Berrima
Berrima has a unique collection of unspoilt Georgian sandstone homes and important public buildings from the 19th century. There are craft galleries, coffee shops and tea houses, making it a great place to stop for a break and discover much about the early days of European settlement in Australia. Read more about Berrima on the Tourism Southern Highlands website.
Binalong
The historic village of Binalong offers visitors a wide range of activities and attractions in a heritage setting. With Australia’s only purpose built motor museum, Peter Minson Art Glass & Cafe, Corkhills Art of Living and The Binalong History Pavilion at Pioneer Park. Read more about Binalong on the Yass Valley website.
Boorowa
Boorowa is a peaceful country town scattered with buildings of historical interest. Its colourful Irish heritage is celebrated during the town’s flagship event – the Irish Woolfest. Read more about Boorowa on the Visit New South Wales website.
Bowral
Bowral has always been a fashionable holiday destination for Sydneysiders because of its combination of rural charm and comfortable facilities. The town’s stunning private gardens, part of grand old estates, are a delight in spring and autumn when they are open to the public. Spring is tulip time while summer has fragrant roses and autumn, flowering bulbs. Bowral is a great place to shop for antiques, homewares, jewellery, arts and crafts. The Sir Donald Bradman Oval is one of the sacred sites of cricket. Read more about Bowral on the Tourism Southern Highlands website.
Braidwood
Braidwood offers historic Georgian buildings, beautiful old stone churches, 100-year-old oak trees and craft and antique shops. The town is an artistic hub, with the studios of artists, potters, ironworkers, craftspeople and fashion designers all based in the town’s historic buildings. Read more about Braidwood on the Visit New South Wales website.
Bungendore
Boasting local attractions such as vineyards and Lake George, Bungendore is a traditional Australian country town with a relaxed bush village atmosphere. Bungendore offers numerous specialty shops and old stone, brick and timber heritage buildings, providing an evocative glimpse of 19th century life in rural Australia. Read more about Bungendore on the Visit New South Wales website.
Canberra
Canberra became the site for the newly federated nation of Australia in 1908 by a ballot in Parliament after extensive searching. The Indigenous peoples of this area have lived here for over 20,000 years. Since then the city has grown to become the proud home of the Australian story. Canberra is a fantastic base from which to explore the many treasures of the surrounding region. Explore historic townships, natural wonders, beautiful coastlines and the famous Snowy Mountains. So allow enough time to linger longer and enjoy all the nation’s capital has to offer. Read more about Canberra on the Visit Canberra website.
Crookwell
Crookwell has a peaceful country town charm, plenty of historic buildings and four distinct seasons. Read more about Crookwell on the Upper Lachlan Tourism website.
Goulburn
As Australia’s first inland city, Goulburn is a regional rural centre incredibly rich in heritage and natural beauty. Goulburn has a thriving cultural community of performing and traditional artists as well as world-class racing facilities providing a year-round calendar of exciting events. These, together with a range of attractions and other activities, make Goulburn and Surrounds suitable for anything from a short break to a longer holiday. Read more about Goulburn on the Goulburn & Surrounds website.
Gundaroo
The village sits in the Yass River Valley in gently undulating countryside, framed by wooded hills in the distance. Listed by the National Trust, the village contains all the elements typical of a 19th century township. Read more about Gundaroo on the Yass Valley website.
Hall
Hall is a small town in the north of the Australian Capital Territory (ACT), Australia. It was founded in 1882, named after the first landholder in the area, Henry Hall. Hall is located just off the Barton Highway, at the north western end of the ACT, near the New South Wales border. Located at Hall, besides the village, is an equestrian park, playing fields, showground, and Hall Primary School, and a small shopping centre. Read more about Hall on the Yass Valley website.
Harden
Harden is known for its scenic beauty, particularly during spring. The area produces more than a dozen different grain and fruit crops; when the latter are in flower they provide a magnificent landscape of colour. The twin villages of Harden and Murrumburrah have a delightful old-world feel. Read more about Harden on the Visit New South Wales website.
