Spring has well and truly arrived in the Southern Highlands. Tulip Time is in its final days, the gardens are in full bloom, and with the school holidays under way, there’s something for every age. Whether you’re planning a long weekend away or a day trip from Sydney, Canberra or Wollongong, here’s how to make the most of it.
Set in a charming 1850s homestead in the heart of the village, Eschalot Restaurant is all about local produce and a garden-to-plate experience. It’s the perfect place to sample some of the best food the Southern Highlands has to offer.
Kick off the long weekend with Locals Feed Me Night, a relaxed evening of seasonal cooking and generous shared dishes, designed to bring people together around the table. Expect fresh bread, spatchcock, fish, seasonal sides and dessert.
Two courses are $65 per person, and you can bring your own wine for a $15 corkage fee per bottle. It runs every Thursday, so Thursday 1 October is a lovely way to ease into the weekend.
Eschalot serves lunch Friday to Sunday and dinner Thursday to Sunday. Bookings are recommended: 02 4877 1977 or eschalot.com.au. 24 Old Hume Highway.
Tulip Time at Corbett Gardens in Bowral wraps up on Monday 5 October, so this is your last chance to see more than 80,000 hand-planted tulips and annuals under this year’s “Together We Bloom” theme. Wander the gardens and market stalls, then take the ten-minute drive to Berrima for lunch and an afternoon of exploring. It’s the perfect second act.
Experience true country hospitality at one of Australia’s most iconic historic hotels, established in 1834. Sample the local beers and wines, and enjoy modern pub cuisine in Bistro 1834. Here’s what’s on at The Surveyor General Inn :
• Saturday 3 October, from 6pm: live music with the Angus Murray Duo
• Sunday 4 October, from 2.30pm: live music with the Bob Rodgers Duo
• Sunday 4 October, 5pm to 6.30pm: Battle of the Banger, organised by Horizontal Festival
• Sunday 4 October, from 7.30pm: NRL Grand Final on the screens, live and loud in the front bar
• All weekend: Chef Rob’s specials, plus delicious oysters until sold out
Open seven days from 11am until late. Bookings recommended: 02 4877 1226 or surveyorgeneralinn.com.au. 26 Old Hume Highway.
Just a five-minute drive from the village, Bendooley Estate is a spectacular place to slow down. Browse thousands of new, second-hand, rare and antiquarian books in the iconic Berkelouw Book Barn, taste the estate’s wines at the Cellar Door (from 10am), and settle in for lunch with a view of the vines.
The Book Barn’s new spring menu includes wood-fired pizzas, Australian blue swimmer crab linguine and a slow-roasted lamb shoulder made for sharing.
Also arriving this October is The Roundhouse, Bendooley’s new day spa: a space for stillness.
At the northern end of the village, The Brown Shutter is an adventure for everyone, with a large range of giftware and so much more. Visitors leave having had a wonderful experience, which includes free gift-wrapping, so your long weekend finds are ready to give. Open seven days, 9am to 5pm. 9 Old Hume Highway, 02 4877 1211.
Berrima’s newest studio-shop is well worth a wander. At Tiny Jewellery, every piece is designed and handmade on-site by Pauline and Ruby, using Australian recycled silver. Pieces are made to order in small batches, and you might catch the pair mid-creation, sketch pads open and silver warming under the torch.
Open Saturday 10am to 4pm and Sunday 10am to 3pm. 2/15 Old Hume Highway.
Berrima’s shops are made for slow wandering, and many are open all long weekend.
• Berrima Village Stores is a country store with a quirky mix of vintage and new wares, books and local art, plus a friendly café and a secluded courtyard garden. Open seven days.
• Michael Reid Southern Highlands is a relaxed gallery showing established and emerging Australian artists, with a curated retail offering.
• Berrima’s Overflow has been showcasing natural clothing and Australian Merino knitwear for over 30 years.
• Ella Maiden Australia makes handcrafted Australian leather and cowhide handbags, along with homewares, sheepskins and unusual gifts.
• The Australian Alpaca Barn specialises in quality alpaca coats, throw rugs, bedding, scarves, jumpers and yarn.
• SGR Vintage Wares celebrates the nostalgia of yesteryear, with vintage clothing, antiques, art deco and retro pieces.
• The Secret Vintage Society, The destination for high-end antiques, European furniture, fine art and collectibles sourced from France, Belgium and beyond.
