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Mittagong, Bowral, Robertson, Moss Vale, Berrima & Bundanoon


Discover the natural beauty, glorious gardens, antiques, art and heritage of the area all within a day’s drive from Sydney, Canberra and the Illawarra region.
The Southern Highlands is a playground for lovers of fine wine and hearty food.
Our towns and villages are connected by rural and semi-rural landscapes making the region a
stunningly picturesque place to visit. With a higher than average rainfall, much of the landscape is one of lush rolling green hills.

Must See & Do

  • Berrima Courthouse Museum
  • All Aboard Model Railway
  • Corbett Gardens in Bowral
  • Southern Highlands Wineries
  • Lake Alexandra

    Major regional festivals.
  • Bundanoon Highland Gathering
  • Antiques & Collectables Fair
  • Bundanoon Winterfest
  • Bowral Tulip Time
  • Book Fair


Fast Facts!

  • The Illawarra escarpment and Morton National Park provide a boundary for the eastern side of the region and wild Eucalypt bushland, with gullies and gorges bound the northern side of the Highlands.
  • The Wollondilly and Wingecarribee Rivers form part of the catchment for Warragamba Dam which is Sydney’s main water storage dam.


Mittagong - The Gateway to the Southern Highlands

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  • Mittagong is located 110 kms south west of Sydney in the Nattai River Valley between Mt Gibraltar, known locally as ‘The Gib’ and Mt Alexandra, both extinct volcanic peaks.
  • Population of approx 7,500.
  • Mittagong, like Bowral, enjoys an interesting streetscape with boutiques, cafes, restaurants and art galleries giving it that delightful country town feel, but a large shopping mall is only minutes from town.


Berrima - A truly unique, historic village

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  • An historic village offering the most wonderful array of food and experiences in a living history environment.
  • Established as a township in 1831, Berrima is a preserved Australian,Georgian, colonial town.
  • It is located in a picturesque valley on a bend of the Wingecarribee River.
  • The town is laid out like an English village around a village green. The centre of the village today is a living museum, with many of the original buildings, including the gaol, still provide a unique atmosphere within the town.
  • Berrima and surround districts were famous for bushranger activity in the late 1800’s.
  • Berrima is a favourite day trip destination for Sydneysiders and Canberra residents. It offers exquisite boutique shopping, antiques and great food.

Bundanoon, a "place of deep gullies".

  • Early industries included timber milling, sandstone quarrying and farming.
  • Today Bundanoon retains many of its early 20C buildings. It has a sleepy village, yesteryear charm about it.
  • It is home to the annual (April) Brigadoon Festival when thousands of visitors come to celebrate all things Scottish.
  • Bundanoon has its share of interesting craft shops, art galleries, cafes, restaurants, nurseries and picnic areas.
  • You can hire a bike, walk through nearby Morton National Park, enjoy picnic spots, native flowers and birds.
  • Take a walk to "Glow Worm Glen". See kangaroos and wallabies at dusk on the edge of town.
  • A 137km drive from Sydney and 15 minutes from Moss Vale, Bundanoon presents a charming scene with its avenue of English trees from the town approach to the main shopping strip.
  • Bundanoon is a bushwalkers paradise with fourteen suggested walks, most have vantage points with spectacular views across the valleys. Probably the most visited lookout is the one overlooking the Grand Canyon 3km from the town centre.

Bowral - Home to the Bradman Museum

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  • Bowral was originally named Wingecarribee by the pioneering, Oxley family, it was later renamed Burradoo then ‘Bowrel’. ‘Bowrel’, was the Aboriginal name for the township and is said to mean "high".
  • Bowral is a gorgeous country town situated in a valley at the foot of Mt.Gibraltar.
  • Due to the high altitude of the Southern Highlands, Bowral enjoys gorgeous autumns, as exotic European trees and shrubs change their colour in preparation for the winter months.
  • Bowral’s shopping precinct is like that of few other country towns with an eclectic variety of boutiques, bookstores, antique and craft shops, as well as two shopping malls.
  • The restaurants, coffee shops and cafes offer a huge variety of dining experiences from ‘fine dining’ to sidewalk, cafe style eating out.
  • As you might imagine, Bowral has many preserved 19C buildings including cottages, grand manors and churches making the streetscapes charmingly inviting.
  • Bowral is also home to the world famous Bradman Museum. The Bradman Museum and Oval is a ‘must see’ when visiting Bowral.
  • Population of over 10,400 residents.

