Berrima

Today Berrima village is a vast combination living museum, playground, and social centre, not too spoilt by the masses of tourists it attracts. There is more than enough to interest and amuse all (even the kids) for a whole day - well into the night!

Explore the village square, streets, and lanes and admire the picturesque buildings. (Not all are open to the public - many are private homes and to be admired from outside.) Cringe beneath the walls of the Gaol, which still houses (low security) prisoners. Visit the museums, art galleries, and antique shops.

There are dozens of art & craft, souvenir, and specialty shops; boutiques; cafes, restaurants, and Australia's oldest continuously licensed inn.

Berrima is only an hour and a half from Sydney, Canberra, and the South Coast, and perfect for a day trip. Those in search of a quiet escape might stay a few nights at the many good accommodation houses.

Weekends are busy at Berrima throughout the year (when there is even more to see and do), and public and school holidays very busy. The astute traveller might like to visit midweek (Tuesday to Thursday) when they can browse and relax over a fine meal or refreshments at leisure, away from the bustling crowds and while the kids are still in school.

Berrima has a dozens of very good shops and galleries: antiques, art gallery, crafts, souvenirs, clothing, gourmet foods, confectionery, nurseries, toys, collectables. Crafts and toys also available at the shop at the Gaol, with the added frisson that they were made by prisoners!

Berkelouws, the famous rare bookshop, is 5 minutes away, and has a picnic area.

The famous Surveyor General Inn has a bistro, bars, beer garden, and live entertainment on weekends. Numerous cafes, take-aways, and good restaurants: Journeyman, Old Breens, White Horse Inn - which are not only renowned for their Georgian decor, but fine cuisine (but you will need to book ahead here on busy weekends and holidays).

Plenty of motel, hotel, and good B&B, accommodation, and a camping area. Parks, barbecues, and large covered picnic areas (suitable for coaches).

The village square is surrounded by historic buildings, some now businesses. Visitors should see the Berrima and Courthouse museums - as a visit inside here helps to preserve the heritage of the area. Wander through the streets around the court house to see some interesting and fine old buildings. Several attractive churches, but unfortunately only open for worship on Sundays.

Emu & Ostrich farm, and Winery at nearby Joadja. Platypus, wombats, wallabies and abundant bird life in the reserves along the river further out of town.

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Bowral

Today Bowral has over 7,000 inhabitants, with new residential subdivisions expanding east of the town. Many of its recent residents are 'refugees' from the city looking for a better lifestyle, commuting back to the city on the freeway to their jobs.

Bowral is now the commercial and retail centre of the Southern Highlands.

The beauty of townscape and countryside, and the climate - enhanced by 100 years of plantings of exotic deciduous trees, "English" gardens, and annual massed displays of bulbs and perennials - gives it a unique attraction in the Australian countryside.

The many historic public and private buildings, accommodation houses, boutiques, coffee shops, and restaurants - as well as famous festivals and events - attract hundreds of thousands of visitors every year.

Bowral is just an hour and a half away from the city, and worth a visit at any time of year.

Bowral has a large variety of boutiques, cafes, restaurants, bookstores, antique & craft shops. Visit Bradman Museum and Bradman Walk. Interesting streetscapes with historic buildings, including residential areas with everything from C19th cottages to grand country houses. Village market at The Bowral Country Market on the first Saturday each month - Kangaloon Road.

Corbett Gardens (centre of town) has massed plantings of annuals and perennials three seasons of the year, and 100,000 tulips in spring. Many exotic trees in streets and private gardens offer spectacular displays in spring and autumn. Open Gardens can be visited most of year.

There are 4 hotels (live entertainment), four major resorts, motels, many B&Bs and other accommodation houses. First class public (2) and private (1) golf courses; bowling club; public parks, and picnic areas. Lookouts, and bushwalking trails on Mt. Gibraltar and Gibbergunyah Forest.

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Mittagong

From the earliest times Mittagong has had an industrial focus, with coal and shale oil mining nearby, iron foundries (which made much of the 'iron lace' decorating the now prized inner Sydney city terraces), petrol refining, timber mills (one still exists), coachbuilders, and blacksmiths among its industries over the years.

The large building which can be seen on the left entering town from the north is the remains of a maltworks (1898, closed 1970s) which produced malt for Sydney Brewers Tooth & Co. Today there are mainly tourist and service industries, and some secondary industries (Commonwealth Engineering, Tyree Industries).

Diversion of the highway to bypass the town has allowed for improvement of the streetscapes and the proliferation of more "trendy" tourist oriented businesses - cafes, restaurants, boutiques, accommodation, art and antique galleries.

