Towns & villages in the Southern Highlands & Illawarra region of NSW

Must See & Do in Macarthur

• Campbelltown Arts Centre

• Japanese Gardens and Teahouse

• Mount Annan Botanic Garden

• Struggletown Fine Arts Complex

• Macarthur Centre for Sustainable Living

• Fine dining at our many cafes and restaurants

• Boutique shopping & markets

• Macarthur Square – shopping, leisure, dining and  entertainment complex

• Horse riding, Laser Skirmish

• Gledswood Homestead

• Boutique shopping & markets
  
  
  Macarthur -  the best of both worlds!
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  Where can you find a vibrant city with modern delights, enjoy the tranquillity of nature reserves and historic charm, but also revel in adrenalin packed activities.
  
  The Macarthur region offers the lot!
  
  Major Regional Events:
  • Fisher's Ghost
  • Ingleburn Alive
  • Camden Antique Fair
  • Camden Festival
  • New Year's Eve Celebrations
  
  Fast Facts
  
  • Macarthur is less than an hour’s drive south-west of Sydney.
  • It Includes the city of Campbelltown and historic Camden.
  • Macarthur is rich in history, art & culture. The history of colonial
  settlement is reflected in the large number of heritage listed buildings that are still scattered throughout the region. Camden Park House and Macarthur Park are fine examples of 19C architecture prevelent in the area
  • The Macarthur district played a significant role in the birth of the Australian wool, wine and wheat industries.
  • History books tell us that John Macarthur was responsible for our success as producers of fine merino wool. But historical records show that Elizabeth Macarthur, his wife, was just as much to be acclaimed, even more so.
  • John & Elizabeth Macarthur established convict built Belgenny Farm on part of the original 5000 acres granted to the family by Lord Camden in 1805.
  • Today, Belgenny Farm is a major educational centre with direct links to our agricultural history. It offers specialised educational and environmental tours, giving young people and special interest groups a chance to learn about agriculture and its history in NSW.
  • There is a diverse range of cultural venues in Macarthur, including a number of small boutique art galleries such as Struggletown Fine Arts Complex. Campbelltown Arts Centre and the Campbelltown Entertainment and Exhibition Centre are the entertainment heart of Macarthur. Many exciting events, performances, concerts, workshops, exhibitions and expos are held at these venues throughout the year.
  • Shoppers love Macarthur!
  The region offers everything from boutiques, malls and department stores, to antiques, homewares and local markets.
  • Camden offers speciality stores showcasing handcrafted jewellery, elegant gift shops, designer clothing and exclusive homewares scattered amongst the café-lined streets.
  • Attractions and activities range from horse riding, hot air ballooning, skydiving and go-karting through to ghost hunting and bushwalking.
  • Macarthur is bordered by scenic hills, nature reserves and the Georges and Nepean Rivers. The beauty of the nature reserves and wildlife trails will surprise and delight with spectacular flowing streams and rock escarpments, as well as native flora and fauna.
  • Mount Annan Botanical Gardens offers a superb family day out in the midst of 416 hectares of Australian bushland. The facility includes not only picnic areas, a restaurant, a
  souvenir shop and over 10 kilometres of walking tracks, but also a native flora research facility and the NSW Seedbank.
  

Historic Picton was originally called Stonequarry. It is in the centre of a dairying and mixed farming area. Its current population is 3589.

Major Regional Events

• Thirlmere Festival of Steam

• Picton Rodeo

• Warragamba Dam Festival

Must See & Do

• Nepean, Cataract, Cordeaux, Avon & Warragamba Dams
  

• Burragorang Lookout

• Thirlmere Lakes Nat/Park

• Wirrimbirra Sanctuary

• Thirlmere Rail Heritage Centre
  
  
  

Fast Facts

• Picton has a number of notable historic sites. Vault Hill, owned by an early settler Henry Antill, the old courthouse, built in 1864, a Victorian classical stone post office with an impressive clock tower, dating from 1892, the CBC Bank (now the National Australia Bank) built in 1885, St Mark’s Anglican Church, and Larkin Cottage, one of the oldest surviving buildings in town. Of particular interest is the George IV Inn, built in 1819, one of the oldest hotels in the country.

