A guide to the best shops in Bowral and surrounds

By Carla Grossetti
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The essential guide to shops in Bowral includes markets, antique stores, boutiques and bookshops.

The best shops in Bowral range from giant bazaars for antiques and collectables to shoe shops and sheepskin. It’s a veritable bower bird’s nest of everything from coins to jewellery, toys, Art Deco furniture, books, glassware and textiles sourced from around the world. If you’re a serious shopper, you’ll know that you can hit the high street here for hours. Put together an itinerary based on our guide to the best shops in Bowral.

Bowral antique shops

Those with an abiding fascination for everything from vintage furniture to unconventional art will find fellow tribe members hunting for treasures on an antique shopping trip to the Southern Highlands. Following is a guide to some of the best antique shops in Bowral and beyond.

Dirty Janes Bowral

the front facade of Dirty Janes Bowral

Dirty Janes offers the best in vintage wares. (Image: Destination NSW)

Expect objets d’art, antiques and collectables that span the past century at Dirty Janes, a destination for collectors with limited time. It’s such a good hunting ground for treasures that you could just visit this one-stop vintage shop in the Highlands and be happy with your finds. All up, there are more than 80 independent dealers, decorators and upcyclers at Dirty Janes, Bowral.

The Bronte Tram

Find one of the best cafes in Bowral for coffee and start plotting your plan of attack. Now let’s talk treasures and antique homewares. You will find everything from brass candlesticks, chandeliers, wedding chests, leather suitcases, vintage furniture and stunning silverware at The Bronte Tram, which sources its collectables from around the globe.

Grandpa’s Shed, Fitzroy Falls

Remember what it was like to get lost in Grandpa’s Shed? Well, Grandpa called and he wants his stuff back. Grandpa’s Shed in Fitzroy Falls is an essential stop for road-trippers who like to fossick. The eclectic and luxuriant mix of junk and ephemera and carefully curated clutter is not for your Marie Kondo kinds. It’s perfectly imperfect and worth the 20-minute drive from Bowral.

Book shops in Bowral

The number of bookshops in and around Bowral says something about the denizens of the village, which once served as a rural retreat for Sydney’s landed gentry. Those with a love of literature are well served in and around Bowral, which is just a 90-minute drive from Sydney. Plan your visit to coincide with the annual Southern Highlands Writers’ Festival.

Berkelouw Book Barn

Bendooley Estate

Visit Bendooley Estate and explore the Berkelouw Book Barn in nearby Berrima. (Image: Destination NSW)

Although it’s technically in Berrima, 11 minutes from Bowral, Berkelouw Book Barn has to be top of the list of best bookshops in Bowral. As well as a stunning collection of second-hand, rare, antiquarian and contemporary books, the storied Berkelouw Book Barn is a destination in its own right for its adjacent restaurant and accommodation.

The Bookshop Bowral

a stack of books at The Bookshop Bowral

Score a good read at The Bookshop Bowral.

The Bookshop Bowral is regarded as an institution for its carefully curated selection of books written by culturally diverse authors from around the world. Check the calendar of events hosted by the book shop, which hosts in-store signings and talks by authors as well as literary morning teas during the annual Southern Highlands Writers’ Festival.

The Phoenix Bookstore

So named after a fire destroyed its original premises, The Phoenix Bookstore has started a new chapter selling new and old books from its new location tucked in behind Bowral Post Office. Join the steady stream of shoppers browsing and chatting with the staff at this cosy bookstore who, as dedicated bookworms, will help you find something that takes your fancy.

Boutique Shops in Bowral

The Orangery, Green Lane in Bowral

Green Lane is home to a collection of Bowral’s best shops and cafes. (Image: Destination NSW)

Shopping is one of the best things to do in Bowral thanks in part to the creative community who call the Southern Highlands home. There are fabulous one-of-a-kind boutiques, hipped-up homeware stores and quirky op shops dotted around the jumble of streets which also has a selection of well-known retailers.

Wilson & Dorset

a look inside the Wilson & Dorset shop in Bowral

Find everything from plush sheepskin rugs to laptop covers. (Image: Abbie Melle)

Sure you can fly to New Zealand. Or shop online. But it’s a much better experience to run your hands over the woolly sheepskin products at Wilson & Dorset in Bowral. The store with the cult following in New Zealand chose Bowral as its first Australian base because of its proximity to the countryside. Head here for everything from plush sheepskin rugs to designer floor rugs, laptop covers, cushions and accessories.

