Sydney/Hills District

The Hills District has been gradually metamorphosing from a more-or-less rural area to a part of suburban Sydney over the past 30 years, so you will encounter elements of both lifestyles here. Travelers may be more interested in the rural qualities and, especially, the nearby National and Regional Parks. However, it can be very convenient indeed to have access to the 'creature comforts' of civilization that are right next door in a modern city of more than 4 million people. Once the main vegetable growing region for Sydney, The Hills District continues to be the centre for plant nurseries, both large and small. You can still find vegetables and flowers for sale alongside the road in many places. Lots of people drive out to the northwest on weekends, visiting antique shops and art galleries and checking out the local markets. Increasing numbers of private schools, alternative centres, churches, etc. have re-located here. Traffic is therefore steadily increasing, but most of the area still has a rural feel, especially at its outer edges. In short, you can enjoy the bush and still have wireless internet and a good cappuccino!

Official Tourist Information

• Sydney Hills Visitor Information Centre - located at 'The Pines' (which includes the 1856 Roughley House) 656A Old Northern Road, Dural. Tel: +61-2-9651-4411. Free tourist information about the area.

Outer areas such as the Hills District are less well serviced. The most convenient railway station is located at Pennant Hills, however, in general, it's much more convenient to have your own car for travelling around the area.

By car

The area is connected to Sydney City by the Gore Hill Freeway, Lane Cove Tunnel and M2 Motorway. Travel outside of peak hour if possible, as the roads get congested during the commute hours into Sydney.

By train

As of December 2017, the closest train stations to the area are Pennant Hills (T1) and Carlingford (T6), although generally speaking you are better off taking an express bus from the Sydney city or Parramatta.
By June 2019, there will be a chain of new metro stations running from the city right through this area, including Cherrybrook, Castle Hill, Bella Vista and Rouse Hill.

By bus

Hillsbus services the area. Castle Hill (location of a future metro station) can be considered the main hub, with buses from the Sydney City centre (610 610x 612 612x 619 etc) which run frequently at around every 10 minutes in peak periods. There are also connections from Castle Hill Parramatta, Seven Hills, Pennant Hills and others.
The rural area to the north of Castle Hill does have some limited public transport, but you will likely find it challenging to get to the smaller rural settlements by bus.

History

West of Parramatta out to the Nepean and Hawkesbury was the site of some of Sydney's most important colonial development. The earliest colonialists built their first roads and railways here, away from the barren ground of Sydney Town to the fertile plains to the west. Those free settlers and ticket-of-leave convicts made their fortunes here, building estates and mansions to emulate the landed gentry of England - a place that they still considered themselves very much a part of. This is where the convicts of the Irish rebellion tried to overthrow the government and were slaughtered. This is where the Aboriginal people saw their hunting grounds taken from them, and mounted some resistance with their spears against the British guns.
However, much of what was here is lost underneath the Sydney suburban sprawl. Some of Australia's most significant history is open to be visited. Convict built roads can be walked, and colonial mansions and properties remain. Much is under the shopping malls carparks - only found in history books.

Art Studios

• Ambarwell Studio & Gallery

  phone: +61-2-9651-1361
  address: 12 Garemyn Rd
  120 year old building with working pottery studio and gallery (in Japanese tradition).

• Dural Musical Society

  address: 604 Old Northern Rd
  Dural Soldiers Memorial Hall.

Museums and culture

• Muru Mittigar

  phone: +61 2 4730 0400
  address: 356 Annangrove Rd Rouse Hill
  Muru Mittigar is an indigenous cultural education centre, featuring short tours and talks on such subjects as traditional use of plants, art designs and dance. Bookings essential.

Wildlife

• Koala Park

  phone: +61 2 9484 3141
  address: 84 Castle Hill Road, West Pennant Hills
  If you don't have time to go out a look in the bush by yourself, you can get up close and personal with a koala or kangaroo at the Koala Park Sanctuary. You can see the koalas being fed at 10:20am, 11:45am, 2pm and 3pm.

Parks and gardens

• Berowra Valley Regional Park - Walking trails leading to the Great North Walk can be entered at the very end of Quarry Road, Dural. No motorcycles or dogs allowed.

• Cumberland State Forest

  phone: +61 2 9872 0111
  address: 95 Castle Hill Road, West Pennant Hills
  Walking trails through a eucalypt forest, picnic areas, information centre and forest shop, kiosk and coffee shop, native plant nursery. Dogs welcome.

Sports

• Dural Golf Driving Range

  phone: +61-2-9651-1999
  address: 260 New Line Road, Dural
  Two tiers of driving bays and lots of parking. Children and families welcome.

• Dural Putt Putt Mini-Golf

  phone: +61-2-9651-1334
  address: Old Northern Road, Dural
  2 mini golf courses plus coffee shop in a garden setting.

