Discover upper crust country

The NSW Southern Highlands have just become that much closer to Sydney. No, it’s not a geological shift, but simply the completion of road systems that have eliminated dozens of traffic lights and snarl-ups from the route south.

>> Destination Southern Highlands, Weekends For Two

Whizz out of Sydney and you’ll be turning off to Mittagong, the gateway to this much celebrated region, in no time. The area has been the playground of the moneyed class for generations, originally being the summer holiday escape from the stifling heat of a Sydney summer.

All the country pursuits of the British aristocracy were replicated here, through villages such as Bowral, Sutton Forrest, Robertson, Berrima and Moss Vale. Golf, horse riding, country markets, even Highland dancing all had – and still have – their place here. Moss Vale has the large agricultural market of the area on the fourth Sunday of the month.

You’ll find evidence of Australia’s convict past in many of the fine hand hewn sandstone public buildings and historic homes in many parts of the area.

Bowral is perhaps best known for being the town where the great Donald Bradman honed his skills as a young batsman. The Bradman Oval and adjoining museum are the focus of a pilgrimage cricket aficionados make from all around the world.

Bowral has plenty of coffee shops, antique stores and galleries catering for the affluent Sydneysiders from the eastern suburbs who sweep into town over weekends. There’s a busy program of markets and cultural events all over the region.

Cool climate wines are being grown here with great success and there’s a thriving wineries trail with cellar door operations.

A great way to see the surrounding countryside is to take a ride on The Cockatoo Run, a leisurely train trip on olden-style carriages pulled by steam train to Robertson or down to the lllawarra. It operates from Saturday to Tuesdays and on public holidays.