The tablelands and the highlands, or elevated tablelands, of New South Wales offer cities with historical pubs and buildings as well as art galleries, markets, and antique shops. Farms and ranches are found in the scenic countryside, and there are vineyards to explore.
Numerous reserves and national parks offer outdoor activities for all. Those visiting Nattai National Park enjoy bushwalking and backpack camping. Wollondilly Lookout reveals views out across the eucalypt forests and sandstone cliffs.
One of the reserves in the area, Gibbergunyah Reserve, is highlighted by waterfalls, two lookouts, shady walking trails, and sunny, rocky outcrops which are ideal for picnics. The reserve is home to wombats and echidnas.
The Southern Highlands is Australia's newest wine-producing region while the Central Tablelands area was chosen as the site for some of the earliest vineyards. The regions are known for delicious food as well as fine wines.
Gardens like Red Cow Farm Garden and Southern Highlands Botanic Gardens add beauty to the region. Corbett Gardens, boasting a huge number of tulips and colourful springtime bulbs, is the centrepiece of one of Australia's biggest floral festivals.
Cultural activities in the highlands and tablelands include visits to Bradman Museum, a state-of-the-art high-tech museum that showcases cricket's history, Cowra War Museum, Walcha Pioneer Cottage & Museum, and the Age of Fishes Museum which exhibits fish fossils.
The Cowra Regional Art Gallery, Bowral Art Gallery, Milk Factory Gallery, and Sturt Craft Centre are some of the places that feature artwork in various mediums. The Tableland Regional Gallery and the Tablelands Artists Co-operative Gallery feature local artistic talent and touring exhibitions.
Harper’s Mansion features a fun garden maze while Riversdale, a Colonial Georgian home, stands within its original paddocks and outbuildings. The Golden Vale homestead has stables and a woolshed, and the Retford Park estate offers a glimpse into prestigious rural living.
Good food and wine, intriguing historical destinations, parks and reserves packed with outdoor activities, and eclectic landscapes make the highlands and the tablelands of New South Wales a great place to visit.