Holiday houses in Bowral

Bowral is a picturesque town nestled at the foot of Mount Gibraltar in the Southern Highlands of New South Wales, around 90 minutes southwest of Sydney. At the end of the 19th century, Bowral became a fashionable summer retreat for wealthy Sydneysiders, and the town is still home to many grand old estates and stunning gardens, including the popular Corbett Gardens, the centre of Bowral’s largest annual event — Tulip Time — and the famous Milton Gardens, considered to be one of the best gardens in Australia.

The town centre of Bowral is full of character and unique independent stores. People head out of the state capital to browse the antique shops and arts and crafts studios and make their way around regular weekend markets. Bowral is also known for having some of Australia’s best winemakers and food producers on its doorstep. The Southern Highlands region is a convenient jumping-off point for award-winning regional wineries, as well farm shops selling locally made honey, cheese, and fresh fruit and vegetables.

The most popular time to book Bowral holiday rentals is during autumn and spring, when the days are filled with sunshine and the nights are mild. In autumn, Bowral’s trees come alive with changing foliage, from bright reds to burnt orange hues. In spring, Bowral blooms with thousands of vibrant springtime tulips, and between September and October every year, the town is host to Tulip Time — one of Australia’s leading floral festivals and the largest annual attraction in the Southern Highlands region. Summer in Bowral is all about long hot days, and, in December, cyclists come from far and wide to take part in an award-winning cycling race — with six rides to suit all abilities, taking in the beautiful scenery of the local area.

Mount Jellore Lookout

Take the short drive up to Mount Jellore Lookout in the Mount Gibraltar Reserve for spectacular views out to Australia’s most famous mountain ranges. The view of the Blue Mountains is what this lookout is best known for, and there are also great vistas of the beautiful Nattai and Kanangra wilderness areas, as well as surrounding farmlands and the Main Southern Railway. You can explore self-guided walking tracks here, with wildlife to spot along the way.

Milton Park

Just east of Bowral lies the famous garden at Milton Park with around 10,000 trees, rare varieties of shrubs and plants, a forest of 5,000 cypresses and pines, giant elms, and hundreds of thousands of kaleidoscopic flowers. You can refuel in the on-site restaurant and bar and take five with a treatment at the spa.

Cherry Tree Walk

Cherry Tree Walk is located less than 15 minutes from Corbett Gardens. This memorial was created to honour all the Australian soldiers who lost their lives in the Vietnam War. The walk runs alongside the Mittagong Rivulet and consists of 526 cherry trees that were planted to represent each fallen soldier. In spring, the cherry trees burst into full bloom.