Bowral Getaway

Bowral, what a beautiful country town!

This was my very first time visiting, and now I’d completely love to live there. Well, maybe not all the time, but it would be amazing to have a place of my own for a getaway. All I need is a few spare million dollars, and my dream will come true. No problemo. 😉

We spent a night in Bowral over the recent spring break. And we loved it so much that we’ve already booked another trip for the first week of the summer holidays!

Before I share the three million photos I took, here’s a little info about Bowral. It’s a country town in the Southern Highlands of New South Wales, about 90 minutes south of Sydney. It’s known for its gardens, little boutiques and lovely old buildings, and it’s especially popular in spring when the tulips are in bloom.

Getting To Bowral

We decided to get there by train instead of driving, and it was the best decision ever. I am not the calmest passenger, and I knew if we drove, I would be truly exhausted from slamming on those invisible passenger-seat brakes to avoid all the imaginary collisions on the highway. Also, there are only so many times you can say, “Oh, I was just stretching my leg, I got a cramp!” or “Ouch, what was that itch?” before your husband catches on that you’re up to passenger-seat panic attack #47. Taking the train meant we both arrived completely relaxed and stayed married.

We caught an early train from Allawah, changing at Wolli Creek and Campbelltown along the way. It wasn’t long before we were enjoying beautiful views like this. Cloudy, but still lovely!

By the time we pulled into Bowral, the clouds had started to clear, and we could see some beautiful blue skies. Gosh, they’re not kidding when they say fresh country air! It sure was crisp and clean.

First stop, coffee at The Press Shop, which came with a chocolate bullet. I gave mine to Steve, as liquorice is an acquired taste I’m yet to acquire. 

There were so many shops to explore. We spent a good while wandering around Dirty Janes (funny name) and some other fantastic vintage and antique shops. I love places like these, and they reminded me of one of my favourite spots in Sydney, Mitchell Road Antiques. You could spend hours browsing all the treasures.

There were some lovely fashion boutiques too, and I found a Ulla Johnson top I’d admired on Instagram. Then I saw the $1,400 price tag. Haha, moving right along.

We were starving, so we stopped off at the famous Gumnut Patisserie for a chicken, mushroom and leek pie for me. Steve was craving a sausage roll, so he got one from Sonoma, which was nearby the pie shop. We ate on the go, so no photos.

We spent the rest of our time wandering in and out of the little streets and laneways.

By the afternoon, it was time to check into our hotel, which was roughly a ten-minute walk from the town centre.

Berida Hotel

I’d seen some photos of the Berida hotel when I booked it, and it looked beautiful. But it was even better in person. It’s a gorgeous heritage building that dates back to 1925, when it was originally built as a family home. The best way to describe it is luxurious. Everything felt so elegant, and it was such a treat to stay there.

There were so many rooms around the hotel where you could sit and enjoy. There’s also a bar we didn’t get to visit this time, so that’s definitely on our list for next time.

And this was our room!

That night, we walked over to The Bowral Hotel for dinner. I loved that everything was within walking distance, such a bonus! We had some wine and the usual pub fare, chicken schnitzel and chips, followed by bread and butter pudding for dessert. Yum!

It was trivia night, so we decided to join in, and it was such a hoot! I remember us both saying, ‘As long as we don’t come last!’ Ahem. Don’t ask where we actually finished.

A Movie at the Empire Cinema

The next day, we decided to see Shaun the Sheep: The Beast of Mossy Bottom at the Empire Cinema. Interestingly, this cinema is the oldest continuously operating cinema on mainland Australia. A bit of history with our movie.

Shaun the Sheep was so much fun, and I didn’t fall asleep once!

Lunch at Harry’s on Green Lane

After the movie, we went to Harry’s on Green Lane for lunch, and oh my goodness, it was SO good! The restaurant is named after Sir Harry Veitch, a British horticulturist who sent plant hunters around the world in search of exotic plants. That explains all the greenery, vintage botanical prints, old books and travel memorabilia. I loved looking around at all the little details. There was so much to see, and it was beautifully done. I wish my plants would grow like that all the way up the wall.

Beyond the incredible atmosphere, the food was absolutely delicious.

The Potting Shed

We finished our Bowral getaway with a visit to The Potting Shed, where spring colour was everywhere!

We caught the 4 pm train and were back home around 6. I loved Bowral! One night was definitely not enough, so it’s a good thing we’ve already booked our next trip. Yay!