If the idea of sampling some of Australia's finest bush tucker while watching native animals roam in a tranquil natural habitat has you just about ready to jump in the car, then Secret Creek is the place for you.
On the leafy outskirts of Lithgow, just 90 minutes drive from Sydney, Secret Creek is a restaurant and sanctuary dedicated to the protection of vulnerable native wildlife. Set on over 200 hectares of pristine native bush land, the property is an excellent place to enjoy some first class food while coming face to face with iconic Australian animals. An easy drive from the major attractions of the Blue Mountains, Secret Creek is the perfect spot to stop for lunch or dinner on the way to Jenolin Caves.
The restaurant has a rustic, outback ambience with timber and corrugated iron interiors. Large windows allow visitors generous glimpses of the furry and feathered residents who wander past, seemingly undisturbed by human company. Wallabies, brush turkeys and a pair of curious emus can all be seen while enjoying the superb selection of food on offer.
The menu makes full use of the region's fantastic local ingredients with dishes including seared kangaroo in Dorrigo pepper crust, served with pear and plum compote. If you have reservations about eating skippy, there is also a selection of dishes comprising more traditional ingredients such as lamb shanks with crisp puff pastry croute. For those with a sweet tooth, the apple and macadamia cake is to die for.
If you time your visit for the late afternoon, dinner can be accompanied by a guided tour of the 5 hectare, "feral-proof", sanctuary where potoroos and bettongs can be found in abundance, roaming freely. The tour includes a visit to the quoll house where endangered eastern quolls are bred and released back into the wild. A portion of the price of each dish ordered goes to ensuring the welfare of the animals, so you need not feel so guilty about indulging in a desert…..or two.
