Lavendar Gate

DO A DAY TRIP

In Lifestyle & Getaways by Edwina Courtney-O'Connor0 Comments

NORTH SHORE TO WOLLOMBI

The day trip was generously sponsored by Northshore Renault with the new Koleos Privilege.

On a rainy Saturday morning we took the ninety minute drive north of Sydney to Wollombi, a picturesque little town in the Hunter Valley region.

Sadly, much of the area was covered with floodwaters as heavy rain continued to lash the region. We saw major flooding on most roads. The rain was teaming down! The Koleos’s automatic windscreen wipers certainly got a work out.

Just off the F3, taking the Peats Ridge exit, we were soon surrounded by beautiful bush land without a building in sight.

We travelled along the Great North Road, a convict built masterpiece, which was constructed between 1826 and 1836 to provide an overland route from Sydney to Newcastle and the Hunter Valley.

Along the way there are convict built remains such as stone retaining walls, bridges and stone cut drains.

Up the hill from Fernances Crossing, about seven kilometres north of the Bucketty intersection, there is the Fernances Crossing Stone Culvert. This area provided a major obstacle in constructing the Great North Road. This culvert and retaining wall carried the main road till the late 1980s.

Continuing north we soon arrived at Wollombi, with an appetite.

The name Wollombi is Aboriginal and means “meeting place of the waters” (ironic for the day trip). The historical town was used as the headquarters for many convicts, architects and engineers in the construction of the Great Northern Road.

Turing right at Wollombi Tavern, we visited one of my favourite places for lunch. This hidden gem is called, Lavender Gate Farm. A gorgeous, rustic property painted burnt orange. Their lunch menu, amongst other things, includes freshly made wood-fired pizza, cooked in a traditional brick oven, perfect for a rainy day. You will find formal gardens, framed with French lavender and  artistic sculptures. The grounds cover roughly an acre and include over two thousand lavender plants.

Returning home, either go via Cessnock/F3, a longer route via Wiseman’s Ferry, or a U-turn back through the scenic way we came.

Overall, the Renault Koleos was a pleasure to drive. Its spacious interior was enjoyed and I loved the electronic panoramic sunroof. Tunes were sharp with the Bose sound system. Being a 4WD, the Koleos ride offered a good compromise between performance and off-road comfort. The engine delivered consistent power all through the rev range and its response was immediate.

Features like push button start, automatic handbrake, hands free smart key, hill start assist, auto wipers and headlights, GPS, dual air con and multimedia inputs all made the trip a great day out.