Southern Highlands, New South Wales © Destination NSW

Guide to Southern Highlands

High season: Summer (December to February)
Low season: Autumn (September to November)

Welcome
Getting to the Southern Highlands
When to visit

With heritage towns amid rolling hills and unspoilt bush, the Southern Highlands is one of Sydney's favourite weekend getaways.

The Southern Highlands make for the perfect country escape where you can browse through antique shops, enjoy a long lunch at a local winery or curl up with a book by a log fire. There are several townships to explore, each with its own unique offering. And you can get there in under two hours from Sydney, making it an easy destination for those wanting to enjoy a bit of the country life.

The Southern Highlands, a region located south-west of Sydney, is home to several cute townships and villages. Though a train is available from Sydney’s Central Station, the easiest way to reach the highlands is by hiring a car.

Bowral, a main hub of the Southern Highlands, is located just under a two-hour drive from both Sydney and Canberra. Generally, you can expect to drive about 30 minutes between highland towns.

Car hire is available at Sydney and Canberra airports as well as within each city.

The Southern Highlands experiences four distinct seasons with cold winters and warm summers. Spring is the perfect time to visit; the weather is mild and the region hosts a range of culinary and community events.