 

 

 

 

 

 



 
 
What's On

 

diary-web'What's On' in the Southern Highlands & Illawarra region
 


JULY, AUGUST & SEPTEMBER 2010

 
Christmas in Winter
1 June - 31 August
Throughout the Southern Highlands
Ph: 1300 657 559
Christmas in Winter celebrations including lunches, dinners and accommodation packages.

Walking on Sunrise – and don’t it feel good!
2nd Saturday every month.  6-9am

There’s a new reason to visit the popular Illawarra Fly Treetop Walk with the introduction of spectacular new Sunrise Walks.
Illawarra Fly Treetop Walk - www.illawarrafly.com
Ph: 1300 362 881

Day Out With Thomas the Tank Engine
17 - 18 July

Thirlmere Rail Heritage Centre, Barbour Road, Thirlmere
Meet the full-sized Thomas the Tank Engine as he greets friends over two feature packed days. Take a steam train ride with Henry, the Green Engine, as well as face painting, mini train rides, jumping castle and more.  Ph: 4681 8001
www.nswrtm.com.au

Winterfest 10 - Ice Skating Fun For Everyone!  
28 Jun - 18 July

418-420 Bong Bong Street, Bowral
Ph: 0423-684-132 This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it www.winterfest10.com.au

The Cockatoo Run – Illawarra Fly
On some Sundays and on an occasional Thursday the “COCKATOO RUN” brings tourists to the Illawarra Fly Treetop Walk  in a tourist package which includes transport from the railway station to the “FLY” and return for details go to www.3801limited.com.au   

Day Out With Thomas the Tank Engine
17 - 18 July
Thirlmere Rail Heritage Centre, Barbour Road, Thirlmere. Meet the full-sized Thomas the Tank Engine as he greets friends over two feature packed days. Take a steam train ride with Henry, the Green Engine, as well as face painting, mini train rides, jumping castle and more.  Ph: 4681 8001 www.nswrtm.com.au

Mount Annan Duathlon Series
24 July
Mount Annan Botanic Garden
Mount Annan Drive, Mount Annan. Compete in a 4.2km run, and a 18km ride followed by a 2.8km run. Many prizes to be won. $40 for members of Triathlon Australia, $52.50 for non members.
Ph: 9570 5556

ADFAS Camden - Special Interest Day
What You Need To Know about China – And A Few Things You Don’t.

LARS THARP MA (Cantab) HonDArt FRSA
Saturday 17th July 2010 12.30 to 3.30 Members $35 : Visitors $ 40 (lunch & afternoon tea included)
&
ADFAS Camden - Lecture
Lost & Found - A Non-Pom’s Career On The BBC’s Antiques Road Show.

LARS THARP MA (Cantab) HonDArt FRSA
Saturday 17th July 2010 at 4.30pm $20 at the door Light Supper included. (Booking appreciated for catering purposes)
The Gallery, Camden Civic Centre
Oxley Street, Camden
For more information ph 4655 9724 or
4655 9781 Email: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it


Wirrimbirra Birds'n Bugs Day

Wirrimbirra Sanctuary, Remembrance Drv, Bargo
1st August www.wirrimbirra.com.au/index.htm

Camden Antique Fair
7 - 8 August
Camden Civic Centre
Approximately thirty well-known dealers representing most types of antiques, furniture, jewellery, linen, porcelain and collectable items.
Ph: 4655 8681

Camden Country Quilters Annual Quilt Exhibition 7 - 8  August

A.H&I Hall, Argyle Street, Camden. Many quilts on display, as well as handmade gifts and stalls selling fabrics, patterns, kits and sewing equipment. Ph: 0411 202 006

