Southern Highlands (New South Wales)

Infobox Australian Place | type = region
name = Southern Highlands
region = Capital Country
state = New South Wales
lga = Wingecarribee Shire
stategov = Goulburn
fedgov = Hume
near-n = Macarthur
near-ne = Illawarra
near-e = Illawarra
near-se = Shoalhaven
near-s = Southern Tablelands
near-nw = Macarthur
near-w = Southern Tablelands
near-sw = Southern Tablelands
dist1 = 103
dir1 = South-West
location1= Sydney CBD

The Southern Highlands, also locally referred to as the "Highlands", is a geographical area in New South Wales, Australia, 103km south west of Sydney. The entire region is under the Local Government Area of the Wingecarribee Shire. It sits between 500 and 900 metres above sea level. Like other regions along this plateau such as the Blue Mountains to the north and the Australian Alps to the south, the Southern Highlands is known for its cool climate.

The Southern Highlands as a region is part of the larger Capital Country Region with the Highlands forming the northern part of the region with the Southern Tablelands forming the Southern parts of the region.

The term specifically refers to the area centered around the commercial towns of Mittagong, Bowral, Moss Vale, Bundanoon and Robertson as well as the historic town of Berrima. Smaller villages like Burradoo, Colo Vale, Yerrinbool, Exeter, Welby and many more that make up the Wingecarribee Shire are spread in between and around these main centres and serve mostly as residential areas.

Local Attractions

The villages attract visitors who travel considerable distances for seasonal special events. In April, it’s the annual Brigadoon Festival in Bundanoon, which is also home to the spring Garden Ramble; Tallong holds a popular Trail Ride in aid of the Rural Fire Brigade each April; Wingello hosts Sled Dog Trials in June, and Bowral hosts the annual Tulip Time in September.

The Southern Highlands in the last decade has become a small yet significantly growing wine & cellar door region in New South Wales. It's temperate climate, excellent annual rainfall as well as quality soil makes it a perfect place for Viticulture. There are many reputable wineries and vineyards that are located in the Highlands such as Centennial Winery, Bou-saada Winery, Cuttaway Hill Estate Winery, Southern Highland Wines, Eling Forest Winery and Blue Metal Winery. Some of these wineries have won awards nationally as well as internationally for the optimum quality of their wines.

The Southern Highlands has a reputation of being an upscale area due to its upscale-style accommodation which include reputable resorts such as Craigieburn, Briars, Berida Manor House and Peppers Manor House. Each of these places are historical and have an historic significance to the local area.

References

* [http://www.highlandsnsw.com.au/wineries/index.html Wineries of The Southern Highlands]

External links

* [http://www.southern-highlands.com.au/ Official website for Tourism Southern Highlands]