In need of a city escape? Why not head to the Southern Highlands! With its beautiful surroundings and many attractions, including wine tours, brewery tours, boutique shopping and great restaurants, there are plenty of epic things to do in Bowral. Being less than two hours from Sydney, both by car and by train, it’s the perfect place for a weekend getaway. Whether you’re craving a some time to immerse yourself in nature, or you decide to indulge in luxury and fine food and drinks, Bowral has got it all!
Visit Bowral Wineries On A Customised Wine Tour
A must-do for anyone visiting Bowral is to visit the Southern Highlands wineries. There are plenty of wineries to choose from and with a large selection of cool climate wines, we know you’ll find your new fav wine in the area! Not keen to the research? Join a Southern Highlands Wine Tour to visit a selection of handpicked boutique wineries. You will have a tour guide taking care of logistics and transport, so you can fully relax and enjoy your day of wining and dining. Epic gourmet cheese platter anyone?
Take A Hike
Keen to get out and stretch those legs? We highly recommend the Box Vale Walking Track for a great 9km hike that offers plenty of variety along the way. Suitable for the whole family, you can even bring your doggo! This walk is a great way to get some exercise and explore the wider Bowral area. Add in a stop at the Forty Foot Falls on your way back if you fancy making this a (slightly longer) loop.
Unique Bowral Accommodation
Home to many historic estates and manor houses, Bowral is a dream for those romantic history lovers. Many of these beautiful buildings are offering accommodation options these days, which means you can book a bed in style when visiting Bowral for the weekend.
If you’re keen on staying in Bowral while planning a wine tour or brewery tour, get in touch with the Urban Legend team for a few real insider gems in the area and grab yourself a Southern Highland Overnight Package. Perfect if you’re traveling in a large or small group!
Bowral is known for its epic waterfalls dotted across the landscape of the Southern Highlands
Visit Fitzroy Falls
Known as one of the most spectacular waterfalls in Australia, you can’t miss out on a visit to Fitzroy Falls. Several lookouts offer great views of its water plunging down the 80m high cliffs. There are several walks to choose from and a stop at the Fitzroy Falls Visitor Centre is a great way to learn more about the history and wildlife of this area.
Kicking Back at Bowral Breweries
Is a winery tour not up your alley? No worries, just swap the wine for beer and wineries for pubs and make it a Bowral Brewery Tour instead. Try a range of beers with a guided or self-paced tasting paddle of locally-made craft beers, catch some live music and tuck into a tasty pub lunch while sitting in the sun enjoying the view.
Delish Bowral Restaurants
Bowral is truly a foodie’s paradise! Choices range from fine dining to family friendly to street food and beyond. Fancy some Italian cuisine? Book a table at Onesta Cucina and try something from their daily changing menu. For a classic Bowral experience, don’t miss out on visiting Bendooley Estate. Dine at the luxurious restaurant, try wines at the cellar door, browse new and secondhand books or pick up a scrumptious picnic hamper from the Bendooley Larder.
For award-winning bistro food including wood fired pizzas, head to The Imperial Hotel and listen to live music while sipping local Bowral beers and wines. We would also highly recommend popping into The Mill, a community hub featuring local street food, a co-working space and regular events including street feasts and farmers markets.
Hunting for a great new read is one of the many fantastic things to do in Bowral!
Sunset Magic
Who doesn’t love a good sunset? Bowral has several great spots to enjoy a good view, but our favourite is the Jellore Lookout on Mount Gibraltar. Either drive or walk up, bring some snacks and soak up that sunset magic!
Boutique Shopping at Green Lane
A weekend in Bowral wouldn’t be complete without a visit to Green Lane. This beautiful shopping and dining precinct offers a range of boutique shops selling plants, homewares, gifts and clothing, as well as a gorgeous setting to enjoy a coffee, brunch, lunch or dinner.
Bowral is the ultimate picnic heaven!
Bowral By Bike
Visiting Bowral in the cooler months gives you a great opportunity to explore the Bowral area by bike. Try out the Best of Bowral Loop, a 12km circuit over mostly flat terrain. Add in the Bong Bong Track for some great views as you weave your way along the Wingecarribee River.
For some more adventurous riding, visit the Welby Mountain Bike Trails to find excellent trails for all abilities. As you make your way back to Bowral, make sure to pick one of Southern Highlands restaurants, bars and breweries to treat yourself to a cold beer and a nice meal.
RELATED: THE 7 BEST EASY MOUNTAIN BIKE TRAILS IN SYDNEY: CYCLING ROUTES IN & AROUND THE NSW CAPITAL
A Coffee A Day
A city escape to Bowral isn’t complete without multiple coffee stops, preferably with a delicious treat. Bowral does great coffee! We can almost guarantee that you will find yourself pressed for time to try all the different cafes on offer. Visit Gumnut Patisserie for a great range of pastries, or stop in at the Plantation Cafe to enjoy a cuppa out on the garden terrace. Or why not indulge and treat yourself to a high tea at Dirty Jane’s Tea Salon?
Experience Bowral Distilleries
Keen to mix it up and do something different than a winery tour? Visit Bowral distilleries and go for a Spirits & Cocktail Tour instead! Enjoy a unique vodka, gin and schnapps tasting experience at one of Bowral’s famous lookout spots. Choose between a BYO picnic or splurge on a gourmet lunch, with plenty of vegetarian and vegan options to choose from.
Have an epic pic with your hen party at our secret Bowral lookout!
Bowral Tulip Festival
There are lots of things to do in Bowral on any day, but if you come down in spring, you might be able to visit the Bowral Tulip Festival. During the latter half of September, the mass-planted Corbett Gardens come to life with more than 75,000 tulips in a spectacular display of colour. With additional entertainment and special events, there will be plenty to see and do for the whole family.