Southern Highlands

Just a couple of hours south-west of Sydney, the Southern Highlands unfurl like a lush green carpet of rolling hills, historic villages, and cool-climate gardens. This is where Sydneysiders escape for crisp air, antique shopping, and a thriving food scene built around local produce and cellar doors. The main towns – Bowral, Moss Vale, Berrima, and Robertson – each have their own character, but together they offer a quintessential taste of rural refinement.

Highlights & What to See

• Bowral – The region’s hub, famous for its bijou boutiques, bookshops, and the annual Tulip Time festival. Don’t miss the Bradman Museum if you’re a cricket fan.
• Berrima – A perfectly preserved Georgian village with sandstone buildings, the historic Surveyor General Inn, and artisan bakeries.
• Morton National Park – Dramatic sandstone cliffs, lookouts like Fitzroy Falls, and bushwalks through temperate rainforest.
• Robertson – Known as the ‘Big Potato’ town, it’s a gateway to the lush greenery of the Illawarra escarpment and the charming Belmore Falls.
• Cool-climate wineries – Vineyards such as Bendooley Estate and Tertini Wines produce excellent Pinot Noir and Chardonnay, often with cellar-door dining.
• Antique & vintage shopping – From the sprawling Dirty Janes in Bowral to the antique barns of Berrima, this is a treasure-hunter’s paradise.

Suggested Time to Spend

Give the Southern Highlands at least a long weekend (two to three days) to soak up the atmosphere without rushing. A day can be spent exploring Bowral and Berrima, another day for a winery crawl or a bushwalk in Morton National Park, and a half-day for Robertson and the waterfalls. If you’re on a self-drive itinerary from Sydney to Canberra, a one-night stop is a perfect break.

Nearby Areas Worth Combining

• Kangaroo Valley – A scenic drive east takes you to this idyllic valley with a historic bridge, canoeing on the river, and the Kangaroo Valley Pioneer Museum.
• Mittagong – Just north of Bowral, it offers the lovely Lake Alexandra and the quirky Australian Motorlife Museum.
• Goulburn – Head further south-west to explore Australia’s first inland city, with its grand cathedral and the Big Merino.
• Blue Mountains – A detour north-west via the scenic Bell’s Line of Road connects the Highlands to the Blue Mountains for a combined high-country road trip.
• Jervis Bay – Continue east from Kangaroo Valley to the whitest sands and clearest waters of Jervis Bay for a coastal finish.

Please check official sources for current details.