The Southern Highlands in spring time is a truly beautiful place to visit. The region caters to a variety of interests and in October the days are usually mild to warm.
If you’re looking for more than one reason to come to the region, here are 13 of them that highlight the diversity and beauty of the Southern Highlands:
Courtesy of Destination Southern Highlands
THE BRADMAN CENTRE – HOME OF CRICKET MEMORIES AND THE INTERNATIONAL CRICKET HALL OF FAME
The Bradman Museum & International Cricket Hall of Fame brings cricket to life with interactive touch screens, an expanded range of displays featuring original and match used equipment and five huge video screens which place cricket in the context of world history. The expanded Museum is bigger, better and more engaging, and reflects those attributes Sir Donald Bradman brought to the game: courage, honour, integrity, humility and determination.
Website: https://www.bradman.com.au/home-bradman/
Address: St Jude Street, Bowral
Courtesy of Destination Southern Highlands
FITZROY FALLS
This magnificent waterfall is just a short boardwalk from the Fitzroy Falls Information Centre. The falls plunge over 80m to the valley below. Fitzroy Falls is an ideal base to explore the lush escarpment and is also a great base for birdwatching. Accessible for all with its boardwalk its an ideal location for families and groups.
Website: www.nationalparks.nsw.gov.au
Address: Nowra Road, Fitzroy Falls
BERRIMA
Delve into the past at the historic village of Berrima. Home to Australia’s oldest continually licensed Inn – the Surveyor General, amazing colonial architecture and sandstone buildings, (one of which houses Eschalot one of the Southern Highlands’ hatted restaurants), and even a ghost, if you look hard enough. The must see is the Berrima Courthouse Museum.
Website: www.berrimavillage.com.au
Address: Old Hume Highway, Berrima
Courtesy of Destination Southern Highlands
BUNDANOON – MORTON NATIONAL PARK
Famous for its annual Scottish Festival – the Bundanoon Highland Gathering, the village of Bundanoon is also the gateway to the Morton National Park, and for this reasons is a mecca for cyclists of all ages and bushwalkers. The park has numerous walking tracks all of which abound in native flora and vary in length and difficulty. Track include: Erith Coal Mine Track, Fairy Bower Falls Walk & Fairy Bower Scenic Circuit, Echo Point and Lovers Walk, Bundanoon Creek Track and a must see is Glow Work Glen.
Website: www.bundanoon.com.au/morton-national-park
Address: Gullies Road, Bundanoon
Courtesy of Destination Southern Highlands
STURT
Sturt Gallery presents an annual program of professionally curated and challenging exhibitions that showcase the best of Australian contemporary craft & design as well as occasional important touring exhibitions and projects that build links with our Southern Highlands community.
Website: www.sturt.nsw.edu.au
Address: Cnr Range Road & Waverley Parade, Mittagong
OPEN GARDENS
Beautiful gardens have always been a drawcard for visitors to the Southern Highlands, with the region being blessed with some of Australia’s best private gardens. Springtime gives visitors the opportunity to experience some of these gardens at their very best. A full calendar of gardens open for inspection is available from the Southern Highlands Welcome Centre.
Website: www.southern-highlands.com.au/events/open-gardens
Address: Southern Highlands Welcome Centre, 62-70 Main Street, Mittagong
SPECIALTY SHOPPING & ANTIQUES & GALLERIES
Visitors will uncover an array of treasure from fashion and designer accessories, artworks to vintage wares, antiques and collectables to elegant homewares, quality bed linen, handcrafted furniture, one-off clothing, boots and locally made jewellery. Art galleries abound with exhibitions changing on a regular basis and featuring works across all mediums.
Favourites include: Dirty Janes Emporium, the Milk Factory Gallery, both in Bowral.
Website: www.southern-highlands.com.au
Courtesy of Destination Southern Highlands
WINE – CELLAR DOORS
With over 60 vineyards and 17 cellar doors, the Southern Highlands is the perfect location to introduce your palette to the broad variety of cool climate wines now being produced in the region, including: chardonnay, sauvignon blanc, Riesling, pinot gris, pinot noir, merlot and cabernet sauvignon. Each cellar door provides a unique experience and provides visitors with the opportunity to meet some of our wine makers.
Website: www.southernhighlandsfoodandwine.com.au
Courtesy of Destination Southern Highlands
BUSH WALKING
Whether you’re a bushwalker, trekker, hiker, power walker, or someone who just likes to walk, the Southern Highlands is the perfect backdrop for your next ‘wander’. Unspoilt bushland provides bushwalkers and the like with a literally blank canvas to explore, whilst exploring tracks, towns and villages are heaven for those who like a stroll closer to ‘home’. Maps, details and more are available from the Southern Highlands Welcome Centre.
Website: www.southern-highlands.com.au
HIGH TEA IN THE HIGHLANDS
High Tea is time for unhurried afternoon conversation with friends, delicate cuisine and personal service that makes for a memorable occasion and the Southern Highlands has numerous establishments making this possible, including: A Vintage Occasion, Milton Park, Peppers Manor House and Peppers Craigieburn, Centennial Vineyards Restaurant and The Robertson Hotel.
Website: www.southern-highlands.com.au
Courtesy of Destination Southern Highlands.
DRIVES
A leisurely drive in the country, what could be more relaxing? There are some great drives throughout the Southern Highlands’ towns and villages, literally up hill and down dale. Along the way you will find attractions, rural vistas, quaint villages, events, wildlife, wineries and historic sites. Four of the big ones are signposted with the big brown and white recognisable signs.
Website: www.southern-highlands.com.au/visitors/drives
ILLAWARRA FLY TREETOP ADVENTURES
Go to the edge! The springboard cantilevers bounce gently, high over the picturesque Illawarra escarpment. Enjoy the unique views from the edge of the escarpment amongst the rainforest canopy, 25 metres above the ground. There is also a zipline for those who are even more adventurous!
Website: www.illawarrafly.com
Address: 182 Knights Hill Road, Knights Hill via Robertson
TRAINWORKS
If you’re into trains, this is a great place to stop off on your way back to the big city. Featuring the largest collection of rolling stock in Australia, plush interactive exhibits and displays of arefacts and memorabilia, Trainworks is a comprehensive showcase of NSW rail heritage.
Website: www.trainworks.com.au
Address: 10 Barbour Road, Thirlmere
For further information contact the Southern Highlands Welcome Centre – (02) 4871 2888 Or to*****@ws*.au and our website www.southern-highlands.com.au
