BOWRAL
GET TO KNOW
THE AREA
Bowral has long-been a retreat for Sydneysiders. Winding country roads tamed by English-style gardens, estate homes, hobby farms and charming cellar doors give way to stylish Bowral, the regions beating pulse. And although it’s an area that continues to celebrate the finer things in life, Bowral has become a foodie destination with a thriving arts and sports culture.
Lifestyle
An hour and a half south of Sydney, this Southern Highlands beauty is a standout for its culinary offering, boutique shopping and year-round events calendar. Celebrating the regions food, wine, music, arts, sport and gardening culture, Bowral is a lifestyle that locals and Sydneysiders find hard to resist.
Bowral’s European-style gardens and the rural landscape have long captured the imagination of creatives and literary figures. The changing seasons reveal Bowral’s hidden gems, from garden displays and festivals to cafes and restaurants crafting their menus around fresh produce, straight from the farmgate.
Read MoreLifestyle
An hour and a half south of Sydney, this Southern Highlands beauty is a standout for its culinary offering, boutique shopping and year-round events calendar. Celebrating the regions food, wine, music, arts, sport and gardening culture, Bowral is a lifestyle that locals and Sydneysiders find hard to resist.
Bowral’s European-style gardens and the rural landscape have long captured the imagination of creatives and literary figures. The changing seasons reveal Bowral’s hidden gems, from garden displays and festivals to cafes and restaurants crafting their menus around fresh produce, straight from the farmgate.
Running through the centre of town is Bong Bong Street, lined with gourmet bakeries and patisseries, boutique shopping, antique dealers, art galleries, bookstores and an independent cinema. Gastropubs are social hubs, as are the profusion of cafés that offer home-style comforts. Bowral’s curated selection of fashion and homeware stores are also a big drawcard.
Bowral’s creative community underpins a thriving arts scene, from galleries and performing art spaces that showcase domestic and international art, literature, music and theatre. Then there is Bowral’s sporting culture, which is just as revered. You only need look to highly successful Bowral Blacks rugby team and Sir Donald Bradman Oval (home of the Australian sporting icon), to get a hint of what we are talking about.
If all that wasn’t enough, Bowral is also home to prestigious schools, heritage-listed properties and estate homes. Some have been converted into event venues that have captured the attention of the wedding industry.
Boasting all the elements of an elegant, rural lifestyle, Bowral remains the place to indulge in fine, country living.
Neighbours
Popular with the affluent and well-heeled, Bowral is home to a long list of influential Australians – Don Bradman, Sir Edmund Barton, John Olsen, Andrew Denton, Jimmy Barnes, Bryce Courtenay, Ita Buttrose and Peter Garett to name a few.
Read MoreNeighbours
Popular with the affluent and well-heeled, Bowral is home to a long list of influential Australians – Don Bradman, Sir Edmund Barton, John Olsen, Andrew Denton, Jimmy Barnes, Bryce Courtenay, Ita Buttrose and Peter Garett to name a few.
More and more young, established families have been moving in among the empty nesters and retirees. They are drawn to the slower pace and fine country living – all within an easy 1.5-hour commute to Sydney’s CBD.
Area features
WINE & DINE
Whether you crave the simplicity of an Aussie pie or the sophistication of a seven-course degustation, Bowral has an incredible selection of gourmet bakeries, eateries and fine-dining options. The hardest choice is deciding where to start.
Away from Bowral Village, cool-climate wineries and microbreweries are peppered throughout the countryside, many with cellar doors that pair their tastings with a culinary experience.
BOWRAL VILLAGE
Explore Bong Bong Street, its arcades and side streets for local gems, be it one of the many cafes, patisseries, and eateries that have mastered home-style cooking. Or homeware stores that blend the new with the old, and fashion boutiques with the latest trends.
GARDENS
Bowral takes a lot of pride in its manicured European style gardens. From Corbett Gardens, which is the focal point of the annual Tulip Festival in Spring to the many private gardens. Autumn is also a busy time with the changing colours of the season.
ARCHITECTURE
It’s no secret that Bowral has some pretty impressive homes. Some have been converted into luxury retreats, while others remain private residences. Quaint cottages that sit on large blocks and modern architect-designed abodes all play their part in defining the streetscapes of this beautiful country town.
MARKETS & EVENTS
Year-round, Bowral’s event calendar highlights the best of the region – from fresh produce and arts and craft markets to award-winning festivals.