Bespoke Letterpress

the gift shop and stationary store at Bespoke Letterpress, Bowral

Hit up Bespoke Letterpress for all things stationary.

This couture letterpress stationary store was once part of The Press Shop, one of the best places to brunch or lunch in Bowral. But Bespoke Letterpress became so popular that it had to move to larger premises on Bowral’s Main Street. Bespoke Letterpress is paradise for lovers of pretty and practical couture stationary in the form of writing paper and envelopes, puzzles, planners, calendars and more.

HEM

a look inside the homeware shop at HEM, Bowral

Pick up contemporary homewares at HEM.

Looking for something funky or flouncy? You’ll find it here at HEM, which has a whimsical mix of local and global brands that make a fashion-forward statement. Forget fast fashion. HEM has managed to lean toward up-and-coming designers and contemporary homewares that are stand-alone standouts.

Susie Anderson Home

Christmas decorations on sale at Susie Anderson Home, Bowral

Pick up chic Chrissy decor at Susie Anderson Home.

Sip coffee with your friends so you’re well-fuelled before your foray into the Suzie Anderson Home store. Take the Style Quiz ahead of your visit to help provide tailor-made tips for choosing everything from gift sets to tablecloths, homewares, fashion and furniture.

Bare Body Beauty Co.

skincare products on display at Bare Body Beauty Co., Bowral

Pop by Bare Body Beauty Co. for Australian-made skincare products.

Looking to get your glow-on while holidaying in Bowral? The countertops at Bare Body Beauty Co. are heaving with plant-based products that are kind to your skin and the planet. Rub shoulders with #TikTokbeauty fanatics looking for Australian-made skincare that soothes and reinvigorates your skin. You can also indulge in a cold-pressed immunity-boosting juice or wellness latte.

The Shoe Merchant

Rieker brown boots at The Shoe Merchant, Bowral

Rieker brown boots are on offer at The Shoe Merchant.

Birkenstocks, Ecco, Emu Slippers, Floresheim, Frankie4, Louenhide and Rollie Nation are just a few of the beautifully designed brands stocked at The Shoe Merchant in Bowral. Fans of designer footwear travel from all over Sydney to Bowral to find shoes designed for everything from dancing to walking.

Bowral markets and Op shops

There are plenty of upmarket stores to browse in Bowral. But it’s the affordable op shops and stores with vintage vibes that offer the biggest buzz for treasure hunters in Bowral. The Bowral Market is also a better-than-garden-variety market too. In addition to the quality bric-a-brac and artisan wares, it showcases the State’s bounty of fresh produce.

Bowral Market

It’s an oldie but a goodie. The Bowral Market, held on the second Saturday of each month, sells food, clothing, jewellery, plants, arts and crafts. The pet-friendly market, held at the Bowral Bowling Club, sources a lot of fresh produce from the Southern Highlands. Hot tip: Stock your eco bag with a kilo of Robertson potatoes, a jar of Chapo’s Raw Honey and relishes from Lame Duck Foods.

Timeless Fashion & Furniture

It’s all about the thrill of the hunt at The Southern Highlands Community Hospice Shop where you are likely to find everything from a powder-blue safari suit from the ‘70s to a military-style jacket, pair of cowboy boots, a Portico clock or framed print signed by a local artist.

Father Chris Riley Op Shop

Hard-core antique collectors and upcyclers will enjoy rummaging for a bargain at this op shop in Bowral. Father Chris Riley supports young people who are trying to turn their lives around so they can feel even more righteous about forgoing fast fashion while in pursuit of that cricket cardigan or glittering jumpsuit.

Carla Grossetti avoided accruing a HECS debt by accepting a cadetship with News Corp. at the age of 18. After completing her cadetship at The Cairns Post Carla moved south to accept a position at The Canberra Times before heading off on a jaunt around Canada, the US, Mexico and Central America. During her career as a journalist, Carla has successfully combined her two loves – of writing and travel – and has more than two decades experience switch-footing between digital and print media. Carla’s CV also includes stints at delicious., The Sydney Morning Herald, and The Australian, where she specialises in food and travel. Carla also based herself in the UK where she worked at Conde Nast Traveller, and The Sunday Times’ Travel section before accepting a fulltime role as part of the pioneering digital team at The Guardian UK. Carla and has been freelancing for Australian Traveller for more than a decade, where she works as both a writer and a sub editor.
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Top 15 places to stay in Bowral and beyond

    By Carla Grossetti
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    The best Bowral accommodation ranges from weatherboard cottages to an Airbnb on the outskirts of town to all manner of elegant country estates.

