5 Great Sydney winter escapes
You might think that being emergency plumbers in Sydney would mean our weekends were chockablock… and you’re not wrong! But despite the clogged drains, burst pipes and blocked toilets, we still the find the time to put down the tools and get a little R’n’R when we can.
A weekend out of town is the best way we know to keep those winter blues at bay, and in this part of the country there’s certainly no shortage of terrific spots to visit via car. While we’re generally more comfortable fitting gas taps than we are reviewing restaurants, we thought it would be interesting to canvass the crew of emergency plumbers at Tai Irwin Plumbing to get our team’s 5 favourite Sydney winter escapes.
Hunter Valley
Australia’s oldest wine growing region is a hands-down winner with our plumbers. With some of our favourite golf courses, more than 150 cellar doors to visit and some incredible places to eat, Hunter Valley is a great place for a Sydney winter escape for the weekend. There’s an abundance of cosy accommodation, but for those who aren’t afraid to tough out the chilly evenings, camping is a great choice for a cheap family holiday. Set yourselves up at one of the many terrific Hunter Valley campgrounds (Blue Gums is a personal favourite for my family) and explore the surrounding bush on foot. For an extended weekend, hire a camper and tour the region over a few days, there’s plenty of hidden gems to discover.
Blue Mountains
The Blue Mountains is another top pick for our team, and Leura is our favourite mountain town. Take the 90 min drive from Sydney and stay at the Old Leura Dairy – a unique, eco-friendly retreat built in an old run-down dairy. Leura has plenty to offer the whole family, from mountain biking and rock climbing, to galleries and yummy food. Leura locals are passionate about environment and sustainability, and the influences of this can be seen everywhere in the town. Make sure you stop for lunch at the Leura Garage to learn about the building’s remarkable eco-design, and sample one (or a few) of the delicious local wines.
Southern Highlands
Located a short 90mins drive from Sydney, the Southern Highlands is a home to stunning scenery and an array of quaint country towns filled with antiques, bookstores, galleries and gardens. Our team’s favorite attraction? The Bradman Museum in Bowral, which is named in honour of Sir Donald Bradman – a must for any cricket fan! While the blokes are hitting the museum, wives will love browsing the wares of more than 60 independent antique and vintage dealers at Dirty Jane’s Emporium and Antique Market.
Jervis Bay
This may seem like a strange choice in winter, but our team of Northern Beaches plumbers couldn’t go past Jervis Bay for a Sydney winter escape. Winter days here can still be sunny and quite warm, and coming in the colder months means you beat the crowds of tourists and get cheaper accommodation. While it might not be warm enough to get in the water, it’s the perfect time to take a whale watching cruise. From May to November the whales make their annual migration, and the eco-friendly whale watching tours will literally have you within a few meters of these magnificent creatures – it’s a once in a lifetime experience. After the tour, warm up with a pint and some classic pub grub at the iconic Husky Pub.
Kangaroo Valley
With mild winter temperatures, Kangaroo Valley is a great place to escape the bustle of Sydney for a relaxing weekend. There’s plenty to do outdoors, like horse trekking and bush walking, and you can’t beat the classic Aussie pub charm of The Friendly Inn. There’s also plenty of great local shopping for the ladies, like my wife’s favourite: The Nostalgia Factory, and with close proximity to both the beach and the bush you can take your pick of beautiful coastal or country accommodation.
There you have it, a plumber’s guide to winter getaways! But rest assured, as much as our team enjoy taking a weekend off, you’ll never be left without an emergency plumber in the Northern Beaches. Our team of expert plumbers are ready to help when you need them – give us a call 24hrs a day, seven days a week.