• Tillaura Lou is a Southern Highlands floral studio, preferred florist to Bendooley Estate, hosting seasonal floral workshops and private experiences throughout the year.
The kids will love Harpers Mansion National Trust , the National Trust’s lovingly restored 1830s Georgian house, set in two acres of gardens with heritage roses and one of the largest hedge mazes in Australia. Entry to the gardens and maze is $10 for adults and $8 concession, with children under 5 free. It’s open Saturday and Sunday, 11am to 3pm, and there’s a gift shop on site.
For 29 years, Lolly Swagman has been serving sweets, treats and indulgences to kids of all ages. This is the old-fashioned lolly shop you remember, with lollies, chocolates, fresh fudge and more, some made locally and some from all over. Walking in is a real “wow”.
Prefer something cold? The Ice Cream Shop, home of award-winning Serendipity Ice Cream, also has vegan sorbets and gluten free cones.
Berrima is the finest example of an 1830s village in Australia, and there are lots of ways to explore it:
• Berrima Historic Walking Tours run a 90-minute easy-paced tour through convicts, innkeepers, trailblazing women, WWI German internees and the village’s connection to London’s Big Ben. Groups of 4 or more, seven days a week, subject to availability. Book at berrimawalkingtours.com.au.
• Berrima District Museum has four exhibition rooms and a digital gallery.
• Mrs Mulligan’s Ghostly Whispers Night Tours bring the village’s bushrangers, hangings and misadventures to life after dark (0401 065 077).
Set in a charming heritage cottage in the heart of the village, The Cottage Cafe & Restaurant
is a much-loved spot for relaxed country dining, where every visit feels a little like coming home. Start the day with great coffee and a hearty country breakfast, settle in for a leisurely lunch, or come back for a relaxed seasonal dinner. With spring in the air, the verandah is the place to sit.
Here’s a long weekend tip: Saturday is dinner night, with the kitchen open until 8pm. The Berrima Alpaca Shop shares the address, with clothing, kids’ toys, homewares and alpaca experiences. Open seven days from 9am. 28 Old Hume Highway, 02 4877 2729.
Berrima’s pastry chefs to the Southern Highlands, Gumnut Patisserie combines the finest ingredients with tradition and pride to craft exquisite pastries, desserts and pies, with no compromise on quality. Pick up a golden pie or sausage roll for the road, or stay a while with a coffee and something sweet at a table outside.
Open Saturday and Sunday from 8.30am to 3.30pm, and Monday from 8.30am to 2.30pm. 1 Old Hume Highway, 02 4877 2177.
Berrima does long lunches and quick bites equally well. A few more favourites to try:
• Baked In Berrima : golden butter croissants, cinnamon scrolls, fresh baguettes and sourdough, baked by Diego and Yuli.
• Berrima General Store Café : simple Italian-style meals and homemade cakes for breakfast and lunch, eat in or take away.
• Joshs Café : a cosy café with a romantic courtyard and a menu of classic cuisine with Turkish influences.
• The Cupcake Co: award-winning cakes, scones and high tea in an enchanting tea room, or out on the sunny verandah.
• PepperGreen Estate: wander across the park to taste cool climate wines, then stay on in the Tasting Room for a seasonal menu made with estate-grown extra virgin olive oil. The Tasting Room is open from 9am on weekends.
A long weekend calls for a little pampering. Tu Fais Tu, a doctor-led cosmetic practice in a private, elegant space, is open Thursday nights and Saturday mornings. And keep an eye out for the opening of Bendooley’s Roundhouse day spa this month.
Berrima is the perfect place to slow down, so why not stay for the Berrima long weekend?
• Berrima Bakehouse Motel has 19 rooms with river frontage and parkland gardens, a short walk from the village’s boutiques, galleries and cafés.
• Rosier Cottage can be booked as a one, two or three bedroom getaway, with a balcony, a spacious living area and a garden that’s perfect for sundowners. For something more romantic, book the one-bedroom studio.
• Bendooley Estate Cottages offer luxury stays within the beautifully preserved 200-acre property.
Accommodation and restaurant tables fill quickly on long weekends, so book early.
Berrima is just two kilometres off the Hume Highway, about 90 minutes from Sydney. Wander through charming shops, discover one-of-a-kind treasures and savour the village’s inviting cafés and restaurants.