Sydney road riders are always on the lookout for new rides and venues. North and northwest have always offered a surplus of routes and venues with such evergreen rides as the Old Pacific Highway, the legendary Putty Road and Bells Line of Roads.
South there’s the Royal National Park as you leave the suburbs – further south there are unmissable stops like the Famous Robertson Pie Shop at the head of Macquarie Pass garnering more than its fair share of two-wheeled traffic.
Southern riders now have a new destination with the opening of the Schmokin’ Cafe in the long-established, but under-exploited Marketplace complex right on the Old Hume Highway in the beautiful historic village of Berrima. [map link]
Schmokin’ is the creation of former corporate high-flyer, Martyn Poytress, a Cheltenham (UK) boy looking to kick back with something more sustainable and enjoyable.
“Sure, it’s a bit of a mid-life crisis,” confesses Martyn, “and Berrima just reminds me so much of fun times on scrambler bikes back home in the Cotswolds where I grew up.”
Schmokin’ is licensed and serves great street food (like burgers and smoked brisket) and coffee as well as selling a range of hip rider fashion with brands like Clutch Moto and Blackbird. The cool 250cc, sub-$8k Mutt Motorcycles also feature large as well as Vallkree electric bicycles which can also be hired for leisurely touring around the streets.
Why not make a weekend of it with lots of rustic BnB accommodation on offer in Berrima like the heritage-listed Jellore Cottage and Settler’s Hut just across the street.
And what’s more, you can buy your copy of Road Rider and our sister magazines there too.
For more information on visiting the Southern Highlands, see the official website.