Why a day trip to the Southern Highlands is a great idea (Hint- It involves a pie trail)

Day trip to the Southern Highlands from Sydney

Due to a fortuitous circumstance of events, I had the opportunity to head out on a last-minute road trip with some friends over the Queen’s Birthday Weekend to go bushwalking at Fitzroy Falls, part of Morton National Park. This stunning part of the world, just near Kangaroo Valley, is part of the region known as the Southern Highlands. Less than two hours from Sydney, this is such a beautiful area, and it’s not as heavily visited by tourists as other areas near Sydney, like the Blue Mountains or the Hunter Valley. Here’s how to plan a day trip to the Southern Highlands from Sydney. 

Fitzroy Falls

The main reason for our trip was to go bushwalking at Fitzroy Falls. This is an incredibly epic waterfall (or, more accurately, several waterfalls), which cascade through Morton National Park. There are lots of bushwalking trails throughout the Falls, and through the National Park. (More on bushwalking here.) There’s a lot of wildlife also- I saw a lyrebird here, and kangaroos, wallabies, and a huge range of bird life live in the area.

(A side note on lyrebirds- if you’ve never seen one, chances are you’ve heard one. They are known for their ability to mimic other sounds they hear- sometimes other birds or animals, but they also mimic car alarms, dogs barking, or other sounds they happen to come across. Unfortunately, my photos didn’t do him justice, but the males also have beautiful feather plumes as tails. They’ve also been in existence in Australia at least 15 million years, according to the fossil records, so it’s safe to say they’re not going anywhere.)

If you’re planning on hiking at Fitzroy Falls, most hikes can be accessed via the Visitor Center, about 20 km from Kangaroo Valley. That being said, a good portion of those 20 km are extremely steep switchbacks, best taken at low speed, so take this into account when planning driving times. There’s also a cafe, an interactive museum for kids, and really informative Park staff on site, as well as maps, if you need help in working out where to go. However, the area is also sign posted well, and there are many easy day hikes to explore.

Looking for more adrenaline adventures around New South Wales? Consider hiking Ruined Castle in the Blue Mountains, skiing the slopes of Perisher, or looking for ghosts on Cockatoo Island.

Bowral

The largest town in the region, and home to my favorite pie shop (see below), Bowral is a really fun place to explore. Lots of cafes, shops, and, my personal favorite- antiquing. There are a lot of antique shops here- you can literally get lost in the maze-like warehouse in some of them, such as Dirty Jane’s.

Bowral is also the childhood home of famed cricketer Don Bradman, so expect a lot of cricket-themed things everywhere. You can also visit the International Cricket Hall of Fame. I still don’t exactly understand what cricket is, so I can’t say I visited, but I am sure it would be a fantastic spot for all cricket fans.

Just next to Bowral is the town of Mittagong, also chock-full of great vintage shops and cafes. If you’re looking for a special occasion meal while you’re there, check out Paste, an incredible Michelin-star Thai restaurant.

Wineries

The Southern Highlands are known, or starting to become known, for its wine production. The rolling countryside and green hills make for an idyllic setting to taste wine, and most of the vineyards also offer restaurants and cafes. We stumbled upon, literally by chance, Mount Ashby Estate, in Moss Vale, a gorgeous vineyard with a rustic French vibe. There’s also a restaurant on site and an antiques shop, so a lot of fun to explore. However, there are lots of wineries to check out in the area- a full list can be found on the Southern Highlands Food and Wine Directory.

Even better, there are plenty of winery and farm stays in the Southern Highlands, like Cashel Vineyard, if you want to extend your stay.

Looking for a guided tour from Sydney of the Southern Highlands? Taste of the Highlands – Fine Dining & Wine Tour would by my recommendation, especially for foodies. 

Or, want to discover more NSW wineries? Mudgee offers some of the best. 

Hampden Bridge

A bridge might not sound that exciting, but Hampden Bridge is pretty impressive, making it worth a stop on your itinerary. This suspension bridge, in Kangaroo Valley, was opened in 1898, and is a stellar example of Victorian engineering. The bridge replaced a series of timber bridges that kept falling down, so definitely an important thing to the local community. It also kinds of looks like a castle, which is cool.

If you want to explore the area in more detail, bicycles, kayaks, and canoes can be hired nearby, and it would also make a nice area for a picnic, if you’re so inclined.

The Pie Trail

I know, you’re probably only reading this blog because I had you at pie trail. If you’ve spent any time in Australia, or the UK, you’re probably familiar with the concept of meat pies. Done well, they are one of the tastiest things you’ll ever find. Done badly, and, ehm, you’ll know right away. Pies are often beef, chicken, or vegetarian, and are very popular in Australia.

Due to the prevalence of delicious pie shops in the area, the Southern Highlands has created a Pie Trail, so you can eat your way through the area, discovering the best bakeries and shops. Realistically though, there’s a limit to how many pies you can eat in a day- for me, probably one. So, choose your pie shop wisely.

We visited Gumnut Patisserie, in Bowral, which had a long line out the door, but was definitely worth it. I went for the beef, topped with creamy mashed potato, and it was perfect, especially on a cold day. That being said, nearby Stones Patisserie was recently crowned the Best Pie in the Southern Highlands, but Gumnut did win a lot of other awards. Who knew the world of meat pies was so competitive?

Below- more of Morton National Park.

Kangaroo Valley

Kangaroo Valley is a really cute little town, and a great place to base yourself if you want to stay overnight to explore the area. Plan some hiking or walks, sample local produce and wines, and stay in a cosy B&B– winter is definitely a great time to visit.

Want to Stay Longer?

With so much to explore in the Southern Highlands, it makes sense to stay for a few days, if you can. Even better, the region is full of gorgeous and unique accommodation. Here are some of our favourites:

• The Cloud Pad, Robertson. This 33 acre property offers a cute cottage and amazing views. Plus, can’t resist the name Cloud Pad.
• Hideout Cabin, Moss Vale. Tiny homes are super popular at the moment, and we love how it merges the indoor and outdoors.
• Japanese Studio, Fitzroy Falls. This amazing cottage will make you feel like you’ve stepped into Japan, and it’s super close to the waterfall.

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Top Tips:

• The Southern Highlands is approximately two hours from Sydney, if you’re driving, but it can also be accessed via Sydney trains. That being said, I’d recommend hiring a car if you don’t have one, as you can see a lot more, and cover more ground, if you have your own vehicle.
• Parking fees are required to enter Fitzroy Falls- as of June 2018, the fees were $4.00 for the Falls, or $8.00 if also visiting other areas of Morton National Park. The roads are sealed, so driving is easy in any car.
• There’s no swimming in Falls, unlike other waterfalls- once you look at it, you’ll quickly understand why!
• Every Sunday, the Kangaroo Valley Farmers Market occurs, so check it out if you’re in the area- there are lots of other events on throughout the year, such as a Folk Festival in October- stay up to date on happenings via Visit Kangaroo Valley or Destination Southern Highlands.
• If you want to extend your road trip, consider heading onward to Canberra, about two hours from Kangaroo Valley. Here are our recommendations for top spots for photos in Canberra. Parliament House, the Australian War Memorial, and Lake Burley Griffin are must-sees also.

Note- All attractions were visited as a full-paying guest, and all recommendations are based solely on my personal opinion. As an Airbnb Associate, I may make a small commission, at no extra cost to you, via the above links.