    The best places to stay in Bowral offer guests a great base to soak up all the region has to offer in terms of cafe culture, antique trawling, wine tasting, nature and history. Be it elegant manors, cottages or coach houses and other unique stays, a trip to the NSW Southern Highlands makes for the ideal country.

    Bowral, the main hub of the Southern Highlands, was established as a fashionable summer retreat for Sydney’s gentry in the 1880s. Well over a century later, many of the great estates that were established now operate as unique hotel stays. Here’s our pick of the best places to stay in Bowral and beyond.

    1. Black Barn Bowral

    Best for: Fashionistas

    the dining interior of Black Barn Bowral

    The farmhouse was established as a charming countryside retreat.

    Experience the seasons unfolding in style with a stay at this exclusive farmhouse renovated by designer Collette Dinnigan. Black Barn Bowral is decked out in Dinnigan’s inimitable style with a lot of upcycled materials and a warm and inviting vibe.

    Fun fact: the floorboards are made from reclaimed Danish wood and the light fittings were sourced from Italy. Exposed beams and whitewashed walls are complemented by a carefully curated mix of occasional pieces tricked up with textures and subtle signature Dinnigan detail.

    The three-bedroom, two-bathroom farmhouse sleeps six and is just minutes away from Bowral. Prefer to stay in? The Black Barn features the finest Italian bed linen and Australian-made Leif amenities. Now everyone do a little happy dance that Dinnigan has shifted her focus to include interior design.

    Address: Alderley Edge, 2 Orchard Rd, Bowral

    2. Peppers Manor House

    Best for: Wedding parties

    the Peppers Manor House in Bowral

    The quintessential Southern Highlands country retreat experience can be found at Peppers Manor House.

    Check into Peppers Manor House for the quintessential Southern Highlands country retreat experience. A 15-minute drive from Bowral in Sutton Forest, this elegant manor built in 1926 has been fashionably repurposed while retaining its heritage charm and old-world appeal. It has 43 rooms and suites plus a range of inviting common spaces you’ll want to linger in.

    Make yourself at home next to the roaring open fireplace in the Great Hall over winter. Or station yourself beside the pool, cocktail in hand, over summer. The hotel is home to Katers Restaurant, which makes the most of local produce. While you’re there, you can also indulge in such gentile pursuits as billiards, badminton, croquet or perfect the fine art of drinking tea.

    Address: 72 Kater Rd, Sutton Forest

    3. Park Proxi Gibraltar Bowral

    Best for: Suits and ties in conference mode

    the foyer at Park Proxi Gibraltar Bowral

    The entrance foyer exudes elegance and a sense of spaciousness.

    History and location have helped shape Park Proxi Gibraltar Bowral, which has an onsite golf course that is about 70 years old. The 18-hole course has long been one of the draws to Bowral’s largest hotel, which has been taken over by Seibu Prince Hotels & Resorts and given a refresh. The luxury escape has 78 suites, a private indoor pool, a gym and a golf course. It’s also just a 10-minute meander to the boutiques and cafes that make Bowral such a magnet for Sydneysiders and Canberrans.

    Food-focused travellers will be thrilled to hear that the Lotus Dining Group has taken up residence at the hotel. Give those Lazy Susans a workout under the weight of the signature xiao long bao (steamed pork soup dumplings), dan dan noodles and XO scallops on the shell. It’s one of the best places to eat, stay and play in Bowral.

    Address: 7 Boronia St, Bowral

    4. The Sebel Bowral Heritage Park 

    Best for: Active types

    the ensuite bath at The Sebel Bowral Heritage Park 

    Each room is equipped with a bath.

    The Sebel Bowral Heritage Park has been built around an original 1920s federation manor. And while it’s not considered new accommodation in the Southern Highlands, it’s certainly been reinvented. Shortlist this Bowral accommodation for the fact it offers easy access to a nearby golf course, horse riding tours, hiking trails and Bowral boutiques.

    Don’t want to leave your studio suite hotel with a kitchenette and dining area? There are cycling trails onsite as well as an indoor pool and health club. While Bowral is popular with visitors year-round for its striking restaurant scene, and list of great things to do, it’s worth booking a stay to coincide with the annual Tulip Festival.

    5. Maison de May

    Best for: Babymooners or your first family holiday

    the cottage exterior at MaIson de May, Bowral

    This idyllic cottage offers the perfect cosy stay.

