What a gorgeous and relaxing area! I've been to the region for the Queen's Birthday long weekend this month and I was impressed with how pretty are the villages, the farms, wineries and the towns. It's Autumn in Australia and I think it's a great time to visit this region! The temperature is about 10o, I can say it's cold and you have to be prepared with nice and warm clothes. But I reckon it's such a good season to enjoy great food and wine. During the month of June is happening the Pie Time, where many cafes, restaurants are serving yummy and traditional pies but also has a competition to vote for the best of the region. Australians love pies!
Time to Explore
The Southern Highlands is a region in New South Wales, Australia and is 110 km south-west of Sydney. You can drive or go by trem to Bowral station, but I really recommend that you drive to check all the beauties around by car. There're so many things to see and to do! The region is also considered a wine region.
Stay
We planned this trip few days before we go and the area was almost fully booked, so we had to book our hotel with the remaining options. The best that I've found was:
Budget: Oxley Motel
Comfy and cleaned place, great for sharing with friends, but it's just the room. You don't have any other areas in this place.
Click here to check Oxley Motel.
Luxury: Milton Park Country House Hotel & Spa
It's my kind of hotel! :)
Luxury option with everything you want in a hotel. I really recommend to stay in a place with something else always!
Click here to check Milton Park Country House Hotel & Spa.
Eat and Drink
This is a very important part of the trip, because you really need to enjoy all the yummy places in this area. It's one of the greatest pleasures in life and to know the local culture. It's always something to learn and experience! Well, we have to choose some of them because there are so many good options, but here's my favourites from this time.
Centennial Winery
We've done the wine tasting and we've tried so many amazing wines. I really recommend you to do the same! Don't miss out! Top tip: book your lunch or dinner with them before you go (a day or more), they can be fully booked. Limited spaces.
http://www.centennial.net.au
Bendooley Estate
It's a gorgeous winery. It's Autumn, so it was completely dry but a beautiful landscape. It's a very busy winery, so you need to book before you go.
https://bendooleyestate.com.au
Artemis Winery
Great winery but the best here is the place to enjoy the vibes. You can taste a cheese platter tasting wines and watching the sunset. You can stay in the grass with your crew!
https://www.artemiswines.com.au
The Press Shop
I love when I have the hotel breakfast but we decided to have a brunch on a local cafe one day and a friend recommended The Press Shop around the Bowral main area. It's beside the famous Dirty Janes Bowral Antiquities. They have simply the best Bacon and Egg in town and the coffee is great! So you really need to try it! I can't forget its taste. If you prefer healthy options they have a beautiful menu.
https://www.thepressshop.com.au
Eccetera Italian
We found this Italian Restaurant for a pizza and wine. We definitely recommend. Yummy pizza and you can BYO your bottle of wine!
Gum Nut Patisserie
Life is short, eat dessert first! You definitely need to stop and grab your desserts (more than 1 because you will see what I'm talking about). Don't miss out!
https://www.gumnutpatisserie.com.au
Play
- When you arrive in the Southern Highlands stop at the Information Centre to get maps and see what is best in the region.
- Saturday morning you can start checking the Bowral Market and the central area, many stores and cafes.
- Dirty Janes Bowral: it's a very famous antique store and it's really impressive to see the quantity of stuff they have in there. You can buy their selection. They also have cafe, plants and new products in the area. It's a must!
- Take the tourist drive to see the towns around Bowral as well as Berrima, Mittagong, Robertson. Stop at Robertson Cheese Factory to grab your coffee, cheese, sweets and also antiquities.
- The nature around is beautiful, go and see the Fitzroy Falls, beautiful road trip with scenic views and the falls. You can see it very close and it's easy to walk. Family friend trail.
- You can also see Bowral from the top in the end of the afternoon and watch a spectacular sunset. There're two lookouts that you can go and just contemplate the nature.
More info on my Instagram Highlights: @Heycassitravel
or https://www.southern-highlands.com.au