Its closeness to the city has made it a favourite destination for day-tripping tourists, and a rural residential area for city workers.

Mittagong has a number of very good art galleries, antique and craft shops. There are 2 hotels (live entertainment), cafes, good restaurants, and take-aways. Plenty of motels, hotel, and good B&B accommodation, historic inn, and a caravan park. The RSL welcomes guests for dining, entertainment, large gaming areas, and even accommodation. For recreation try the first-class golf course and Bowling Club, or the golf range at Braemar.

The main street, Pioneer Street, and the area near the station offer a range of interesting historic buildings. Winifred West Park, in the centre of town, has massed displays of flowers in spring and autumn, and there are many Open Gardens to be seen throughout the year in the grounds of elegant houses on Mt. Gibraltar. See craftsmen, potters, and artists at the Sturt galleries.

The lookouts and walking trails on Mt. Gibraltar and Mt. Alexandra allow you to get close to nature, with abundant bird life and wildlife.

Village markets 3rd Saturday of every month.

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Moss Vale

Moss Vale has been a major rural centre for most of its life, with a milk processing plant, abattoir (now closed, but which once exported overseas), and farm machinery businesses. Today Vale Engineering is the largest industry (mining equipment), with tourism a close second.

Like most other centres of the Highlands the town has grown rapidly over the last two decades, with new residential areas and settlers, and a burgeoning tourist industry to replace former agriculture (although the Moss Vale Agricultural Society's Show - held just before the Royal Easter Show - is still one of the biggest in the state).

Moss Vale has a regional art gallery, a rare bookshop, and a wide range of good antique shops (best in the Highlands).

There are 3 hotels (live entertainment), cafes, fine restaurants, take-aways, motels, good B&B accommodation, and a caravan park.

The Services Club welcomes guests for dining (open 7 days), entertainment, and large gaming area. Nearby, two first-class golf courses and a Bowling Club.

The town centre and old streets offer a range of interesting historic buildings and residences.

Leighton Gardens, in the centre of town, has massed displays of flowers in spring and autumn, a smaller version of the famous garden in Bowral.

The annual Agricultural Show in March is one of the last of the old-style country fairs.

Elizabeth Street, a few blocks north of the town centre, is famous for its lighting displays and pageants at Christmas.

Moss Vale is central to the Highlands and all other villages and attractions.

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Bundanoon

Today it is the 4th largest (residential) area in the Highlands, and attracts vast numbers of tourists again (up to 20,000 in one day for Brigadoon alone).

There is a well established artists' colony among its residents, and many of the old guest houses have been restored and opened for today's visitors.

Behind its sleepy old-world charm, Bundanoon is a vibrant community. Visitors can still enjoy the grand beauty of the National Park, and relax and enjoy the mountain air.

There are plenty of things to see and do for adults and kids alike. The main streets are very busy during Market Day (first Sunday of every month), and on weekends and holidays.

There are often steam train excursions from Sydney throughout the year, and the town is a favourite destination for car and other clubs for weekend stays.

Brigadoon, the Bundanoon Highland Gathering (held every April) is one of the biggest of its kind in the world, and not to be missed.

The most difficult decision for the visitor is whether "to do" Bundanoon in a day trip, or to indulge oneself and stay for a few days - or a week - or more.

Although it attracts so many visitors, Bundanoon is not "over-touristified"; it retains the quiet, sleepy, old-world atmosphere of yesteryear, and is the perfect place to wind down from the hectic pace of modern life (then again, it always was!).

Lots of good accommodation houses - mostly guest houses, lovingly restored to their old charm and upgraded with the most modern of amenities - where you are positively pampered by your hosts; two health resorts; two motels and an historic hotel; youth hostel; camping area available.

Some good craft shops; several excellent art galleries; cafes and tea rooms; good restaurants; pub and licensed Bowling Club; theatre restaurant; little museum (open weekends); nurseries; a number of picnic areas. Park near shops, then stroll around - across railway, left to overhead bridge, back through town, up to art gallery, and back again (see some attractive old buildings).

Energetic? Hire a bike, or go walking through Morton National Park. Lots of famous lookouts ('Echo Point", "Fairy Bower"), walking trails, picnic spots, native flowers, and flocks of native birds; camping area (several kilometres from centre of town). Even walking or biking around town is relaxing and enjoyable. At night walk down to "Glow Worm Glen". Stroll to the edge of town at dawn or dusk and see kangaroos and wallabies. Play Golf at Sylvan Glen, Penrose (just 10 minutes away).

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