Family Friendly Day Trips Archives - Page 2 of 2

Best Things to do in Berwick Berwick

When I first bought my house in Berwick I was a little charmed and a little chuffed.

My husbands idea of a good weekend away is camping in the bush, sans mobile phone reception and water running through pipes. My idea of fun is a walk around the City (any city will do), a meal somewhere exciting, cake somewhere cute and a coffee somewhere scenic (I could go on but you get my point). So when we decided on Berwick it was kind of because our here on the Urban Fringe offered us the best of both worlds. Look left and you see countryside, look right and you see a long road snaking to the city. Stand on a hill and look South and you’ll see the beach. Pretty good location really.

But the last time we viewed our “new ” house before signing off on the paperwork we were driving through the Main Street of Berwick Village on a busy Saturday afternoon and all of a sudden I saw everything with different eyes. Berwick was really just a lot of houses perched on the edge of an old Highway.

Cue panic.

What I really needed then is what I will offer you now. The eight best things to do in Berwick.

1. Head to the Dandenong Ranges.

Depending where you live in Berwick you are kind of tucked into the foothills of the Dandenong Ranges anyway. You can drive or walk somewhere scenic and beautiful very quickly. Emerald is a 15 minute drive away and boy is that drive beautiful. At this time of year with all the Autumn leaves it is simply showing off. Visit Puffing Billy, have a coffee or some lunch, walk the rolling hills. Spot the “angry bird” goats and Sally’s BigAss Burgers somewhere around Upper Beaconsfield. You can also reach for Belgrave in about the same amount of time or let yourself get lost and find Sassafras. You will not regret it.

2. Jump on a train and hot foot it to the City.

Ok so every weekend I read the newspaper and every weekend they have lists of what is good and fun and interesting and educational and artistic and awesome. Berwick is never on these lists. Because frankly we are really not excelling at any of these things. Which is fine. To be honest, when I lived close to the city I did not really do a lot of these things anyway because, well, because of life. So this is what I figure… if you want to go to a gallery opening, or a hot new restaurant or the theatre, just face the commute and go. It is worth it and not that far.

3. Find good food. Easy!

Dinner at award winning O.My in Beaconsfield.

Drink at Four Figs or Revival or the Old School cafe.

Check out this list of The Best Cafes in Berwick & beyond for ideas.

Walk along High St in Berwick Village and discover our very own artisan Butcher at The village Butcher. http://www.villagebutchers.com.au

4. Visit a Market. We are a little spoilt for choice.

There is Akoonah Park Market, the Case-Berwick Farmers Market or the Farmers Market at the Old Cheese Factory. None of these actually even require you to leave town. Further afield there are markets in Gembrook and Emerald and Belgrave, Drouin, Dandenong, Warragul and the Yarra Valley. They all offer something a little different. Do your research then get to it! Here let me help….

Click here for The best markets in Berwick and beyond.

5. Go to Wilson Botanic Park. Watch Shakespere there, play on the playground, climb the lookout tower, be a ranger for a day. Just enjoy its beauty and the peace and quiet. Recharge with a walk or by laying on a rug and staring at the view of the sky through the Autumn leaves.

http://www.weekendnotes.com/wilson-botanic-park/

6. Take a walk or ride a bike.

From where I am sitting right now, not only can I see a gorgeous array of Autumn leaves and colour, but I can see a brand new walking/ bike track. This is one of many in the area.

The Hallam Valley Trail offers over 10km of bike tracks through the heart of Casey.

7. Hit the High St on a sunny Saturday morning.

Just park your car and walk from the Butcher to the Baker and enjoy the view along the way. Smile at a local. Pretend you have not noticed the sheer mass of cars careening up the main street in town. Walk through the landscaped gardens in the middle of the Village. Marvel at the statues of Edwin Flack and Spiridon Louis and ask a local about the firsson of excitement their pairing caused. When I first moved here a local hairdresser was lamenting the days where everybody new your name in Berwick Village. Make it happen again with a smile and a help (hopefully you won’t be arrested).

8. Grab a coffee at the Old School Cafe and then take a walk through the accompanying park. This is just good old fashioned, life affirming fun.

Any ideas of what you might add to the list local Berwick-ites?

Let me know in the comments below.

As always, enjoy.

Dani xx

I think the time has come to finally do a list of my top picks for dining in Berwick and beyond.

As I have mentioned before, I have been living in lovely Berwick for more than a year now and in that time I have visited a lot of the local restaurants, cafe’s and foodie spots. I won’t lie, there was a bit of disappointment early on and there were a lot more coffee’s being made at home. There was also quite a bit of jealousy toward other foodie blogs who nonchalantly complain about the plethora of food trucks lining their streets I’m taking about you http://www.considerthesauce.net . But after 12 months, and a lot of research, I finally have a list of places to visit. So here it is, my gift to you Berwick!

