Southern Highlands 2021

This morning we will “spring into Spring” when we visit the beautiful Corbett Gardens in the centre of Bowral. These gardens are the highlight of the spectacular Tulip Festival hosting mass plantings of 75,000 tulip bulbs and 15,000 annuals. Admire the garden beds, browse the festival market stalls and enjoy time at leisure to explore this historic town.

We will return to the Gibraltar for lunch before we travel the short distance to Berrima, one of Australia’s best preserved Georgian villages. Here we will visit Harpers Mansion – this 1834 two-storey brick house has been extensively restored by the National Trust and is a superb example of an early Georgian country house.
The house sits proudly high on a hill overlooking Berrima amidst two acres of fine cool climate gardens and features a maze of tall leylandii hedge: the only one of its kind in NSW. After our tour, you will have time to wander through the interesting old shops in town with antiques and old wares, arts, crafts and galleries, including Australia’s oldest continuously running licensed Inn.

A relaxed start this morning when we visit the historic garden of “Moidart”, famous for its collection of rare plants, bulbs, trees and shrubs. Established in 1932 “Moidart” is one of the iconic gardens of the Southern Highlands yet is open only during festival time. With 5 acres of beautiful gardens – The Terraces with the Daffodil Walk, Bluebell Walk, Hellebore Walk / The Woodland Garden / The Sunken Rose Garden – and glorious specimen trees this is a destination not to be missed.
Bowral’s most beloved son is without a doubt Australia’s most famous cricketer, Sir Donald Bradman. The Bradman Museum was originally housed in his boyhood home but today it has moved having morphed into the International Cricket Hall of Fame. With interactive displays, videos and many historic displays this dynamic museum is worth visiting even if you are not a big cricket fan – come and explore the sound of summer’s past.

This afternoon, we will take a scenic drive through green rolling hills and various “Highlands” villages including Bundanoon, Exeter, Moss Vale and Sutton Forest, once the very outer limits of the colony when it was settled by white pastoralists in the 1820s.

We say farewell to Bowral and drive north to historic Campbelltown and Camden to visit Glenalvon House, a fine colonial Georgian townhouse built 1840. We take a tour through the beautiful historic property that showcases the agricultural heritage in the area, coach house, stables and heritage garden.

From here it is onto the renowned Camden Valley Inn for a scrumptious lunch before we return to Sydney. We head home feeling blessed with happy memories of sharing fun and fellowship with new friends.