• Dural Squash and Fitness Centre

  phone: +61-2-9651 2511
  address: 895 Old Northern Road, Dural
  Lots of facilities for keeping fit. Includes yoga classes.

• Muirfield Golf Club

  phone: +61-2-9871-1388
  address: Barclay Road, North Rocks

Leisure

• Calma Connections

  phone: +61-2-9651-5755
  address: 2 Kenthurst Road
  Round Corner (Dural Mall). Bowen Therapy, remedial massage, various therapies and meditation sessions. ATMS accredited.

• Swami Sarasvati Health Farm

  phone: +61-2-9654-9029
  address: 183 Pitt Town Road, Kenthurst
  Yoga, meditation, stress management and Tai Chi with one of Australia's foremost instructors. Set on 60 acres of bushland, with a spa, pool, gym and tennis facilities.

• Lane Cove National Park

  phone: +61 2 9888 9133
  address: Plassey Rd, North Ryde
  A beautiful national park located close to the city with Lane Cove River running through the heart of it. Ideal for bush walking, cycling and exploring nature. An abundance of native wildlife and historical features.

Local produce

• Berry Good Farms

  phone: +61-2-9653-1511
  address: 53 Arcadia Road, Galston
  Hydroponically-grown strawberries.

• Galston Strawberries

  phone: +61-2-9653-1082
  address: 359 Galston Road, Galston
  Grown by the Barba family.

• Warrah Farm Shop

  phone: +61-2-9651-3869
  address: 20 Harris Road, Dural
  Bio-dynamic and organic produce grown and sold to support charity.

Shopping Centres

There are several large shopping centres in the area.

• Castle Towers Shopping Centre

  phone: +61-2-8858-9700
  address: 4 Castle Street, Castle Hill
  Huge shopping centre in the centre of Castle Hill.

Antiques

• Dural Antiques

  phone: +61-2-9651-2113
  address: 857 Old Northern Road, Dural

• Stewart Antiques

  phone: +61-2-9652-1662
  address: 934 Old Northern Road, Glenorie

Nurseries

• Dural Orchids

  phone: +61-2-9651-1294
  address: 702 Old Northern Road, Dural

• Geranium Cottage

  phone: +61-2-9652-0475
  address: 828 Old Northern Road, Middle Dural
  A nursery growing geraniums and petargoniums.

• Highland Rose Nursery

  phone: +61-2-9651-1243
  address: 859 Old Northern Road, Dural

• Nati Brothers Roses

  phone: +61-2-9651-1375
  address: 790 Old Northern Road, Dural
  Open seven days since 1966.

• Swane's Nurseries

  phone: +61-2-9651-1322
  address: 490 Galston Road, Dural
  One of Sydney's most famous plant nurseries, in business 84 years, with coffee shop and gift shop.

• Virginia Farm Woolworks

  phone: +61-2-9654-1219
  address: 112 Annangrove Road, Annangrove
  Fibres, yarns and spinning equipment for the handspinner, felter and weaver.

• Wildpear Cafe

  phone: +61 2 9651 6600
  address: 658 Old Northern Rd Dural
  Brunch and lunch, with much emphasis on the pear ingredient. Nice views across the countryside.

• Black Stump Restaurant

  phone: +61-2-9651-1143
  address: 243 New Line Road, Dural
  Steak house, not recommended for vegetarians!

• Butterfly Cafe

  phone: +61-2-9651-1868
  address: 628 Old Northern Road, Dural
  Has private gardens and running waterways in a rainforest setting. Open only Thursday through Sunday.

• Buoni Amici Italian Seafood Restaurant

  phone: +61-2-9654-0222
  address: 83 Annangrove Road, Kenthurst
  Alfresco dining and take away. Pizza and pasta home delivery.

• Cafe Belle Fleur

  phone: +61-2-9899-7783
  address: 609 Old Northern Road, Dural
  Open seven days.

• Cristina's Pizzeria

  phone: +61-9651-2840
  address: 14 Kenthurst Road, Round Corner
  Eat in, take-away and home delivery.

• Dural Country Club

  phone: +61-2-9651-4272
  address: 662 Old Northern Road, Dural
  Open for lunch and dinner seven days a week. Entertainment by local and international artists.

• Dural Terrace Chinese Restaurant

  phone: +61-2-9651-2271
  address: 268 New Line Road, Dural

• Gallery Two Cafe

  phone: +61-2-9654-2233
  address: 1 Porters Road, Kenthurst

• Ironbark Cafe

  phone: +61-2-9653-9051
  address: 490 Galston Road, Dural
  Open seven days for breakfast, lunch and afternoon tea. Closed Christmas Day and Good Friday.