    Someone flip the Dulux colour chart to Lilac Fluff. We have ourselves a violet undertone! Bowral has become a very desired locale for a weekend getaway from Sydney and Canberra. And this take on the whole dinky cottage experience has us forgetting all about roughing it in the great outdoors. Hell yeah we want to stay in the middle of nature but with our creature comforts, please/

    As well as being near trails with riveting views, it’s a breeze to walk from the weatherboard cottage into Bowral. Just follow the curves of Cherry Tree Walk along the rivulet that runs from Maison de May into Bowral (pronounced Bahral dahling). In spring, the walk is awash in blossoms and people show up in their droves to Instagram them. The two-bedder (with portable cot) has a gas fireplace, wi-fi, chef’s kitchen and coffee machine.

    Address: 17 Shepherd St, Bowral

    6. Milton Park Country House Hotel

    Best for: City slickers trying on a tree change for size.

    Few NSW towns can rival the romance of Bowral in the Southern Highlands. Tiptoe through the tulips during the annual festival before bunkering down at the Milton Park Country House Hotel. Find a prime perch to watch the night settle over the landscape at dusk in bands of pink. Then head to Hordens Restaurant for mod Oz fare paired with exquisite Australian wines.

    The hotel opens out onto manicured gardens filled with flowers and plants. There’s also a champagne high tea on offer overlooking the heritage-listed gardens.

    7. Peppers Craigieburn Bowral

    Best for: Golfing enthusiasts.

    an elegant country estate at Peppers Craigieburn

    Peppers Craigieburn offers a luxurious country experience.

    Craigieburn is another elegant old country estate that’s part of the Peppers portfolio and just an easy five-minute drive from the centre of Bowral. It has 72 guestrooms across the arboreally named Elms and Morton wings. While some guestrooms have gorgeous French doors that open onto shaded balconies, others offer views of the golf course – which is a star attraction in its own right.

    The nine-hole Craigieburn Hickory Golf Course is more than 100 years old and guests can look to resident golfing pros for help perfecting their swing. You can also try the hybrid game of foot golf, enjoy a round of tennis or play a game of billiards. And, when you’ve worked up an appetite, dine in Hickory’s Restaurant and Bar. Or arrange a laid-back picnic to be set up for you on the gracious grounds.

    Address: Centennial Road, Bowral

    8. Seidler House

    Best for: Architecture buffs.

    the Seidler House with panoramic bush views

    Seidler House masters the art of indoor-outdoor living.

    Seidler House is the most iconic private home built by the late Harry Seidler – Australia’s great modernist architect. Seidler House is built into rock face in the old Southern Highlands ghost town of Joadja, once a thriving mining town, 30 minutes’ drive west of Bowral.

    Accommodating up to eight people, the sculptural accommodation masters the art of indoor-outdoor living. A member of the Contemporary Hotels portfolio, it has open-plan interiors with floor-to-ceiling windows affording dramatic views of the gorge below. There are also open fireplaces, expansive decks, gardens and a swimming pool.

    Address: 612 Richards Ln, Joadja

    9. The Old Bank Boutique Hotel

    Best for: An escape to the country.

    the interior of The Old Bank Boutique Hotel in Bowral

    Stay in an old bank reimagined as a boutique hotel.

    Stay in an old bank reimagined as a boutique hotel in the historic town of Mittagong, a few minutes’ drive from Bowral. The Old Bank Hotel, circa 1892, has six heritage-styled suites in the main building. Two come complete with balconies and each has an en suite, underfloor heating and individually designed woollen floor rugs. There are further digs in the shape of self-contained cottages and stables at the back of the property.

    There’s plenty to explore on your doorstep in Mittagong by way of boutique stores and cafes. The Old Bank’s inviting chill-out spaces and dining room might just stop you in your tracks. This charming Bowral accommodation is filled to the brim with plump Chesterfield couches and armchairs, cosy fireplaces and eclectic rugs and furnishings.

    Address: 83 Main Street, Mittagong

    10. Links House Hotel

    Best for: A weekend getaway for groups of foodies.

    a close-up shot of the bed at Links House Hotel, Bowral

    Links House was built in 1928 as a country guesthouse and was the first in Australia to have en suite bathrooms.

    Links House was built in 1928 as a country guesthouse and was the first in Australia to have en suite bathrooms. In its latter-day incarnation as a small boutique hotel, it still offers the same relaxing experience today – albeit with updated facilities.

