Southern Highlands
Explore the food and wine trail to Mount Ashby Estate, Eling Forest Cellar Door, Sutton Forest Estate Wines and Southern Highlands Wines. Wine Time festival is held in March. Drive to beautiful Kangaroo Valley, 40 minutes from Bowral, and camp under the stars or paddle in a kayak on the river.
There’s hearty food at pubs in the Southern Highlands. In historic Berrima, near Bowral, is the Surveyor General Inn, built in 1834 using convict labour. The Burrawang Village Hotel is near Robertson, where children’s favourite Babe was filmed. The pub has a beer garden with lovely views.
About the Southern Highlands
In the Southern Highlands enjoy green pastures and rolling hills, fine food and wines, waterfalls and wilderness. Bowral, which hosts a tulip festival in spring, is 90 minutes’ drive from Sydney and it’s a must-see destination for all cricket fans.
The Bradman Museum and International Cricket Hall of Fame commemorates legendary Australian batsman Donald Bradman, who lived in Bowral. You’ll also find tributes to great international players hailing from other cricketing nations.
The journey by train from Sydney takes 2 h 20 mins to Bowral, the commercial hub of the Southern Highlands, with interesting shops and great places to eat and drink. Biota Dining is one of the town’s award-winning restaurants. Combine tasty local fare with a visit to some of the region’s 63 vineyards and 17 cellar doors.
The best way to explore the Southern Highlands’ many attractions is by car. Driving tours on good roads will take you through rolling countryside, subtropical rainforest and vineyards. There is a range of accommodation options, from youth hostels to elegant resorts such as Milton Park in Bowral.
Near the village of Bundanoon is Morton National Park with walking tracks to rainforest gullies and the pretty Fairy Bower Falls. From Bundanoon drive 30 minutes to the gorgeous Fitzroy Falls, where there are walking trails along the escarpment’s edge.