How to Have a Perfect Weekend in the Southern Highlands

Long the go-to easy getaway for Sydneysiders, the Southern Highlands made its name with bed-and-breakfast stays, bakery cafés, antique stores and cheerful gardens. Charming, yes. But cool? Now, with its growing community of big-city expats this misty mountain region is redefining country comforts.

Just 90 minutes south of Sydney, quaint neighbouring towns like Bowral, Burrawang and Berrima are attracting a new breed of gourmands with impressive fine-diners, a covetable café culture and an emerging boutique wine industry. The Southern Highlands may be small but there’s plenty going on. Here’s our pick of the best places to start.

Where to eat

For breakfast: The Press Shop

Of course, there’s avocado smash and eggs any way but it pays to go beyond the obvious at this light and bright café. Treat yourself to seasonal fare such as dairy-free waffles with coconut sorbet and peach or order the breakfast salad, which eschews the virtuous bowl in favour of a generous helping of zucchini, hummus and pangrattato.
Shop 5, 391-397 Bong Bong Street, Bowral

For dinner: Birch

Expect inventive plating at Birch, where the beetroot comes eight ways (as carpaccio, sorbet and crisps, to name a few) and traditionally meaty mains share glory with locally produced vegies.
Shop 2, 249 Argyle Street, Moss Vale

For taking home: Mrs Oldbucks Pantry

You’ll discover practically any flavour of jam you can think of at Mrs Oldbucks – standalone berries as well as delicious combinations such as peach and date or rhubarb and ginger. There’s also a large range of other goodies, including salad dressings, loose-leaf tea and pasta sauces from small-batch producers.
Shop 4, 15-17 Old Hume Highway, Berrima

Where to stay

Bendooley Estate

The five bungalows on this sprawling estate (a mix of studios, two- and three-bedrooms) might look rustic from the outside but inside they’re all country flair. The beds are grand, each finished with a towering upholstered bedhead, and the bathrooms are spacious with generous tubs. Despite Bendooley Estate being a popular wedding and long-lunch venue the cottages are private – hidden down a driveway and separated by grasses almost as tall as the buildings themselves. The only sounds are bird calls from the dewy paddocks beyond.
3020 Old Hume Highway, Berrima

Berida Hotel

An abundance of cosy common areas makes a stay at the Berida Hotel special. There’s a library nook, a games room, a store selling local produce and even an indoor pool. The highlight, though, is the sumptuously decorated guest lounge, a bistro-style space perfect for fireside drinks. Its country-manor décor hints at the building’s almost 100-year history, including its time as a stately home, repatriation hospital and health retreat, but the 43-room hotel’s recent renovation has refreshed the property.
6 David Street, Bowral

If you don’t want to drive: The Grape Escape

Scott and Mira Barton from The Grape Escape wine tours will tailor the trip to your preferences, stopping at two wineries on a half-day excursion and up to four on a full day.

SEE ALSO: Why Sydney is the Wild Adventure You’ve Been Waiting For