Corowa Whisky & Chocolate, CorowaCredit: Destination NSW
Couple enjoying a visit to Corowa Whisky & Chocolate, Corowa.
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Feast on the riches of one of Australia’s most important food bowls on a road trip through the Murray, named after the mighty river that flows through this southwest area of New South Wales. Float down the river on a historic paddlesteamer wine cruise, stop by farm gates to sample incredible fresh produce, and dine at chic restaurants and bars in this unique culinary playground.
Take the back roads for gourmet treats
Head off the beaten path along The Backroads Trail, a 250km driving route that passes through the small pastoral towns of Barham, Moama, Mathoura and Deniliquin on the upper reaches of the Murray River. Sink your teeth into fresh olives, avocados, free-range pork, honey and citrus fruit from farm gates along its loops and trails, and taste the region’s wines at vineyards such as Restdown Wines. While you’re at this winery, venture out along the Restdown Wetland Walk to encounter Aboriginal cooking hearths and an old sheep camp.
Cruise along to The Old School Winery & Meadery in Womboota to pick up wine, pottery and honey mead. Or seek out Ivy Joyce in Barham to indulge in a warm space, offering local produce from farms for a truly paddock to plate experience in the heart of Murray River country. For more snacks and meaty fare such as British-style pork pies and sausages, head to Pacdon Park’s factory shop in Moama.
You can work up an appetite as you build your own itinerary on the theme of food, paddocks and produce, and find suggested routes and maps to Murray River farm gates, at the Echuca Moama Visitor Centre.
Wine and dine along the river
Embark on a wine tour by water in Moama, where the first steamboats made their way up the Murray in 1853. Take a Murray River Paddlesteamers Wharf to Winery Cruise from the town to Morrisons Riverview Winery for a leisurely lunch. Or drive along the river, stopping in at Three Black Sheep for risotto and woodfired pizzas, and tasting crisp dry whites and full-flavoured reds at St Anne’s Vineyards, where you can nibble on a cheese platter overlooking a scenic lake.
Head east along the riverside roads to rest and recharge in the town of Tocumwal, known for its riverside beaches, golf courses, glider flying and iconic Big Murray Cod statue. Start the following day with a solid foundation of breakfast pizza (topped with bacon, eggs and a hash brown) at The Old Bank and indulge in a scoop of ice-cream or sorbet from Tocumwal Ice Creamery – flavours include rocky road, green apple or macadamia. If you’re in town on a Saturday, pick up honey, fruit, vegetables, olive oil, dressings and other condiments made by local producers at the Tocumwal Foreshore Markets.
Continue your odyssey along the river to Corowa, the birthplace of Australian Federation. Immerse in the town’s rich turn-of-the-20th-century colonial heritage as you make your way to the former 1920s flour mill housing Corowa Distilling Co. Here you can book a whisky tasting and behind-the-scenes tour and buy locally made chocolates and sweets from sister shop Junee Licorice and Chocolate Factory. Work off an indulgent afternoon with a walk along the river before settling into the stylish Circa 1936 hotel, which is housed in an Art Deco former bank on the main street of Corowa.
Celebrate regional ingredients in Albury
From Corowa, follow the Riverina Highway eastward to the city of Albury, a food, wine and culture hub. Taste how seasonality and locality are expressed at The Proprietor, a former butcher shop turned cafe offering brunch treats such as fruit toast with Beechworth honey and whipped ricotta, and banana waffles with Gundowring vanilla ice-cream. Or try the all-day breakfast offering at Mr Benedict, from cheesy bacon waffle with popcorn chicken to one of its signature eggs benedicts, including one with cider-braised ham hock.
At The River Deck restaurant, local ingredients are celebrated alongside stunning river views, and dishes may include chicken Caesar salad with Milawa eggs or beef brisket braised in coffee by Albury roaster The Brothers Cup. At tiny and elegant Bistro Selle, complement warm Gooramadda olives with a buttery Australian chardonnay and fresh market fish. Yardbird offers a bold-flavoured menu featuring dishes like scorched Albacore tuna, along with meats grilled in a Spanish woodfired oven.
In between meals, stroll along the Yindyamarra Sculpture Walk and take in the contemporary artworks by Aboriginal artists that line the Wagirra Trail. Meander through the Murray Art Museum Albury’s contemporary photographic collection, Aboriginal art and works by renowned Australian artist Sir Russell Drysdale. Afterwards, order lunch or dinner at the museum’s excellent Canvas Eatery – try the saltbush lamb rump or one of their Neapolitan-style pizzas.
The Old School Winery & Meadery, Womboota Credit: Destination NSW
Couple taste tasting mead at The Old School Winery & Meadery, Womboota
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The Old School Winery & Meadery, Womboota Credit: Destination NSW
Couple taste tasting mead at The Old School Winery & Meadery, Womboota
Morrison's Riverview Winery and Restaurant, Moama Credit: Destination NSW
Food and wine available from Morrison's Riverview Winery and Restaurant, Moama.
