Bowral

Lifestyle

Spend some time in the Southern Highlands and you’ll never want to leave. Renowned for its stunning country gardens, gastronomic excellence and grand old estates as well as quaint country cottages, scenic rolling countryside and peaceful pastured acreage. A truly special district featuring vineyards, nature reserves and five excellent golf courses spread over its major towns and dainty villages.

The hub of the Highlands is Bowral, developed in the 1860s and nestled at the base of Mount Gibraltar- a very do-able 1.5 hours drive south-west of Sydney and just 40 minutes down the coast to Kiama or Wollongong beaches. The towns Mittagong and Moss Vale are located a few kilometres north and south respectively and make up the trio of the major towns in the Southern Highlands.

If something more secluded is to your liking, the Southern Highlands is dotted with numerous charming villages including Fitzroy Falls, Kangaloon, Sutton Forest, Exeter, Burrawang, Bundanoon and the historic Berrima- where the Old Gaol is a must-see. These villages boast an array of bric-a-brac and antiques stores, cafes and country pubs, set amongst picturesque countryside.

Each Spring Bowral bursts into a magnificent kaleidoscope of colour with its annual Tulip Festival, when thousands of visitors flock to witness spectacular fields of blooming tulips and revel in a celebration of food, wine and entertainment.

Bowral is also famous for its superb specialty shopping. Lose hours browsing through dozens of distinctive shops full of spectacular finds from days gone by, or pick up a unique art or jewellery piece handcrafted by talented local artists.

Cricket fans will want to head straight to Bradman Oval and the museum and International Cricket Hall of Fame. Outdoor lovers can tee off at one of the Highlands’ five golf courses or get back to nature and be totally spoilt for choice. Pack a picnic and bushwalk through Morton National Park or take a scenic drive through the winding country roads of Avoca, Wildes Meadow or out to Belmore, Carrington or Fitzroy Falls to admire the magnificent panoramic postcard view from the look out.

Be warned: If you enjoy the finer things in life, blended with country charm, there’s a town or village in the Southern Highlands with your name on it.

People

From professional couples, young families and mature empty nesters, to those looking for a weekender to escape to, there’s something for everybody in the Southern Highlands.

Homes

Opulent country residences, heritage listed mansions and luxury family homes take pride of place amongst lush green acreage and sweeping hilltop vistas.

For a more low-key lifestyle, there are many quaint cottages and stylish modern homes providing plenty of space inside and out and a great selection of modern elegant villas offering low-maintenance and convenient living. Whether it’s a modest unit, a ¼ acre block or something more substantial, there are homes to suit anyone’s desires.

Transport

+ Bowral is about 5 kms from the Hume Highway, which goes north to Sydney and south to Canberra, the Snowy Mountains and Melbourne.
+ Most of the major towns have a station serviced by the Southern Highlands Line on CityRail. Alternatively, CountryLink offers a comfortable journey with services between Sydney and Moss Vale or Goulburn. Long distance services operate to Canberra and Melbourne. Southern Highlands Taxis and Coaches service the region.
+ It has public bus routes to Nowra, Albion Park and Wollongong. A private operator provides a service six days a week from Bowral to Greater Sydney (Campbelltown, Liverpool and Parramatta) and to the Shoalhaven and south coast of New South Wales

Schools

+ Schools won’t disappoint in the Southern Highlands- from small village schools such as Burrawang Primary to State and Private primary and secondary schools, the options are endless.
+ There are State high schools in Bowral and Moss Vale and private schools in the region including the esteemed Frensham, Chevalier College, Oxley College and St Paul’s International College or The Southern Highlands Christian School that educates from K-12.

Shopping/Restaurants

+ Bowral is the best known of the towns and villages of the Southern Highlands and is noted for its boutiques, antique stores, gourmet restaurants and cafés
+ The region has all major supermarkets as well as larger shopping centres
+ Head to one of the numerous villages for boutique shopping for antiques & collectables & gourmet local produce or farmers’ markets held in numerous locations every weekend
+ The Southern Highlands is well known for its fine dining experience with both modern and international traditional restaurants.

Recreational Facilities

+ Bowral is the setting for Tulip Time, a springtime celebration with a profusion of tulips and other flowers planted in the town centre. Held each year in September and October, Tulip Time has become one of Australia's leading floral festivals, alongside which gardening enthusiasts may view some of the nation's most beautiful formal gardens
+ The Southern Highlands is also home to many award-winning vineyards, some with cellar doors and/or a restaurant