Taste Australia with Hayden Quinn - Blue Mountains and the Hawkesbury
Taste of Australia with Hayden Quinn – Blue Mountains and Hawkesbury
Taste the Blue Mountains and Hawkesbury with Hayden Quinn
Cook, author, presenter and MasterChef Australia contestant Hayden Quinn has travelled around New South Wales discovering delicious local produce and meeting passionate producers for season two of Taste of Australia with Hayden Quinn. This week he camps in the Blue Mountains and then heads to the Hawkesbury to pick up fresh vegetables, meet some happy pigs and explore the river from a houseboat.
“Getting away to the Blue Mountains for a day trip or camping for the weekend is super easy. Especially if you hook up with a camping provider like Great Camping Adventures.”
Enjoy camping without any of the hard work. Great Camping Adventures will set up your tent and serve sunset drinks before you sit down to a chef-prepared dinner, followed by songs around the campfire.
“One of my favourite things to do is a farm gate tour. Say hello to Joe at Hawkesbury Vegetable Farm and buy a box of his veggies – it doesn’t get any fresher.”
Set on 20 acres in Wilberforce, this family-run farm has been growing vegetables for almost 30 years. Visit the farm right now to pick up fresh winter veg like cabbage, cauliflower, broccoli, carrots, kale and radishes.
“Another place I love is Melanda Park Free Range Pork. These guys provide pork to some of Australia’s best chefs and restaurants, and they do free range right.”
The Stones family has been farming on the banks of the Hawkesbury River for almost 100 years. Third generation farmers Sue and Matt now have 150 pasture raised sows nosing around the property, producing some of Australia’s best pork.
“There’s no better way of seeing the Hawkesbury River than by getting out on a houseboat for a day or two. Paul from Hawkesbury Afloat is the man you need to see.”
Hawkesbury Afloat has everything you need for your own adventure on the water. The houseboats sleep up to 10 people and are kitted out with hot water, sunbaking areas, swim ladders, and full kitchens and barbecues for cooking up some local delicacies.
“While you’re on the water you should get some local fish to cook. Lifeboat Seafood is right on the wharf and you can buy the fish straight off the boat. Super fresh and you’re supporting local industry.”
Find the Hawkesbury’s freshest seafood at Lifeboat in Brooklyn. Cooked fish and chips are available to takeaway or you can grab today’s catch and grill it yourself.
