SSP THURSDAY/FRIDAY - Half Way and Back

This event will be an overnight event with a stay at Hampton Halfway Motor Inn Motel. You will need to book before RSVP. Accomodation is limited at Hartley, so book early. Otherwise Lithgow for overnight stay and dinner at Club Lithgow.

On Thursday 25th Sept meet at Bilpin Fruit Bowl café, 2093 Bells Line of Road Bilpin at 10.30 for coffee. Easily spotted on left hand side of the road by its very large concrete bowl of fruit.
After coffee we will visit Mt Tomah and Mt Wilson gardens and end the day at Lithgow’s Blast Furnace. There is usually no food mid week at Mt Wilson so bring food and drink for a snack in the afternoon.

From Lithgow we will drive to Little Hartley and turn right into Jenolan Caves Road to Hampton Halfway Motor Inn Motel for dinner at 8pm and our overnight accommodation.

Breakfast on Friday morning will be at the motel followed by a visit to a Japanese style garden and then Little Hartley village and historic buildings. After morning tea at Little Hartley, we will drive to Katoomba to visit 2 art galleries, walk the back streets to photograph the murals and lunch at Katoomba RSL’s bistro. After lunch we will return to Sydney.

The full itinerary with times, directions and addresses will be given to each car during coffee at Bilpin Fruit Bowl. Please don't be late.

It will be up to yourselves to book and pay for your own accommodation. Hampton Halfway Motor Inn Motel (02) 6359 3302 or 0403 868 625. When booking, mention that you are with the SSP group and ask for their rate.

Friday morning, join us before 8.30am for breakfast or at the Japanese Garden around 9.30am. We are staying at Hampton Halfway as the views in the morning from the rear terrace are lovely. Also optional astrophotography until midnight at this location & if you are an early bird, then a sunrise may be a surprise.

Travel:
Car is necessary
If you don't have a car or don't want to drive, then please ask in the Comments for a suitable ride and directly contact any responders to arrange. If hitching a ride, pls offer to share fuel and tolls. You will have to stay at the same overnight location and the easiest pickup point is at Richmond Railway station.

What to bring:
Camera with fresh batteries plus charger and empty memory card and remote shutter cable if you want to try star trails or time lapse
Lenses to suit travel, landscape, nightscape & macro
Tripod and quick adapter
Water and snacks and maybe a thermos of your favourite beverage
some cash for entry to some of the gardens
plus your usual day away stuff in a small overnight bag