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The Southern Highlands of NSW is a truly special place. Known for its quaint villages and heritage towns, national parks, award winning wineries, fresh local produce, and famous inhabitants, this region is one of the most up and coming destinations in Australia to visit.
Many people don’t know this, but it’s actually where I grew up. It’s not a widely popular place for tourists to visit outside of Sydneysiders taking a weekend getaway, which still amazes me, as there are tons of things to do in the Southern Highlands NSW.
Whenever I return to visit family, I marvel at the changes – even just in a few months – and appreciate that even though it’s developing it hasn’t lost its charm.
Kangaroo Valley, Southern Highlands
Because it’s loved by Sydneysiders, and it’s a small region with small towns and villages, you need to book your accommodation well in advance.
So if you’re ready to enjoy country life, here’s some ideas for what to do in Southern Highlands from a local…
1. Play a round of Cricket on Bradman Oval, Bowral
Bradman’s oval
If you are a cricket aficionado just the mention of the Bradman Oval in Bowral will have you reaching for your baggy green cap and cricket bat and heading outdoors for a hit or two.
Cricket was first played on the Oval in 1891 when the local team played against the local cricket team from the town of Marulan.
Later that year the Bowral team lost against the UK on its first international game to be played on the Bowral Oval.
The famous cricketer Sir Donald Bradman first played for his home team Bowral in the 1920-21 season.
He has been named as the greatest test cricketer of the 20th century.
The Bradman Museum
The Bradman Museum, also located on the Bradman Oval site, is dedicated to the memory of Sir Donald Bradman and his dedication to Australian and World cricket.
The Bradman Museum and International Cricket Hall of Fame is much more than a world cricket museum.
Not only does the Museum trace the origins of cricket and equipment used, it has interactive touch screens and several large video screens that depict the importance of cricket in world affairs too!
2. Taste test your way around the Southern Highlands Wineries
The Southern Highlands boasts over 60 vineyards and 17 cellar doors producing Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay, Riesling, Pinot Gris, Merlot, Pinot Noir and Cabernet Sauvignon.
Two of our favourites are the award-winning wineries of the Bendooley Estate and Centennial Vineyards.
Bendooley Estate
Bendooley Estate Winery
Bendooley Estate located at 3020 Old Hume Highway Berrima not only has a cellar door, restaurant, a book barn, but offers studio accommodation as well as 2 and 3-bedroom cottage accommodation.
The Cellar Door is open daily and has wine tastings available every day from 10:00am – 3:00pm, and come paired with excellent views over the vineyard.
The venue is so popular bookings must be made well in advance of your travel dates. Check the website to make a booking.
At the back of the estate’s restaurant and bar is a hidden gem – the Berkelouw Book Barn. This rare book shop has rows and rows of rare books, cathedral ceilings and king-sized iron chandeliers.
What better space to enjoy your wine from than curled up by the stone fireplace with a great book?
Centennial Vineyards
Centennial Vineyards Restaurant
Centennial Vineyards, also in Bowral, is another vineyard we love as they also offer tours of their wine making facility.
Wine tasting is available at their cellar door, and we would recommend booking a table for lunch at their Vineyards Restaurant.
In summer book a table on the verandah overlooking the vineyards and in winter head indoors and enjoy the warmth from their expansive fireplace.
3. Explore the villages of the Southern Highlands
Burrawang Hotel
The best way to explore the Southern Highlands is to hop in your car and drive around the small towns and villages, which have heritage buildings, relaxed vibes, and a community-driven way of life.
Some of the best villages to check out are:
- Bowral – great for shopping for antiques, homewares, clothes, excellent cafes, restaurants and pub meals. Try Dirty Jane’s for antiques and for a healthy brunch try Raw & Wild.
- Mittagong – great cafes and homewares. There’s a nice park around Lake Alexandra Reserve.
- Berrima – the historical town of Berrima dates back to 1831 and is a great example of Georgian architecture. Today it is popular for homewares, local produce, restaurants, cafes, and art galleries. The 1834 Surveyor General Inn, the oldest continuously licensed inn, is popular for lunch and dinner and when the weather is warm enjoy a cold beer or local wine in their beer garden.
- Moss Vale – home to boutiques and craft shops, the award winning Birch Restaurant.
- Burrawang – the historic village of Burrawang should be on your to do list. Visit the General Store that dates back to 1867 or enjoy a pub lunch in the garden of the Burrawang Village Hotel.
- Robertson – Do you remember the blockbuster movie “Babe” about a pig? Well, that small pig put Robertson on the map. For spectacular scenery and waterfalls Robertson is the place to visit. Head to Belmore Falls and the walking track near Kangaroo Valley for scenic views, flora and fauna.
