Afternoon Drive
Highlights
Mittagong, Bowral, Berrima, Sutton Forest, Moss Vale, Wineries, Specialty Shops, Art & Crafts.
Overview
Read through this drive first. If you want to do everything, it may take most of the day. Otherwise, just choose what interests you most and make an afternoon out of it. The drive begins in Mittagong and heads into historic Berrima. From here you continue down the Hume Highway, exit onto the Illawarra Highway, and explore Sutton Forest and Moss Vale, before returning to Bowral or Mittagong.
The Drive
Make the Southern Highlands Visitor Information Centre your first call. Here you can get all the information you need before you begin your drive. Set aside some time to explore the arts, crafts and antiques of Mittagong. Behind the Visitor’s Centre, in Range Road, browse through the Sturt Gallery, Workshops and Café. Then head back into the main strip of Mittagong and park the car. Stroll through the Mittagong Antiques Centre and the many individual dealerships throughout the town.
If you have kids on board, then a quick trip to McDonald’s could be worthwhile, or maybe the Mittagong RSL Club, which offers excellent facilities.
Journey out of Mittagong along the Old Hume Highway (don’t exit onto the Freeway) and enjoy the rural landscapes, berry farms and vineyards along the way.
If wine tasting is on the agenda, then Howards Lane Vineyard is are located in the vicinity, left off the Hume Highway. Back on the highway, you continue towards Berrima.
Booklovers will be able to enjoy a stop off at the famous Berkelouw Book Barn on your right about 2kms before Berrima.
OR, wine buffs should take the Wombeyan Caves Road turnoff on the right and along here you will find cellar doors galore. Choose from Bou-saada Vineyards and Tertini Wines, both in Kells Creek Road, then back onto Wombeyan with the McVitty Grove Vineyard just down the road. Here you can also have a light lunch or excellent cup of fresh coffee. From here turn left into Handleys Lane and onto the corner of Greenhills and Joadja Roads where you will find another cellar doors in Joadja Vineyards and Winery. Travel back along Greenhills Road and along the way look out for the Alpaca stud on your left-hand side. This is a magnificent property and well worth a look from the roadside. Then its back to the Old Hume Highway and into the village of Berrima.
In Berrima park your car and continue on foot. Afternoon tea and refreshment spots abound in this pleasant village; enjoy hot scones, or perhaps a cold Guinness is more to your taste. Historians will be fascinated with the Berrima Court House and Museum, while shoppers will be delighted with the array of galleries, specialty shops and antiques stores.
Depart Berrima along the Old Hume Highway and head south through the rural landscape for about 12kms until you see Eling Forest Winery on your left. Take some time to visit this beautiful property which, in addition to its vineyard and winery, also has a B&B, restaurant, coffee shop and wedding marquee.
Back onto the Highway, head south for approximately 4kms before taking the exit ramp to the left. Travel over the bridge and to your right is Black Horse Lane. Down here you will find Sutton Forest Estate Wines. Now head back over the bridge, turn left and then right at the roundabout into Sallys Corner Road. About 2 kms down the road on the left is Sallys Corner Wines. Continue on Sallys Corner Road and turn left into Old Argyle Road. The St Maur Southern Highlands Estate Cellar Door is just on your left hand side. Continue on Old Argyle Road until the "T" intersection and turn right - this is the Illawarra Highway. Not far down this road is of Sutton Forest. This quaint historic village has a pub and antiques and old wares shop.
Head towards Moss Vale from Sutton Forest on the Illawarra Highway, and you will pass through some of the district’s most expensive rural holdings. On your right is Hillview Estate, which was originally a former Vice Regal Country Residence. Closer to Moss Vale you will see Kater Road on your right which leads to the entrance for Peppers Manor House and the Mt Broughton Golf and Country Club. Just past Kater Road on the left you will see Oldbury Road and one of the largest vineyards and wineries in the region, Southern Highland Wines.
In Moss Vale there are antique and specialty shops, or maybe you’d like to enjoy a cool drink in the lush Leighton Gardens in the centre of town.
Continue along Moss Vale Road into Bowral, the business hub of the Southern Highlands, where you will find excellent shopping, the famous International Cricket Hall of Fame (incorporating the Bradman Museum), and a wide choice of places to catch an early supper or late afternoon tea.
From Bowral, its simply a matter of following the Bowral Road back to your starting point of Mittagong.
