Plan Your Visit

The weekend

The wedding is on Saturday, but we'll be at Riverwood Downs from Thursday evening and from Friday afternoon we'd love you to join us.

There's no schedule to keep and nothing you're obliged to come to. Some people will arrive Friday, some Saturday morning. Some will stay through to Sunday, others will head home after the reception. Whatever works for you is completely fine.

Getting there

Riverwood Downs is in the Barrington Tops foothills, about 1 hour 40 minutes from Newcastle. It's a beautiful part of NSW and fairly remote, so it's worth a little planning before you set off.

DRIVING

Most guests will be driving. Approximate travel times:

• Newcastle & Lake Macquarie: around 1.5 to 2 hours

• Sydney & Central Coast: around 3 to 3.5 hours

• Mid North Coast: around 3 to 4 hours

The roads get narrower and unsealed the closer you get to the venue. Riverwood Downs has detailed driving directions on their website and we'd strongly recommend following those for the final stretch rather than relying on GPS alone. It's also worth downloading an offline map before you leave as mobile reception can drop out on the way in.

If you're arriving after dark, give yourself a little extra time and take it easy on the rural roads.

Parking is available onsite.

CARPOOLING

There's no organised transport to the venue. If you're looking for a lift or happy to share the drive with someone, let us know and we'll do our best to connect you with another guest heading the same way.

PUBLIC TRANSPORT AND RIDESHARE

The Barrington Tops area is pretty remote and public transport and rideshare aren't really options out here. If you don't drive, getting in touch with us is the best first step and we'll try to sort something out with other guests travelling from your direction.

Food and supplies

The wedding catering covers canapés and dinner on Saturday evening. Outside of that, the venue has a restaurant, bar, café, and kiosk, but hours can vary and they're not really set up to cover every meal across a full weekend for a large group.

Most onsite accommodation has kitchen or self-catering facilities, and there are communal BBQ areas on the property. For anyone staying the full weekend, bringing groceries with you is the most straightforward way to cover your meals. BYO alcohol is fine in accommodation.

If you need to pick anything up, there are towns within driving distance.

Access & Comfort

We want everyone to be able to enjoy the weekend in whatever way works for them. Here's a bit more detail about the property and what to expect on the day.

GETTING AROUND

Most paths between accommodation and event areas are dirt and grass rather than paved. All main buildings including the reception venue have ramp access, and the ceremony will be held on a level grass lawn.

Using your car to get between accommodation and the ceremony and reception is completely fine, and vehicles can get close to the main event areas.

Assistance animals are very welcome throughout the weekend. Dogs are welcome at Riverwood Downs but please don't bring them to the ceremony or reception.

THE ENVIRONMENT ON THE DAY

The ceremony and speeches will be amplified outdoors. Music during the reception will be focused around the woolshed, with open space outside to step away from the noise whenever you need it.

A quiet, low-sensory space will be available on the lawn throughout the day with a few sensory supports available to borrow. There'll be no strobe lighting or planned high-intensity elements.

SEATING AND PACING

Both the ceremony and reception are fully seated, with additional seating available during canapé hour. There's no expectation to be on your feet for long periods or to be present for every moment.

COMMUNICATION

The ceremony and all formal announcements will be in English with amplification. If written versions of readings, vows, or speech notes would be helpful, please get in touch and we'll do what we can.

DIETARY NEEDS AND ALLERGIES

Please share any dietary requirements or allergies when you RSVP and they'll be catered for at the wedding. Bringing your own snacks, medications, or anything else you need is completely fine.

WEATHER

Mid-October is typically warm to hot during the day with mild evenings. Sun protection during the daytime is a good idea. Some areas of the property can get muddy in wet weather, so footwear you're comfortable walking in is worth thinking about regardless of the forecast.

GETTING IN TOUCH

If there's anything you'd like to ask or let us know about before you arrive, please reach out. Anything you share with us will be treated with care.