• Breathtaking views of the Burragorang Valley, the waters of which are dammed by Warragamba Dam, can be seen if you travel through The Oaks and follow the signs.

• Avon and Nepean Dams can be reached via the M5 or Bargo.

• Thirlmere Lakes National Park is 627 hectares of rugged sandstone country to the west of the ridge, which runs between Thirlmere and Colovale and east of the Nattai Tableland.

• Picton Botanic Gardens are located only a few minutes from the centre of Picton. Bike trails, walking tracks, picnic and BBQ areas amidst native bushland, make for a perfect place to spend some time and relax. Open 7 days.  Regreme Rd Picton.

• Wirrimbirra Sanctuary is set in 200 acres of bushland. This National Trust (NSW) property is located between Bargo and Tahmoor.  Native animals, Native Plant Nursery, Picnic Tables and Gift Shop.  Open Tues-Sun.

• Thirlmere Rail Museum is a magical place to visit for the enthusiast and the young at heart. It is the home of Australia’s oldest and largest railway museum - step back in time to an era when everyone travelled by train. There are over 40 locomotives and 80 carriages on display, dating from 1865. As well, there is an exhibition of railway items and memorabilia, a signals display, an authentic fettler’s shed, and a heritage-listed 1880s railway station.

Mittagong, Bowral, Robertson, Moss Vale, Berrima & Bundanoon

Discover the natural beauty, glorious gardens, antiques, art and heritage of the area all within a day’s drive from Sydney, Canberra and the Illawarra region.
The Southern Highlands is a playground for lovers of fine wine and hearty food.
Our towns and villages are connected by rural and semi-rural landscapes making the region a
stunningly picturesque place to visit. With a higher than average rainfall, much of the landscape is one of lush rolling green hills.

Must See & Do

• Berrima Courthouse Museum

• All Aboard Model Railway

• Corbett Gardens in Bowral

• Southern Highlands Wineries

• Lake Alexandra
  
  Major regional festivals.

• Bundanoon Highland Gathering

• Antiques & Collectables Fair

• Bundanoon Winterfest

• Bowral Tulip Time

• Book Fair
  

Fast Facts!

• The Illawarra escarpment and Morton National Park provide a boundary for the eastern side of the region and wild Eucalypt bushland, with gullies and gorges bound the northern side of the Highlands.

• The Wollondilly and Wingecarribee Rivers form part of the catchment for Warragamba Dam which is Sydney’s main water storage dam.

Mittagong - The Gateway to the Southern Highlands

• Mittagong is located 110 kms south west of Sydney in the Nattai River Valley between Mt Gibraltar, known locally as ‘The Gib’ and Mt Alexandra, both extinct volcanic peaks.

• Population of approx 7,500.

• Mittagong, like Bowral, enjoys an interesting streetscape with boutiques, cafes, restaurants and art galleries giving it that delightful country town feel, but a large shopping mall is only minutes from town.

Berrima - A truly unique, historic village

• An historic village offering the most wonderful array of food and experiences in a living history environment.

• Established as a township in 1831, Berrima is a preserved Australian,Georgian, colonial town.

• It is located in a picturesque valley on a bend of the Wingecarribee River.

• The town is laid out like an English village around a village green. The centre of the village today is a living museum, with many of the original buildings, including the gaol, still provide a unique atmosphere within the town.

• Berrima and surround districts were famous for bushranger activity in the late 1800’s.

• Berrima is a favourite day trip destination for Sydneysiders and Canberra residents. It offers exquisite boutique shopping, antiques and great food.
  
  

Bundanoon, a "place of deep gullies".

• Early industries included timber milling, sandstone quarrying and farming.

• Today Bundanoon retains many of its early 20C buildings. It has a sleepy village, yesteryear charm about it.

• It is home to the annual (April) Brigadoon Festival when thousands of visitors come to celebrate all things Scottish.

• Bundanoon has its share of interesting craft shops, art galleries, cafes, restaurants, nurseries and picnic areas.

• You can hire a bike, walk through nearby Morton National Park, enjoy picnic spots, native flowers and birds.

• Take a walk to "Glow Worm Glen". See kangaroos and wallabies at dusk on the edge of town.

• A 137km drive from Sydney and 15 minutes from Moss Vale, Bundanoon presents a charming scene with its avenue of English trees from the town approach to the main shopping strip.

