Bowral is bursting with great things to do, from living it up in a country estate to trawling for books and antiques and sipping great coffee.
The best things to do in Bowral revolve around being immersed in the landscape. The heart of NSW’s Southern Highlands is a destination for all seasons: it offers everything from spring blooms to autumn foliage, music festivals in summer and wine and log fires in winter. And that’s not to mention the cafe culture, sporting history and retail therapy you’ll find here any day of the year.
Here is our list of the top 20 things to do in Bowral, just 90 minutes by car from both Sydney and Canberra.
1. Visit the art galleries
Ngunungula means ‘belonging’ in the traditional language of the Gundungurra First Nations people. (Image: Zan Wimberley)
Visiting the regional gallery Ngunungula is now considered to be up there with the very best things to do in Bowral. The gallery founded by award-winning artist Ben Quilty is set within a meadow of wildflowers in an old dairy farm on the historic Retford Park estate.
Ngunungula means ‘belonging’ in the traditional language of the Gundungurra First Nations people. And the regional art gallery in the Southern Highlands offers an inspired space for creatives. As well as hosting significant exhibitions, it hosts workshops and artist talks, too.
Hearth by Moonacres is adjacent to the gallery and is committed to the ethical production of food delivered from the paddock to the plate. Book a farm tour with owner Phil Lavers to better understand where your food comes from. The Milk Factory Gallery and dinky Bowral Gallery are also worth a visit.
2. Check into a country estate
The elegant grounds at Peppers Craigieburn in Bowral. (Image: DNSW)
Bowral became a fashionable summer retreat for Sydney’s gentry at the end of the 19th century and many great country estates were built because of this early tourism boom. Fast-forward more than a century and many of these old manor houses now provide unique accommodation in the Southern Highlands.
Properties such as Peppers Craigieburn Bowral, Peppers Manor House Sutton Forest, Berida Hotel and The Coach House at The Rift Estate combine heritage charm with modern luxuries. All have elegant grounds to wander, atmospheric common spaces with roaring open fires and, more often than not, a croquet lawn, tennis court and billiards room.
Osborn House in nearby Bundanoon must also be included in a round-up of places to put on your radar. Nearby, The Pill Factory remains one of the coolest places to stay in the Southern Highlands.
READ MORE: Best places to stay in Bowral and surrounds.
3. Connect the dots between cafes
Enjoy Double Roasters coffee and fresh baked goods at Plantation. (Image: Elise Hassey)
A hands-down highlight of any trip to Bowral is dipping into its hip cafes for a caffeine fix. Start out at The Press Shop, housed in a harmonious space within the flagship Bespoke Letterpress building. The Press Shop serves excellent coffee and handcrafted teas.
Just down the street in the thriving Green Lane shopping and dining precinct is Plantation, the sister venue to popular restaurant and wine bar Harry’s On Green Lane, next door. The light and plant-filled space serves Double Roasters coffee, fresh-baked goods and an all-day menu.
Bowral institution Dirty Janes is also sitting pretty on the main drag. The vintage emporium even has a tea salon. Note that fossicking for vintage finds here is one of the best things to do in Bowral.
READ MORE: Top 17 cafes in and around Bowral
4. Have high tea at Dirty Janes
Dirty Janes’ serves a famous high tea that you’d be remiss not to treat yourself to. (Image: Destination NSW)
Treat yourself to a dreamy high tea at Dirty Janes’ salon, Your Vintage Occasion. Enjoy this most quintessentially English endeavour while you sip on Highlands Tea Company brews from dainty cups and saucers and nibble on pinwheel sandwiches.
While we’ve got our eye on a range of flavours, such as the lavender, rose, and white chocolate and cinnamon, you can’t go past the classic scone for country comfort. There are also gluten-free options available. All come with the requisite generous dollops of jam and cream on the side. Book ahead on weekends. Dirty Jane’s also has the spin-off Salter’s, a licensed café guaranteed to brighten your day in Bowral.
5. Browse for antiques
Pick up some indoor plants at The Orangery. (Image: Destination NSW)
The thriving Green Lane precinct is also a haven for those in the market for unique gardening supplies and homewares. It’s home to The Potting Shed, which sells rustic garden ornaments, terracotta pots, tools, gifts for gardeners and more.
You will also find The Orangery selling indoor plants, cold-climate perennials, topiary, water features and garden furniture. Expect a careful edit of Italian linen clothing and Portuguese porcelain by Bordello Pinheiro.
Green Lane adjoins Dirty Janes Antique Market, a mecca for those who love sourcing unique vintage pieces – from furnishings to ornaments and jewellery. The market is home to over 60 independent dealers, decorators and upcyclers.
6. Shop till you drop
Explore the homeware collection for sale at Few & Far.