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Morrison's Riverview Winery and Restaurant, Moama Credit: Destination NSW
Food and wine available from Morrison's Riverview Winery and Restaurant, Moama.
Corowa Whisky & Chocolate, Corowa Credit: Destination NSW
Corowa Whisky & Chocolate located in a 1920âs old flour mill in Corowa.
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Corowa Whisky & Chocolate, Corowa Credit: Destination NSW
Corowa Whisky & Chocolate located in a 1920âs old flour mill in Corowa.
Canvas Eatery, Albury Credit: Destination NSW
Food and wine available at Canvas Eatery in Albury.
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Canvas Eatery, Albury Credit: Destination NSW
Food and wine available at Canvas Eatery in Albury.
More Inspirational Stories
Centennial Vineyards, BowralCredit: Destination NSW
Couple enjoying a romantic getaway at Centennial Vineyards, Bowral.
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Less than a two-hour drive from Sydney, the Southern Highlands makes a lush escape to relax and recharge. From Mittagong to Moss Vale, Bowral to Bundanoon, treat yourself to a few days immersed in beautiful landscapes, mouth-watering flavours, captivating culture and outdoor adventures.
Sip on local beer and wine
With fertile soils and a cool-climate altitude, the Southern Highlands is a grape-growing haven. There are more than 60 vineyards in the region and 17 cellar doors to visit – join a wine tour with local operators like The Grape Escape or Highlands Food and Wine Tours to be chauferred to the best spots, like Cherry Tree Hill, Tractorless Vineyard and Joadja Estate (the oldest winery in the region).
Bendooley Estate is a must-stop in the Georgian village of Berrima, a 10-minute drive west of Bowral. Drop by for a tasting at the cellar door, then browse the collection of thousands of new, second-hand and antique books at their Berkelouw Book Barn & Cafe for a wholesome fairytale-like afternoon.
If beer is more your beverage of choice, head to Mittagong for a private tour of Eden Brewery, finishing with a guided tasting with an expert brewer. Or, in Moss Vale, The Southern Highlands Brewing Co’s Taphouse offers a tasty seasonal menu of burgers, pasta and brasserie favourites alongside interesting craft brews such as Bong Bong Picnic Ale and the Goodfather porter.
Book a feast to remember
An exceptional meal is never far away in the Southern Highlands. In Berrima, Eschalot has been a Highlands highlight for two decades. Choose the ‘Feed Me’ menu and chef Matty Roberts will plate up a 10-course fine-dining banquet.
Savour a barrage of unfamiliar flavours as Michelin-starred Thai chef Bongkoch Satongun and her husband Jason Bailey (a Southern Highlands local) combine Thai traditions with innovation to create incredible food at Paste Australia in Mittagong.
In Bowral, taste the chefs’ passion at family-owned fine-dining Italian restaurant Onesta Cucina — the name is Italian for honest kitchen, and the menu features classics like potato gnocchi with lamb ragu and egg tagliatelle with seafood.
Bendooley Estate, Berrima Credit: Destination NSW
Autumn at Bendooley Estate, Berrima.
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Bendooley Estate, Berrima Credit: Destination NSW
Autumn at Bendooley Estate, Berrima.
Eschalot, Berrima Credit: Destination NSW
Elegant dish made from the freshest and highest quality ingredients at Eschalot restaurant, Berrima.
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Eschalot, Berrima Credit: Destination NSW
Elegant dish made from the freshest and highest quality ingredients at Eschalot restaurant, Berrima.
Brunch at the best
As well as fine diners, there’s a thriving cafe culture in the Southern Highlands for more casual dining experiences. Surround yourself with a jungle of potted plants and a massive wall of books as you graze on rustic share plates at Harry’s on Green Lane, or put a buzz in your day with the specialty coffee and a fresh, seasonal menu sourced from local small-batch producers at The Press Shop cafe on Bowral’s main street.
Make your brunch a long one at Franquette Creperie in Bowral, a licensed French cafe serving traditional and extra-special crepes (think pavlova or banoffee pie flavours) and decadent buckwheat galettes, topped with everything from smoked chicken and chorizo to duck l’orange. A highlight? The cafe is BYO with no corkage fee.
For a farm-to-table approach to lunch, head to Moonacres Kitchen, an organic farm, cafe and restaurant in the town of Robertson (the setting for the classic Australian movie Babe), that takes pride in its ethical ethos. Moonacres is also home to a school, offering a range of courses and workshops to get to know your food a little better. Join a farm tour, bread-making class, sustainable cooking course, composting workshop and more.