Carrington Fair
14 August
10am - 3pm
A day of fun & entertainment for all!
Werombi Road, Camden Ph: 4659 0305

Basic Alpaca Handling And Husbandry   
1 August
Birrong Suri Alpacas, Canyonleigh
A practical, on-farm study day where the potential or new alpaca owner will learn all the basics of alpaca management.
Ph: 02 4878 9310 or E: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
www.birrongsurialpacas.com.au

Camden Antique Fair
7 - 8
August Camden Civic Centre
Approximately thirty well-known dealers representing most types of antiques, furniture, jewellery, linen, porcelain and collectable items.
Ph: 4655 8681

Camden Country Quilters Annual Quilt Exhibition 7 - 8  August

A.H&I Hall, Argyle Street, Camden. Many quilts on display, as well as handmade gifts and stalls selling fabrics, patterns, kits and sewing equipment. Ph: 0411 202 006

Mt Kembla Mining Heritage Festival   
7 -8 August
Cordeaux Road, Mt Kembla Village
Mt Kembla Mining Heritage Inc Ph: 02 4271 3737

Carrington Fair
14 August
10am - 3pm
A day of fun & entertainment for all!
Werombi Road, Camden Ph: 4659 0305

ADFAS Camden – Lecture
ARCHITECTURAL Trompe-l’oeil : Italian decorative painting and its influence on European Interior design
STEPHEN TAYLOR (NADFAS-UK)
Sat 14th August, 2010 at 4.00 for 4.30pm
An exploration of painted illusionistic architecture and its use in the enrichment
and enlargement of domestic & public
places.
Visitors $20. Light Supper included.
(Booking appreciated for catering purposes)
The Undercroft, Camden Civic Centre
Oxley Street, Camden
For more information and bookings
Ph: 4655 9724 or 4655 9781
Email: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it


Bowral's Folk Club   
19 August
Fentons Cocktail Bar, Upstairs at the Grand Bar Bowral
Ph: 4861 6076
Traditional Music from around the world. 8.00pm - 10.30pm

Macarthur Centre for Sustainable Living Workshop - Cheese Making
21 August
, 1.30pm - 4.30pm
Mount Annan Drive, Mount Annan
Learn how to make yoghurt, quark and gourmet fetta. $100 pp Ph: 4647 9828, bookings essential

Goulburn's Got Talent
28 August
- 7pm. Goulburn's Got Talent is an extravaganza of singing, dancing, musicianship and demonstrations of other unique talents (eg. whip cracking and clowning) providing a family-friendly evening of entertainment. Goulburn High School Hall Deccan Street, Goulburn Ph: 0438 218 735

Camden Festival
5 - 19 Septembe
r. Events include Cinema Under the Stars; Food, Wine and Music Festival; Kids Fun Day; SK8OPIA; Lions Fair and more. Ph: 4645 5029

The Charles Ledger Alpaca Show
12 September

Moss Vale Showground
Contact through www.schalpa.com.au

Riverfest
12 September
Koshigaya Park, Campbelltown
Celebrate our environment and cultural diversity with entertainment, workshops and the Dry Riverbed Boat Race. Ph: 4645 4921

Camden Park House Open Weekend
18 - 19 September
. Sat12noon - 4pm, Sun 10am - 4pm Elizabeth Macarthur Avenue, Camden
Tour the historic mansion built in 1934 for John and Elizabeth Macarthur. Ph: 4655 8466

Day Out With Thomas the Tank Engine
18 - 19 September
. Thirlmere Rail Heritage Centre, Barbour Road, Thirlmere. Meet the full-sized Thomas the Tank Engine as he greets friends over two feature packed days. Take a steam train ride with Henry, the Green Engine, as well as face painting, mini train rides, jumping castle and more. Ph: 4681 8001  
www.nswrtm.com.au

Tulip Time Festival
21 September - 4 October
. Corbett Gardens, Bowral Ph: 1300 657 559 Featuring a massed display of over 100,000 tulips and 25,000 annuals in Corbett Gardens, Bowral, and private gardens open for inspection. Admission to Corbett Gardens apply - Adults $8, concession $5, groups over 20 persons $4-50.