Southern Highlands
New South Wales
The Southern Highlands are a popular getaway destination for Sydneysiders, and it’s easy to see why. Small towns at a pleasantly cool altitude, wineries, restaurants, waterfalls, forests, and hiking trails are the major drawcards. Whether you visit on a weekend trip or detour on a road trip through New South Wales, the Southern Highlands are worth your time.
The main towns of Bowral, Mittagong, and Moss Vale are all great jumping-off points for exploring the Southern Highlands’ 60-plus wineries, rainforests, and ancient eucalyptus forests, 262-foot-high (80-meters-high) Fitzroy Falls, antique shops, boutiques, and more. Travelers with their own wheels tend to visit independently, but many group and private day tours from Sydney provide access to the Southern Highlands. Some tours focus specifically on wineries and wine tasting.
Pick up maps and information about the area at the Southern Highlands Welcome Centre in Mittagong.
The Southern Highlands has accommodations for a range of budgets, as there are many campsites, motels, and boutique hotels.
Foodies will love the Highlands: The rich volcanic soils produce excellent beef, dairy, and truffles, and cool-climate wines abound.
The Southern Highlands are approximately 62 miles (100 kilometers) southwest of Sydney and are easily accessible from Canberra and Wollongong. Having your own car is the easiest way to reach the Southern Highlands and get around: Take the inland M31 highway from Sydney, the A48 from Wollongong, or the M23 and M31 from Canberra. You can also take a train from Sydney’s Central Station (1.5 hours) or Canberra (2.5 hours) to Bowral.
Every spring (September–October), Bowral hosts the Tulip Time Festival in the Corbett Gardens—flower enthusiasts won’t want to miss it. With towns sitting at around 2,100 feet (650 meters), the Southern Highlands experience four seasons, with cold winters and warm summers. Summer is an ideal time to visit as temperatures are typically cooler than in the coastal cities and Canberra.
It’s not all about food, wine, and nature in the Southern Highlands: Bowral’s Bradman Museum and International Cricket Hall of Fame is a must-visit for cricket fans or even the mildly cricket-curious. Visitors can learn more about one of Australia’s greatest cricketers, Sir Donald Bradman, better understand the history of the sport and view memorabilia. There’s an interactive exhibit designed especially for cricket newbies.
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