• Journey to India Restaurant

  phone: +61-2-9651-3700
  address: 632 Old Northern Road, Dural

• Mother Earth Cafe

  phone: +61-2-9654-1423
  address: 1A Annangrove Road, Kenthurst
  Located within plant nursery in an unusual mud brick building with a waterfall cascading off the roof! Open Tuesday through Sunday for breakfast, lunch and afternoon tea.

• Nobles Restaurant and Bar

  phone: +61-2-9680-3800
  address: Corner of Windsor & Salisbury Roads, Castle Hill
  Located within The Hills Lodge Grand Mercure. Offers buffet breakfast, lunch and dinner seven days a week. Log fire, courtyard, children's menu.

• Puddle Cottage

  phone: +61-2-9654-3068
  address: Corner of Sedger and Annangrove Roads, Kenthurst
  Located within the Hills Garden and Landscape Centre.

• Regals' Rendezvous Restaurant

  phone: +61-2-9679-0175
  address: 249 Annangrove Road, Annangrove
  Located in a 100 year old cottage. Indoor and outdoor dining, plus bar.

• Secret Garden Cafe

  phone: +61-2-9651-1188
  address: 658 Old Northern Road, Dural
  Located inside the Dural Garden Centre. Open seven days for breakfast, lunch and afternoon tea.

• Tandoori Sizzler Indian Restaurant

  phone: +61-2-9651-4451
  address: 524 Old Northern Road, Round Corner

• Waratah Cottage Cafe

  phone: +61-2-9651-5690
  address: 272 Old Northern Road, Dural
  Has a log fire in winter and alfresco dining year round. Open seven days a week.

• Ranch Bistro and Hotel

  address: Epping Rd, North Ryde
  Great family orientated place to eat with a very large and popular bistro. This place is more bistro than a pub.

• Hillside Hotel

  address: 273 Old Northern Road Castle Hill
  Hillside Hotel offers patrons both an indoor and outdoor drinking and dining experience with great live entertainment. Relax over dinner in the bistro, grab a quick bite to eat before or after the cinema or simply catch up with friends over a glass of wine. Comfy leather lounges and chilled out background music. Upstairs sleek cocktail lounge. Modern decor.

• Dural Hotel Motel

  phone: +61-2-9651-1811
  address: 271 Old Northern Road, Dural
  Cozy pub that offers a bottle shop, sundeck bistro, gaming lounge. Has motel accommodation.

• Bull and Bush Hotel

  address: Windsor Road, Baulkham Hills
  A relaxed, friendly atmosphere. Casual drinking. Basically, your classic Aussie pub.

• Novotel Sydney Norwest

  phone: +61 2 9634 9634
  address: 1 Columbia Court, Baulkham Hills
  132 rooms and two restaurants. Located within the new Norwest development. 24 hour reception desk. Wi-Fi internet in each room. 17 metre outdoor swimming pool Multilingual staff.

• Dural Gardens Bed & Breakfast

  phone: +61-2-9654-1424
  address: 24 Sagars Road, Dural
  Beautiful modern Georgian style residence set on 5 acres with formal gardens.

• Dural House at Round Corner

  phone: +61-2-9651-5777
  address: 679 Old Northern Road, Round Corner
  Bed and breakfast.

• Active Holiday Sydney Hills

  phone: +61 2 9651 2555
  address: 269 New Line Road, Dural 2158
  Self-contained units and cabins as well as sites for caravans and tents, plus swimming pool, kiosk and laundry.

• Hotel Ibis

  phone: +61-2-9481-7500
  address: 200 Pennant Hills Road, Thornleigh
  105 rooms and air conditioning. Wireless internet.

• Lauders Loft Bed and Breakfast

  phone: +61-2-9653-2422
  address: 14 Blacks Road, Arcadia

• The Hills Lodge Grand Mercure

  phone: +61-2-9680-3800
  address: Corner of Windsor & Salisbury Roads, Castle Hill
  Boutique hotel. Includes restaurant and bar.

• Cattai National Park - First Fleet surgeon Thomas Arndell's 1821 Cattai Farm and surrounds has grassy picnic areas, barbecues and shelter sheds beside the Hawkesbury River, and car-based camping is available year round (bookings essential). Tel: +61-2-9995-5000. Lots of walking tracks and the ruins of a windmill thought to be the oldest industrial building in NSW. About 30-40 minutes drive from the area, located north of Windsor.
• Marramarra National Park - Well worth a visit, only about a 15 minute drive north of Dural, at the junction of Hawkesbury River and Berowra Creek. Canoeing, camping, bushwalking, picnicking or birdwatching. Tel: +61-2-9995-5000.
• Scheyville National Park - near Windsor, is about a 30 minute drive. Conserves endangered ecologicial communities and species of the Cumberland Plain and Hawkesbury River catchment. Some colonial remnants and relics from old farms. Tel: +61-2-9995-5000.