• Bundanoon is a bushwalkers paradise with fourteen suggested walks, most have vantage points with spectacular views across the valleys. Probably the most visited lookout is the one overlooking the Grand Canyon 3km from the town centre.
  
  

Bowral - Home to the Bradman Museum

• Bowral was originally named Wingecarribee by the pioneering, Oxley family, it was later renamed Burradoo then ‘Bowrel’. ‘Bowrel’, was the Aboriginal name for the township and is said to mean "high".

• Bowral is a gorgeous country town situated in a valley at the foot of Mt.Gibraltar.

• Due to the high altitude of the Southern Highlands, Bowral enjoys gorgeous autumns, as exotic European trees and shrubs change their colour in preparation for the winter months.

• Bowral’s shopping precinct is like that of few other country towns with an eclectic variety of boutiques, bookstores, antique and craft shops, as well as two shopping malls.

• The restaurants, coffee shops and cafes offer a huge variety of dining experiences from ‘fine dining’ to sidewalk, cafe style eating out.

• As you might imagine, Bowral has many preserved 19C buildings including cottages, grand manors and churches making the streetscapes charmingly inviting.

• Bowral is also home to the world famous Bradman Museum. The Bradman Museum and Oval is a ‘must see’ when visiting Bowral.
• Population of over 10,400 residents.

Robertson- the green heart of the Highlands
Robertson is a pretty rural village with breath-taking scenery, spectacular waterfalls and rainforests in nearby National Parks. Lush surrounding farmland and country lanes complete the picture for this ‘not to be missed’, visitor friendly village, which lies at the edge of the Southern Highlands.

Must See & Do

• Visit spectacular Fitzroy Falls

• Robertson Rail Heritage Station

• Budderoo National Park

• Belmore Falls

• Carrington Falls

• Illawarra Fly

More and more visitors to the Southern Highlands are discovering the many attractions of Robertson. The village is worth visiting both for itself, and as an ideal base to explore a spectacular hinterland. Robertson is recognized as the “green heart” of the Southern Highlands, on account of its superb rural scenery. Ridge roads with sweeping views contrast with sheltered tree-clad lanes, making this a delightful place for a scenic drive.
There is much to discover. Stud cattle, sheep and alpacas graze green pastures. Rich, deep, red soils grow the legendary “Robbo Spuds” - Australia’s most sought-after potatoes. Nearby are three of the longest drop waterfalls in Australia. They all plunge from rugged sandstone escarpments into rainforest canyons and valleys. Barren Grounds nature reserve has wonderful wild flowers and easy plateau walks to coastal views. The Illawarra Fly turns exploring the cliff tops into a great adventure with treetop walkways, a soaring tower, and sweeping coastal vistas from Port Kembla to Kiama.
In the village itself, you’ll find cosy cafes and restaurants, antiques and
collectables, galleries with regular exhibitions, and a heritage railway station in landscaped gardens. Many shops specialize in goods that are both hand made and Australian: art, crafts,  leather goods, textiles, soaps and cosmetics, glamorous corsetry, candles, tables, gazebos and gourmet foods, including pies and pizzas. Robbo Spuds are always on sale in season (December to April). All this and more in a picturesque village where people are friendly, parking is easy. and which still has the character of a genuine country town.

Goulburn is a little over two hours drive from Sydney and less than one hour from Canberra. It lies just across the mountainous Great Divide in the Southern Tablelands. It is rich in heritage and natural beauty and any visitor interested in the history and development of this beautiful city will be delighted during guided and self guided tours of historic sites, homesteads, cathedrals, cemeteries and points of interest.

Major Regional Events

• Blues Music Festival

• Lilac Festival

• Heritage & Roses Festival

• Taralga Heritage Rally

• The Spirit of Christmas

Must See & Do

• Goulburn Historic Waterworks

• Goulburn Rail Heritage Centre

• St Saviour’s Cathedral

• Riversdale Historic Homestead

• The Big Merino

• Kenmore Hospital Museum

• Goulburn War Memorial & Museum

• St Clair Folk Museum & Archives

Fast Facts

• Goulburn is a thriving rural and commercial centre.

• Goulburn offers country style living and hospitality.