Arkke is a concept store selling a curated selection of designer clothing and accessories. Other boutiques worth checking out in town include The South Store, The Bronte Tram and Barbara’s Storehouse for one-of-a-kind homewares and furniture. Cookshop Plus is the place for copper pans, cast-iron Dutch ovens and whistling cooktop kettles. And The Bookshop Bowral is full to the brim with your literary needs.
Visit Highlands Emporium and Few & Far for quirky and quaint homewares. And the Rabbit Trap Timber in nearby Sutton Forest to find inspiration for your rustic farmhouse fit-out.
7. Enjoy the best Bowral restaurants
The culinary offering at Bistro Sociale is casual yet elevated.
The Southern Highlands has become somewhat of a hub for foodies and eating out is definitely one of the best things to do in Bowral. Make a dinner reservation at Onesta Cucina, the name of which translates to ‘honest kitchen’. This atmospheric family-run spot, with its ambient lighting and vintage Campari posters, serves high-quality, hearty Italian fare.
Make a beeline for Paste Australia led by Bongkoch ‘Bee’ Satongun and husband Jason Bailey who earned a Michelin star for their sister restaurant in Bangkok.
Head to Bistro Sociale at the Berida Hotel for a carefully crafted wine list designed to complement French-inspired fare. The restaurant is tucked away in the charming Berida Hotel, one of the best restaurants in Bowral.
READ MORE: The best places to eat in Bowral
8. Explore the Bradman Museum
Explore the legacy of cricketing great Sir Donald Bradman.
The Bradman Museum & International Cricket Hall of Fame explores the legacy of cricketing icon Sir Donald Bradman in his hometown of Bowral.
Set on the edge of Bradman Oval in pretty Glebe Park, the museum incorporates interactive displays with fascinating memorabilia. The collection is one of national significance that tells the story not only of Bradman, but of cricket itself – from its origins right through to the Big Bash League.
The museum is also the start and finish point of a self-guided tour of Bowral from Bradman’s perspective. The 1.7-kilometre Bradman Walk takes about 45 minutes to complete and visits historic sites associated with the legend, including his childhood homes, schools and church.
9. Stroll through stunning gardens
Stroll through fields of tulips at Corbett Gardens.
Elegant gardens have long been a drawcard for visitors to the Southern Highlands. Corbett Gardens is one of Bowral’s oldest and most beautiful gardens. It dates to 1911 when the local tourist association, at the suggestion of one Ada Corbett, purchased a disused patch of land called Deadmans Paddock in the centre of Bowral and transformed it into a public park.
With its huge array of tulips and colourful springtime bulbs, Corbett Gardens is the centrepiece of Tulip Time Festival which is held each September. The countryside is also in reach at Southern Highlands Botanical Gardens, which has a beautiful grove of birch trees and sculptures dotted around the landscape.
10. Hit up a winery
Sample the wines at Bowral’s nearby wineries. (Image: DNSW)
READ MORE: The best wineries in the Southern Highlands
The Southern Highlands is a relatively young wine region. It has a high elevation and seasons that are perfectly primed to produce cool-climate wines such as pinot noir, chardonnay and sparkling.
From its beginnings in the 1990s, the region now has more than 60 vineyards and 15 cellar doors. This gives us an extra incentive to get out and explore the beautiful rural landscape.
Follow the Southern Highlands wine trail to make the most of it. Stops include Bendooley Estate, where you can also explore the Berkelouw Book Barn; Joadja Estate, the region’s oldest; and Tractorless Vineyard, an urban cellar door in Braemar, a 15-minute drive from Bowral. Stop by for a glass of wine at Centennial Vineyards and linger over a long lunch featuring local produce from the surrounding area.
11. Take a hike
Get a taste of bushwalking in the Southern Highlands by exploring the Mt Gibraltar Reserve on the outskirts of town. Here, 130 hectares of restored natural forest surround the summit of collapsed volcano Mt Gibraltar. At 863 metres, it’s the highest point between Sydney and Canberra.
From up here you can see three different perspectives via the Bowral, Mittagong and Jellore lookouts; the 1.2-kilometre Rim Track connects all three.
12. Collect provisions for a picnic
Bendooley Estate Larder is a must-stop for grabbing some pastries for the road.
One of the best things to do in Bowral is to pack a picnic and find a shady spot to unfurl your red-checked blanket. Pack your hamper full of local produce and enjoy it alongside stunning views of the rolling countryside. Head into Fermento Artisan Bakery or sister venue Baked in Berrima to pick up croissants and apple cinnamon scrolls.
Bendooley Estate Larder is the place to go to pick up provisions for a picnic. The Larder has tapped the chefs in the kitchens of Bendooley Estate for everything from salads to wraps. It’s also raided the paddocks and pantries of its favourite providores to provide a showcase of the region’s bounty.
