of the track.
Horse riding
If you like a little more action in your adventures, you’re in luck.
Darkes Forest Ranch and Otford Farm offer trail rides in the peaceful bushland that surrounds the northern Illawarra.
It’s an opportunity to venture deeper in than most of us can manage on foot, and get a unique perspective from horseback.
Lessons and pony rides are also available for little ones who are keen to get in on the action, but don’t quite have the skills or confidence for a longer trail ride.
You’ll have to make a booking before you head out to ride – head to their websites for more information.
Symbio Wildlife Park
If you’ve had no luck spotting exotic animals on your adventures around Darkes Forest, try Symbio Wildlife Park in Helensburgh.
For the cost of entry you can see koalas, meerkats, Tasmanian devils, penguins, dingoes and reptiles of all kinds, as well as hang out with some kangaroos – they’ll even let you hand-feed them.
Symbio has played a part in some significant conservation efforts around the country, including the reintroduction of platypus to the Royal National Park in 2023.
You can listen to knowledgeable keepers give wildlife and conservation talks at different exhibits throughout the day.
If that’s not enough you can get up close and personal with quokkas, koalas, meerkats and more with their behind-the-scenes experiences.
There’s also a splash park perfect for a cool-down after wandering around the park.
The park at 7-11 Lawrence Hargrave Drive in Helensburgh is open daily from 9:30 am until 5 pm.
