Holiday houses in Crookwell

Gain a lofty perspective of New South Wales when you arrive in the petite town of Crookwell, perched atop the Great Dividing Range of mountains southeast of Sydney. This high-altitude part of the state enjoyed its population heyday in the 1850s, when gold and gems (particularly sapphires) were discovered here, attracting fortune seekers and bushrangers in equal measure. The story of this motley crew is revealed as you wander around town: grab a map from the Visitor Information Centre and follow a route highlighting historic buildings and attractions, with plenty of cafes and restaurants for fuel in between.

Outside the centre lies flora in exceptional variety, from glorious deciduous forests that change colour with the seasons to fragrant fields of lavender and wide expanses of green where doe-eyed alpacas roam. Nearby vineyards also beckon, replete with cellar doors welcoming guests to sample the interesting wines that characterise these highlands, plus bountiful fruit orchards and organic farms showcasing the region’s unique terroir.

Enjoying an elevation of close to 1,000 metres (3,280 feet), Crookwell is a year-round destination – you won’t feel the heat over summer, and can enjoy outdoor pursuits any time of year as a result. Floral enthusiasts flock here in autumn, when the region’s deciduous forests are transformed with a riot of fiery colours – leaf peeping, anyone? Crookwell is equally pretty in spring thanks to the blossoming orchards of cherry, pear, and apple that surround it. Depending on the fruit, many estates are open to visitors, allowing you to pick produce straight from the tree or ground. When winter cools, you can cosy up beside a fire, drink of choice in hand.

Goulburn Historic Waterworks Museum

Travel through gorges, alongside rivers, and past waterfalls to reach Goulburn, the state’s first inland city, founded in 1863. Glimpse the region’s long-stretching heritage when touring the Goulburn Historic Waterworks Museum, housed in the facility that once supplied the town with water pumped from the Wollondilly River on which it sits. Much of the original machinery remains inside, well preserved.

Gundaroo

Drive south from Crookwell for an hour and you’ll reach the heritage-listed 19th-century village of Gundaroo on the banks of the Yass River. Any visit here is a step back in time, with the whole town National Trust-listed. Like Crookwell, Gundaroo’s main street is an outdoor heritage museum, with many of its gracious buildings transformed into restaurants and bars for forward-thinking wining and dining.

Community markets

The soil in this part of the state nurtures an abundance of fruit, including grapes and cherries. Discover what’s in season at a regional market, whether in Crookwell itself (first Saturday of the month) or historic Laggan (third Saturday of the month), which is just a 10-minute drive north in the Southern Tablelands.