Feel rejuvenated in nature
From spectacular waterfalls to breathtaking lookouts and serene trails, the Southern Highlands is one of Australia’s most vibrant natural playgrounds. Plunging more than 80 metres to the valley below, the magnificent Fitzroy Falls are a breathtaking spectacle in the Morton National Park. In Budderoo National Park, Carrington Falls tumble 50m through the lush greenery into the Kangaroo River below.
For hikers, start with an easy climb to the 863m summit of Mount Gibraltar, a 150-million-year-old collapsed volcano that’s now the highest point between Sydney and Canberra. Or in Morton National Park, the Lovers Walking Track is a short trail that winds through open forest and native flowers to scenic views at Echo Point. For something different, walk from Bundanoon into Glow Worm Glen at night to see thousands of these tiny insects light up the darkness.
The Southern Highlands is also home to some of Australia’s most stunning gardens. In Bowral, the vibrant annual Tulip Time Festival celebrates the arrival of spring in the beautiful Corbett Gardens with more than 75,000 bulbs in bloom. Many of the region’s historic country manors are surrounded by immaculately landscaped grounds, inspired by traditional English gardens. Visit the superb grounds of the historic National Trust-listed Harper’s Mansion, in Berrima, with its cool-climate plants and large hedge maze.
Carrington Falls, Budderoo National Park Credit: Destination NSW
Carrington Falls, Budderoo National Park
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Carrington Falls, Budderoo National Park Credit: Destination NSW
Carrington Falls, Budderoo National Park
Robertson, Southern Highlands Credit: Dee Kramer Photography
Scenic aerial of Robertson in the Southern Highlands.
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Robertson, Southern Highlands Credit: Dee Kramer Photography
Scenic aerial of Robertson in the Southern Highlands.
Stylish shopping
From bespoke homewares to sophisticated fashions and one-of-a-kind antiques, the excellent shopping in the Southern Highlands lets you take a little piece of local style home. In Bowral, wander along Bong Bong Street for stylish clothing and accessories in stores like ARKKE the Shop, MicMac Boutique and Hem, each offering unique fashion finds from around the world. High Street Bowral is a small pedestrian mall that runs off Bong Bong Street and is lined with lots of interesting shops including homewares stores like Few & Far, Country Accent and local icon Barbara’s Storehouse. The Modern stocks everything from Map sofas to Marimekko tea towels, and Suzie Anderson Home is full of chic, unique pieces. For vintage finds and pre-loved furniture and homewares, visit the famous Dirty Jane’s. Next door is Green Lane, a boutique shopping precinct home to The Potting Shed, specialising in garden furniture, fire pits and perennials, and The Orangery, where you'll find orchids, indoor plants and gifts.
Stay the night in heritage halls
Sleep in style at one of the Southern Highlands’ grand manor hotels. Retreat to Milton Park Country House Hotel & Spa, a mansion on a hilltop just east of Bowral, to get your beauty sleep in a deluxe room overlooking gardens or pine forest, and linger in the pretty French bath house before a treatment in the luxe wellness spa. Or check in to another grand manor on a country estate in Bowral, Peppers Craigieburn, to soak up the serene setting before tackling the nine-hole Craigieburn Hickory Golf Course.
Book out the three-bedroom Residence at Berrima Vault House, a former inn built by convicts in 1844 now reimagined as a members’ club in Berrima. Or step back in history in the restored school master’s cottage at the Fitzroy Inn in Mittagong, built in 1836 as a traveller’s inn; the convict-made original kitchen and manicured gardens are particularly astonishing.
Recharge in luxury
An indulgent holiday deserves a decadent place to stay the night. Near Bundanoon, Osborn House was built in 1892 and reborn as a luxurious boutique hotel in 2022. There are 15 suites in the original house and seven new freestanding cabins, two restaurants, an indoor pool and plush spa.
Soak up the views of rolling green hills while steeping in a hydrotherapy spa in your suite at Wild Ducks Burrawang in the picturesque village of Burrawang, 20 minutes south-east of Bowral.
Or if you want an intimate place to stay the night just for two, book a tiny house: Edmond overlooks an escarpment and paddock on a 40-hectare near Robertson; while Tiny Homes Joadja offers a selection of little off-grid cabins set on the banks of the Wingecarribee River.
Note: Always plans ahead and check the National Parks website to make sure certain walking tracks are open before visiting.
Osborn House, Bundanoon Credit: Stephanie Hunter
One of the cabins at Osborn House.
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Osborn House, Bundanoon Credit: Stephanie Hunter
One of the cabins at Osborn House.
Milton Park Country House Hotel and Spa, Bowral Credit: Destination NSW
Sun setting over Milton Park Country House Hotel and Spa, Bowral.
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Milton Park Country House Hotel and Spa, Bowral Credit: Destination NSW
Sun setting over Milton Park Country House Hotel and Spa, Bowral.