Walnut Runs 2017
The Event
One destination with two runs to visit a walnut & chestnut farm at Mt Irvine that includes a drive of the awesome Mt Irvine Road through dense rainforest. An early waypoint run to breakfast at a restored Cobb & Co staging post for the enthusiasts who love to drive their MX-5 on roads that they were designed for and a more relaxed cruise later in the morning over the Blue Mountains to meet up at around midday. After the farm visit you have the option of lunch or a drive home before the returning day trippers clog up the roads.
Breakfast & walnuts with lunch option
A 7.00am start from McDonalds Eastern Creek M4 Westbound a run to minimise the inconvenience from Sunday morning traffic with the BreakFast Club over the Blue Mountains then down Victoria Pass for to run on Jenolan Caves Road as far as the RMS gravel dump area before the for road becomes one way for the dros down to the caves. We then retrace our steps back to the Great Western Highway for breakfast at Ambermere Rose Inn, a renovated 1840’s colonial Cobb & Co staging post in Little Hartley (http://www.ambermereroseinn.com.au/ ) between 9.30 and 10.00am. We wil decide on the day if we head back to Little Hartley on a road less travelled, the Cox River Road. .
After brekkie the route returns up the pass for Mount Victoria to head along the Darling Causeway to the Bell Line of Road for the turnoff to Mount Wilson. Though only 19km in length the Mount Irvine Road from Mount Wilson is a fabulous run for your MX-5, the driver and passenger as it snakes its way through thick rainforest growing right up to the road’s edge.
The destination venue is Kooootonga Nut Farm at 247 Mt Irvine Road, Mt Irvine (see below) arriving at around 12 noon to meet up with the later run. From the farm you have the choice of heading home to cross the Nepean River before 2.00pm or having lunch on the way home.
Walnuts & lunch
A later run heading off from McDonalds Eastern Creek M4 Westbound at 10.00am for a more relaxed and shorter cruiser run to the walnut farm over the mountains to Mount Victoria on the Great Western Highway then across the Darling Causeway for the Bells Line of Road and the Mount Wilson turn off. As with the earlier run the highlight of the drive is the beauty and fun to be had is on the meandering twists and turns of the road through the dense rainforest between Mount Wilson and Mount Irvine.
The destination for both runs is Kookootonga Nut Farm (see below) arriving at around midday. After an hour or so at the farm the Sydney Chapter run leader will select a lunch venue suitable for the number of members continuing on to lunch.
KOOKOOTONGA NUT FARM
Kookootonga Nut Farm, established over 100 years ago, is a walnut and chestnut farm giving visitors the option to pick their own or buy from the farm produce store on a cash only basis. Open shoes are nor recommended on walking the farm as the ground may be soft under foot and strewn with chestnut spurs. Gloves are on sale for those wishing to collect chestnuts rather than buy fROm the store. The link is http://www.kookootonga.com.au/
Important GPS points for your run:-
Early Run
Intersection of Great Western Highway and Jenolan Caves Road, Hartley.
Intersection Great Western Highway and Ambermere Drive, Little Hartley.
Intersection Great Western Highway and Darling Causeway, Mt Victoria.
Intersection Bells Line of Road and Mt Wilson Road,
247 Mt Irvine Road, Mt Irvine.
Later Run
Intersection Great Western Highway and Darling Causeway, Mt Victoria.
Intersection Bells Line of Road and Mt Wilson Road,
247 Mt Irvine Road, Mt Irvine.