Burrawang General Store
A must try is the famous Robertson Pie Shop where pie lovers come from all over to taste their sweet and savoury pies that have been baked on the premises since 1961.
Exeter
Exeter – aka as Little England – is the smallest of all the villages but the biggest when it comes to large English-style country estates and its historic Celtic styled St Aidan’s Church.
Enjoy a coffee or lunch at the Exeter General Store before heading across the road to shop for antiques at the Village Pump Antiques store.
4. Admire views from Mount Gibraltar Reserve Lookouts
Bowral Lookout
On Mount Gibraltar is the highest point in the Southern Highlands and has four look outs. It’s a great spot to go to appreciate the natural beauty of this region.
The Mittagong Lookout overlooks the town of Mittagong and the Old Highway to the north. On a clear day you can see for miles and miles.
Bowral Lookout has views over the Bowral township towards Moss Vale and to the southwest of the region.
For views of the northwest, head to Jellore Lookout, for views from Bowral to Mittagong and the countryside beyond.
Oxley View Lookout has views to the southwest and west over Bowral.
5. Attend the Annual Tulip Time Festival in Spring
Tulip Festival | Image via Deposit Photos
Tulip Time is held every year in Bowral in Spring at Corbett Gardens in Bowral.
Visitors flock to the colourful displays of over 75,000 tulips.
Local homes open up their gardens for all to enjoy their display of tulips.
On Friday and Saturday evenings you can enjoy Tulips after Dark where you can wander the beautiful gardens, Corbett Gardens, and enjoy local wines and local bands.
6. Admire Fitzroy Falls
Fitzroy Falls in Morton National Park is a must-visit for nature lovers and photography enthusiasts.
There’s a lovely and easy 3 – 6 km walking trails along the cliff top to see Fitzroy Falls, which is fed by the Kangaroo River and plunges over the escarpment into the thick Eucalpytus forest below.
It’s not an overly dramatic waterfall, but it’s pretty enough, and is worth the walk to see. It reminds me a lot of the Blue Mountains, but without the crowds.
7. Enjoy craft brews at Eden Brewery
As well as wineries, the Southern Highlands is also making waves in the craft beer scene. Eden Brewery is an independent brewery with a casual, relaxed and community-focused vibe.
It offers private guided beer tastings and brewery tours as well as has a lively taproom space where you can taste test flavors of your choice with one of their paddles.
They also have live music on Friday nights showcasing local talent, and food trucks on Friday, Saturday and Sunday.
They also donate 10% of their profits to Oxfam and use 100% green renewable energy in their brewery – what’s more to like?
8. Walk the Berrima River Walk
The Berrima River walk is a historic walking trail starting and ending at the Berrima Picnic Areas and loops around for 1.8 km. It’s an easy walk that follows along the riverbank, and passes 17 interpretive signs revealing the history of WWI German internment.
Each sign tells stories of the German merchant seamen, officers, and prisoners of war who interned here during World War I. You can see where the huts, gardens, bridges and boats were built over the four years they lived here.
This is a child and dog-friendly walk.
9. Visit Harry’s on Green Lane
Another hidden gem in Southern Highlands is Harry’s in Bowral. This cosy restaurant offers regional cuisine, and a unique dining space.
It was named after an English nurseryman and horticulturist, Sir Harry Veitch, which explains the wide variety of exotic plants and treasures adorning the walls of this restaurant.
It feels like part English garden, part museum, as there is exotic travel memorabilia at every turn. The room lined with books is my favorite space.
You must make a reservation for lunch and dinner, as it’s becoming quite popular. Be sure to book at table in The Orangery Plant Gallery or The Potting Shed garden centre outside.
10. Take the kid to Illawarra Fly Treetop Adventures
Illawarra Fly Kiama
The Illawarra Fly Treetop Walk is a 500 metre steel walk that takes you across the treetop canopy about 30 metres high above ground.
It ends at a spiral tower, rising 45 metres above the forest floor, and has lovely views of escarpment over the valley.
In our opinion, the Illawarra Fly was good, but way overpriced for what it was. The Illawarra Fly is a zipline experience where you zip form one tree platform to another, 35 metres above the ground. It has the highest zipline in Australia.
Final Thoughts
I hope you this guide helped you to find some things do in the Southern Highlands on your visit.
I would recommend staying at least 3 nights to enjoy all that the region offers.
Take a little piece of the Highlands home with you whether it is one of their bottles of cold climate wines, local produce, an antique or two or just your beautiful memories.
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Do you have any other tips for plans to visit the Southern Highlands of NSW? What are you most excited to see? Let us know in the comments.
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