13. Join the dots between villages
Visit Bendooley Estate and explore the Berkelouw Book Barn in nearby Berrima. (Image: DNSW)
No trip to Bowral is complete without spending a day idling between its surrounding towns. Each has its own distinct character and history and all are within an easy drive of one another.
Don’t miss Mittagong, where ivy-clad cafe The Boston Ivy 1880 serves one of the best brunches around. Score a table for coffee and cake at Berkelouw’s famous Book Barn on Bendooley Estate in Berrima. And duck into old-school sweets store Lolly Swagman for road-trip treats. Mark nearby Moss Vale on your map for its collection of boutiques, cafes and pubs.
14. Visit cult NZ brand’s first Australian store
Wilson & Dorset is renowned for its laid-back luxury range.
Wilson & Dorset chose Bowral as the base for its first Australian store because of its proximity to the countryside. The store with a cult following in New Zealand is known for its laid-back luxury range that includes everything from plush sheepskin rugs to modular furniture, oversized beanbags, cushions and accessories.
The store interiors were designed by Melbourne-based NZ-born architect James McNab to be an immersive retail experience.
15. Do go chasing waterfalls
Fitzroy Falls plunges more than 80 metres below.
Fitzroy Falls is one of the most spectacular waterfalls in NSW. It is 23 kilometres south of Bowral in Morton National Park and cascades some 80 metres into the Yarrunga Valley. Be sure to explore the award-winning Fitzroy Falls Visitor Centre to learn more about the traditional country of the Yuin people.
Belmore Falls is also in Morton National Park. Hike to the waterfall via the Belmore Falls Walking Track which tumbles some 100 metres over three tiers. It’s also worth the effort to trek to Forty Foot Falls some six kilometres out of Bowral. It’s a place of immense natural beauty.
16. Tap into a new wellness trend
Laze by the pool at Park Proxi for some R&R.
Notice your anxiety levels dropping dramatically when you tap into the newest wellness trend: float therapy. The fast-growing City Cave franchise has centres dotted all around the country including Bowral. And the chic and minimalistic centre has a lot to offer from infrared saunas to the float pool and massage centre.
Check the website for the Park Proxi Gibraltar Bowral to see what packages are on offer as the hotel runs ongoing collabs with City Cave Bowral to give its guests another option to relax and unwind midweek. The tanks are growing in popularity with everyone from wellness warriors to sporting types.
17. Factor in a festival
Immerse in the scenic Southern Highlands.
The Southern Highlands Food & Wine Festival is the go-to getaway for gourmands who are drawn to the annual event in droves. The festival puts the focus on the region’s award-winning producers, makers and growers. Check the Ngununggula website for events worth circling in your cultural calendar. The gallery led by acclaimed artist Ben Quilty coordinates a Midwinter Festival each year with themes such as Playing with Fire.
This year’s program includes workshops with local winemakers, distillers and brewers as well as a gourmet village and a roster of live entertainment. A Day on the Green is another draw for visitors to the Southern Highlands. Expect acts like Missy Higgins and The Teskey Brothers to headline the festival. The potato-growing region of Robertson also hosts an annual Potato Festival billed as ‘spud-tecacular’.
18. Mooch around Bowral Market
Those visiting the Southern Highlands for the first time are bound to ask what the best thing to do in Bowral is? Visiting Bowral Market on the second Saturday of the month is up there. The market is held at the Bowral Bowling Club and attracts a diverse array of stallholders selling everything from bric-a-brac to produce and plants.
The market is also one of the destination’s biggest draws for its people-watching. It’s also the place to meet small producers. Ask for tips on what to cook after you fill your eco bag with their premium produce.
19. Raise a glass to craft
Eden Brewery serves up excellent beers on tap. (Image: Destination NSW)
Bowral’s Millsheds Distillery & Bar has evolved from being a live music venue to a premier distillery. Raise a glass to celebrate the distillery winning silver medals at the London Spirits Competition and International Wine & Spirits Competition. Its Highland Gin scored 93/100, placing it among the top gins in Australia. The distillery also offers immersive experiences such as tours and gin-blending classes.
Do you have more of a head for hops? Well, Eden Brewery is a good bet. The craft brewery boasts an impressive range of beers from IPAs to porters. The brewery also serves up solid pub grub with a side serve of live music.
20. Take a guided tour
See stunning views out to the vines at Sutton Forest. (Image: Destination NSW)
There are plenty of things to see and do in the Southern Highlands. Take the foot off the pedal and let a driver from the Highlands Tour Co. take over the logistics and tailor a tour that suits. Be it Vines & Views, a Blokes Day Out or Brides Delight, the local touring company has an experience to suit.
The Southern Highlands is the closest wine region to Sydney. Enjoy your escape to the country by visiting a few of the cellar doors that showcase the region’s award-winning cold-climate wines.
Discover the best restaurants in Bowral.