Best Bakery

Pane Di Fiore. Shop 1 Oakview Boulevard, Narre Warren North.

They do cakes, they do coffee, they do delicious sandwiches. They also have a lovely assortment of bread and often have some kind of “theme” food for Easter or Christmas. They do not have a website yet but you can check them out at their Facebook page.

https://www.facebook.com/PaneDiFiore

There are some great photo’s of their sourdough loaf and their hot cross buns if you’re feeling hungry.

Best Dumplings

Lucky Dumpling. 19 Webb St, Naree Warren.

This is a very new, small, utilitarian dumpling restaurant in Naree Warren. It is rating pretty well on urbanspon.com and when I visited it we had a lovely dinner of noodles, dumplings and spring onion pancake. You do not eat here for le ambiance but for le tasty dumplings. Yum! I am so glad Chinese street food finally found us out here in the South Eastern Suburbs.

Best Farmers Market

This is a hard one. I love the Berwick Farmers Market which I have previously posted about here. http://eatmystreet.wordpress.com/2013/10/03/farmers-market-at-the-old-cheese-factory.

But this week my winners gong goes to Emerald Market at the Emerald community hall. They win because they have the BEST bread EVER in the whole world. I never exaggerate. 😉 It has to be seen and tasted to be believed and this is one of the only places they sell it. They are called Artisan Crust boulangerie and patisserie.

They can be found here

https://www.facebook.com/theartisancrust

For more information on the Emerald Market and when it is run look here.

Emerald Craft and Produce Market

The Emerald Market is more of a craft and produce market than a strictly farmers market so really they are both very good markets and it is hard to choose. I know, try both!

Best Chips

Goodys Charcoal Chicken. Shop 8, 215 Parkhill Drive, Berwick.

This one is easy. I am mad keen on chips. Some might say addicted (anyone who knows me well does indeed say this). I really don’t go a fortnight without eating hot chips. I frequently travel across Berwick to eat these chips. Crispy, clean, very salty. I had better stop talking about them or I might need to eat more. So here are the details:

There is really not much to say about hot chips right? Everyone loves them. Get on them!

Best Pizza

Carlei Green Vineyard and Cafe. 1 Alber Rd, Upper Beaconsfield.

I have blogged about my disappointment with pizza in Berwick before. I have eaten quite a bit more pizza since then but my opinion has not changed. I will say this, if you will not use real olives, then do not talk to me. Those pre chopped bit of black lego tyres taste like cardboard so WHY BOTHER? So I refuse to recommend any pizza restaurant bar Crust in Beaconsfield and that is nothing amazing. BUT, if you want to eat out for pizza and it is Sunday, then visit Carlei green vineyards and winery. They have their own wood fired pizza oven and a chef/cook who know’s their way around it. It is a small menu but so far every pizza I have tasted is delicious.

Carlei Green Vineyards Winery and Cafe

Best Soft Cheese

Le Dauphin from Thomas Dux grocery in Glen Waverley. Centro the Glen, 235 Springvale Rd, Glen Waverley.

I have had some major misses with buying cheese in Berwick. I was basically very spoilt in the past. But really, in Berwick and surrounds I have bought cheese with metal in it, mouldy cheese that was not meant to be mouldy, off sweaty cheese and bouncy rubbery cheese. I love cheese and would like to live off it (plans are currently under way). So far Aldi would have to be my best place to buy it and that is not aiming particularly high it would be fair to say. So this one is a bit out of left field but here it is.

I know that is a long way to drive from Berwick, but if I am ever in the area I pick some cheese up. It is always good and ripe and well looked after and beats food poisoning from rank cheese near by any day. Le Dauphin coincidentally means, The Prince and indeed this Prince of the Brie that is made up on the Rhone Alps of France is delicious and perfect and I am in love with it. I bought it for $60/ kg at Thomas Dux, which is cheaper than buying it at Richmond Hill Cafe and Larder ($80/kg). So while it is expensive, it is also a bargain and it did fly all the way from Europe so I guess fair is fair.

Best Fine Dining:

This gong definitely goes to O.My in Beaconsfield. 23 Woods St, Beaconsfield.

You can read my post about them here

O.My Beaconsfield

or visit them here

http://omyrestaurant.com.au

Interesting and delicious food in a sophisticated, modern restaurant. I can’t wait to go back!

Best Coffee

I know you want to know my tip for best coffee. It is a big call though….. We do have our very own specialty coffee roaster

http://zestcoffee.com.au

But they do not have a cafe.

I think the Gold FLogie (food logie) has to go to Four Figs in Beaconsfield. The coffee is consistently good here. They did charge me $4.50 once for a take away coffee which put them straight onto my bad list, but if you want to drink in, then this is the place.

Or you could just come to my place. The coffee is always good here.