• Goulburn was Australia's first inland city

• Governor Macquarie declared it the Goulburn plains in 1820 in honour of Henry Goulburn, the Secretary of State.

• The Goulburn to Sydney Cycle Classic was established in 1902 and is older than the Tour De France.

• The Goulburn Cup dates back to 1883.

• The Leider Theatre Company is the longest running theatre company in Australia (1891).

• Goulburn hosted Australia’s first motorcycle grand prix in 1924.

• The City Council covers an area of 43sq kms and is home to 22, 500 people. The surrounding districts boost the City population by a further 15, 000 people

• Settled in the late 1820s. The first white explorers sited the land that was to become the first inland city from Mt. Towrang in 1798, but it was not explored until some 20 years later.  Land seekers settled the area from 1818 onwards after explorers, Throsby, Hamilton Hume, Meehan and Oxley discovered the Goulburn Plains and Lake Bathurst.

• By 1841 Goulburn had a population of some 1,200 people - a courthouse, police barracks, churches, hospital, post office and was the centre of a great sheep and farming area.

• It became an administrative centre for the district taking in surrounding townships for the new County Argyle.

• It is home to the Big Merino & the NSW Police Academy

• Its secondary industry is based on a mix of private and Government enterprise.

• In the private sector, firms are engaged in wool scouring, cotton products, footwear, heavy and light engineering, building related undertakings, retail distribution and concrete products.

• State and Federal Government workshops exist for Public Works, Roads and Traffic Authority, the Railways, Electricity and Telecommunications.

WOLLONGONG  
STEEL CITY - UNIVERSITY TOWN .

Wollongong is NSW’s third largest city with a population of 250,000. An Aboriginal word meaning between High Place and the Sea, Wollongong is said by some to be an imitation of breaking waves and ebbing surf. It has a history of heavy industry, with the dominant industries being coal mining and steel production. But, as a world downturn for steel occurred in the 1980's, Wollongong with its multi-cultural society, reinvented itself with an array of complimentary industries. Today, it's University is regularly named the top such institution in Australia

THE GRAND PACIFIC DRIVE

Grand Pacific Drive begins at the Royal National Park which is the second oldest National Park in the world. Enjoy driving through coastal rainforests, hire a row boat and take a picnic on the Port Hacking River , visit picturesque beaches or enjoy some of the many great walking trails.

The Royal National Park ends at the point where Grand Pacific Drive meets Bald Hill- a magnificent lookout south to Wollongong . From here, watch the hang gliders and para gliders or marvel at the spot where Lawrence Hargrave first took flight.Grand Pacific Drive then heads south through the Northern Wollongong Coastal Villages and along cliff hugging roads right above the South Pacific Ocean . Traverse along the magnificent Sea Cliff Bridge- the 665 metre over-the-ocean bridge newly opened in December 2005.The Northern Wollongong Coastal Villages are famous for their unspoilt beaches and rock pools, unique art and crafts, great fishing and surfing spots and many terrific cafes and restaurants. From here, Grand Pacific Drive, makes its way into the bustling city of Wollongong , offering countless adventure activities, great beaches and shopping.

EXPERIENCE WOLLONGONG

Wollongong and its beaches, north and south, is one of the nations top surfing centres. From Austinmer to Gerringong, the Illawarra Beaches are patrolled throughout the swim season. And for non surfers most beaches have one of NSW famous rock swimming pools. Be adventurous and go skydiving at NSWs’ only beach skydive!

Enjoy a Harley Davidson joyride along Grand Pacific Drive and Sea Cliff Bridge Try one of Wollongong ’s many great seafood restaurants and cafes by the beach Visit Five Islands Brewery- Australia ’s largest micro brewery- and taste some locally made beer.
Feeling energetic?- Explore Wollongong via the City Walk map, or cycle along the beachside cycle way Visit Nan Tien Temple , the largest Buddhist Temple in the Southern HemisphereRelax on one of Wollongong ’s 17 patrolled beachesTake in panoramic views of the Illawarra from Mt Keira lookout Take in some of Wollongong ’s mining history with a visit to the historic village of Mt Kembla From beach pleasures to academic pursuits, Wollongong offers residents and visitors great cultural diversity.

MORE INFORMATION

Wollongong Vistors Centre
93 Crown St , Wollongong
Ph 42275545 or 1800240737