Marulan
The 150 degrees meridian is used as the basis for Australian Eastern Standard Time, giving Marulan true time. During the equinox, occurring twice a year in autumn and spring, the sun rises precisely at 6am and sets precisely and 6pm. Marulan is the only town in the Australian Eastern Stand Time Zone that can say this truly occurs. Meridians are also an aid for navigators on the lonely runs from south to north. Marulan features a number of historic buildings including two churches, a rectory, historic pub and some fine examples of commercial buildings dating back to 19th Century. Read more about Marulan on the Goulburn & Surrounds website.
Murrumbateman
Murrumbateman is a small, former gold mining town. Today the town’s fortunes are linked to a thriving wine industry – more than 24 wineries operate in the region, many with open cellar doors. Read more about Murrumbateman on the Yass Valley website.
Queanbeyan
Queanbeyan, declared a village in 1838, has much to offer the visitor. There is a wide range of accommodation, including motels, caravan parks, hotels and a delightful country farm stay, most an easy walk to the Central Business District with its many restaurants, clubs and interesting shopping. Read more about Queanbeyan on the Visit Queanbeyan website.
Robertson
Set on the Illawarra Highway close to the edge of the escarpment, Robertson is a favourite stop for travellers making a loop drive through the Southern Highlands and Illawarra. The town makes an excellent base for exploring the natural wonders of Budderoo and Morton national parks, which feature a number of spectacular waterfalls and bushwalking trails. Robertson and its environs have several retreats and B&Bs, many with an outstanding historic flavour. Read more about Robertson on the Tourism Southern Highlands website.
Southern Highlands
The Southern Highlands is a unique area. In fact it is hard to find a region similar anywhere else in Australia. Indeed, to most visitors it is as if they are entering “another world”. Many visitors are now discovering a destination with all the attractions they desire within a comfortable travelling distance of Sydney, Canberra, the South Coast and Illawarra, coming to see attractions such as magnificent gardens, antiques, heritage and wondrous natural attractions. Read more about the Southern Highland on the Tourism Southern Highlands website.
Tallong
The Tallong district was first discovered by Hume, Throsby and Smith in their efforts to cross the Shoalhaven River in 1818 and 1820. Tallong today has developed as an area of ‘weekend retreats’. Surrounded by breathtaking scenery and within an easy drive from Sydney, it also offers an attractive venue for backpackers and day trippers. Read more about Tallong on the Goulburn & Surrounds website.
Taralga
Fine wool, fat lambs, prime beef, plentiful potatoes, lush berries, quality wine and heritage buildings – the good things in life are found in the peaceful small town of Taralga. Recognised as a settlement in 1825, Taralga was established as a town in the 1860s and is home to 370 people today. Read more about Taralga on the Upper Lachlan Tourism website.
Wee Jasper
Wee Jasper is a small picturesque village of about 80 people, situated on the beautiful Goodradigbee River, at the western foot of the Brindabella Ranges. During the hot summer months, the shallow fresh waters of the Goodradigbee River remain shaded throughout most of the day, making it an inviting place to paddle away the days. Read more about Wee Jasper on the Yass Valley website.
Yass
The first survey Yass was conducted in 1834 and the township was officially gazetted in 1837. The main street is lined with beautiful historic buildings and the Information Centre has walk and drive guides mapping and providing details for these sites. Read more about Yass on the Yass Valley website.
Young
Widely known as the ‘Cherry Capital of Australia’ the area boasts many cherry and stonefruit orchards, some offering ‘pick your own’. Highlights of the year include celebrating Young’s history with the Lambing Flat Festival in April, fruit trees in blossom during September & October and the National Cherry Festival in Early December. Cherries are available from mid November through to late December followed by the stonefruit season continuing until the end of March. Read more about Young on the Visit Young website.