    Links House, on the leafy fringes of town, has a range of rooms from king to family to pet-friendly and accessible suites. The styling is clean and contemporary, the decor by local designers and a stay at this Bowral hotel supremely comfortable. You’ll love the Australian-made mattresses with bamboo-made sheets. Guests at Links House can enjoy dinner at Ethos, one of the best restaurants in Bowral. The in-house eatery serves a seasonal menu and there are yoga sessions on Monday and Saturday mornings.

    Address: 17 Links Road, Bowral

    11. Little Black Cottage Studio, Mittagong

    Best for: A romantic weekend away.

    the entrance to the Little Black Cottage studio in Bowral

    Retreat into a stylish studio with a dedicated workspace for digital nomads.

    The Little Black Cottage Studio has character and charm in spades. The stylish studio is a standalone, retreat with garden views and lots of lovely nooks to relax in. The self-contained studio is part of a 114-year-old cottage property in a convenient location just a short walk from Mittagong Village and the train station.

    The fact there are nature trails on the newly renovated studio’s doorstep makes the newly renovated Airbnb near Bowral one of the best places to stay in the Southern Highlands. There’s also a cute kitchenette, views of Mt Alexandria, a dedicated workspace for digital nomads and speedy wi-fi. The light and airy studio has a comfy sitting room and French doors that give way to a secluded courtyard with reclining sun chairs.

    12. Bendooley Estate

    Best for: Budding novelists or bookworms

    the Bendooley Estate in Bowral

    Opt for a lush stay in the countryside. (Image: Destination NSW)

    You’ve probably heard of the Book Barn. It’s Berkelouw’s iconic home located on the geographically blessed Bendooley Estate with its sweeping Southern Highlands views. Here, an atmospheric cafe and restaurant reside among shelves of tomes old, new, rare and antiquarian with a big stone fireplace to boot.

    But did you know you can also stay onsite? There’s a clutch of accommodation available to book: four individually designed studio cottages, a two-bedroom Book Barn Cottage – originally the gatekeeper’s lodge of the 1839 Bendooley Homestead – and the three-bedroom May Gibbs Cottage, which channels a contemporary style via its bespoke wallpaper and artwork, heated handmade tiles and deep free-standing bathtubs.

    Address: 3020 Old Hume Hwy, Berrima

    13. The Coach House at The Rift Estate

    Best for: Equestrian enthusiasts.

    The Coach House at The Rift Estate with a fireplace

    Settle into a charming country estate.

    Check into The Coach House at The Rift Estate for a luxurious stay that blends heritage with modern country chic. The former stables of a grand Victorian Italianate mansion are set at the base of Mt Gibraltar in Bowral.

    Accommodating 13 people across six bedrooms and four bathrooms, this is the ultimate spot for special celebrations with family or friends. It has a fully equipped chef’s kitchen, and an al fresco entertaining area with barbecue and cosy fireplaces. Bathrooms boast claw-foot baths and underfloor heating.

    When you’re not exploring Bowral, spend your days playing bocce and croquet on the lawn and wandering gardens ripe with fruit and veggies, herbs and flowers against a backdrop of rambling countryside.

    14. Berida Hotel

    Best for: A pampering stay.

    an open door in the bedroom at Berida Hotel, Bowral

    Historic elegance meets modern luxury.

    With 43 rooms, this ivy-clad boutique hotel was built as a generously proportioned home in 1925 and is just a short walking distance to Bowral’s main street. It has all the hallmarks of a great Bowral stay: luxe guestrooms with a heritage flavour, elegant gardens to wander, open fireplaces, a library to curl up in with a good book and a tennis court and games room. But Berida Hotel also ups the ante with an indoor heated pool, spa and sauna.

    There is a wide range of traditional pampering treatments at Berida Day Spa as well as some state-of-the-art technology.

    Address: 6 David St, Bowral

    15. The Hidden Door Bowral Cottage

    Best for: A romantic weekend away.

    the lounge area at The Hidden Door Bowral Cottage

    This cosy cottage offers the perfect country escape.

    The Hidden Door Bowral Cottage right in the centre of Bowral will steal your heart before you even cross the threshold with its chocolate-box-cute facade.

    A century old and beautifully updated, this delightful little weatherboard cottage has one main bedroom with a king bed and a smaller second bedroom with a queen bed – all dressed in sumptuous linen. Its sister property, The Hidden Door Bowral Villa, can be booked alongside the cottage to accommodate groups of up to eight and is just as cosy and beautifully appointed.

    Address: 17 Bundaroo St, Bowral

    Discover the best restaurants to dine at while you’re in Bowral.