The valley below Oberon, between the villages of Tarana, Sodwalls and Rydal is one of the prettiest in NSW (to my mind at least). We have just spent the past few days in this area (my parents live nearby), and for the kids this meant school holidays with some of their favourite people. For me it meant that too, plus a good stretch of screen-free time. And though I’ll pay for it with lots of late nights next week, it was heaven to be unplugged and outside all week. So do I apologise for not posting a Friday List today but instead, thought I’d share a few pictures of our week away and the beautiful valley we spent it in.
If you live in or around Lithgow, Bathurst, Oberon or Orange or just fancy a drive; one day, please take a detour off the Great Western Highway and drive the scenic route to Oberon yourself. There’s loads to do; from picnics on the Fish River to bushwalking up Evan’s Crown, lunch at the Tarana Pub, foraging for mushrooms or truffles in Oberon or just taking a slow drive along the beautiful country roads. Oberon’s Tourism Information Centre and its website has loads of information on the area, it’s history and how best to explore it all. And here endeth my sales pitch.
The church pictured above is St Peters’ of Mutton Falls, then below, and not too far away is Flat Rock, a public picnic spot on the Fish River that is one of the best places I can think of to spend a sunny winters’ day. Directly above is Tom, pretty happy to be in possession of the wholemeal apple and jam cake we made for our picnic (recipe here) and below is the disused railway bridge between Tarana and Rydal.
When the weather turned grey and frosty, we retreated to Mum’s studio for a spot of painting and pikelets (here’s my recipe – which also happens to be the first post I ever wrote here). All up, there were moments of cabin fever and the odd issue with sharing or the lack thereof (mostly on the part of my Tom, below) but that aside, it was the perfect winter break with the kids.
Mind the zombie – below!
It is such a pretty part of the world around there, Sophie. And lucky duck kiddos having a studio to paint in! With pikelets, no less! x
Thanks Bron! Hope you guys have had a good couple of weeks too. Sophx
Lovely holiday stuff Sophie. I made pikelets just this morning, yours look delicious. Your boy looks pretty happy with that cake, and rightly so! I have our wood oven cranked this afternoon in preparation for the snag and cider recipe from your last post…looking forward to it already. Have a great weekend and soak up these last moments of the holidays x
Hi Jane – have you had a good holiday too? Hope all is well with you guys. Sophiex
such lovely life pictures! always makes me smile. But today, that zombie impersonation is killing it! too cute 🙂
Yep, I know – it’s a classic! Have a great weekend Sneh, Sophiex
I remember that beautiful bridge from when we drove home from Orange after Easter. Time for a little more exploring out that way, I think.
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Lovely photos. It’s hard to believe it’s winter in your part of the world while we in the US are eating watermelon and shopping at the local farmers market. The pikelets look delicious. Are they similar to pancakes? Enjloy your weekend.