High Tea Society recently left the hustle and bustle of Sydney and headed down to the Audley Room in the Royal National Park, where life is just that little bit more relaxed.
High Tea Society recently left the hustle and bustle of Sydney and headed down to the Audley Room in the Royal National Park, where life is just that little bit more relaxed.
Let’s start with some history first. The Audley Room is a beautiful heritage listed building at Audley weir which is about an hours drive south of Sydney. Originally a dance hall, its rambling balcony offers views over its manicured grounds, the Hacking River and the native bush land beyond. It’s a pretty timeless location.
The day we visited, there was also an art exhibition featuring local artists, so we were able to wander through the paintings before we were seated outside on the balcony.
It was my guest’s first time at a high tea, and he was suitably impressed when the three tiered stand arrived with all the usual goodies. The menu regularly changes, so expect to be surprised on the day.
While the food did stick to the usual ribbon sandwich, savoury treats, sweet goodies formula, there was something about it that made it feel quite rustic – which isn’t a bad thing at all! We spent a lovely afternoon overlooking families picnicking in the grounds below; there were people in rowboats meandering up and down the river; and the local birdlife were dotted around the trees singing in the sunshine. Lots of fresh air and sunshine left us feeling quite relaxed, the glass of chilled champagne to sip while watching the world go by didn’t hurt either!
There were a few standouts for us, but the winner would have to be the lemonade scones with clotted cream and homemade jam. They were pretty close to the best scones we’ve ever eaten. Other interesting items were the pickled carrot and cottage cheese sandwich – sweet and crunchy with a lovely hint of fennel; as well as the strawberry and vanilla tart – a thick velvety crème anglaise topped with finely chopped strawberries that packed so much strawberry punch in something so little it was quite delicious!
The Audley Room High Tea Menu
- A selection of ribbon sandwiches on white and wholemeal bread
- Sophisticated savoury bites
- Lemonade scones with clotted cream and market jam
- Delightful desserts and cakes
- With a wide selection of tea from T2
The high tea is available all weekend with sessions starting at 10.00am, 12.30pm and 3.00pm. You’ll need to book in advance, because places fill up very quickly. Although, if you happen to find yourself in the area, pop in and try your luck, there are limited walk in spots available. It’s well worth taking the chance to spend a few hours on the balcony relaxing!
This venue has closed
