GUIDE: A dog-friendly weekend in the Southern Highlands.
Before this weekend, I’d never even entertained the idea of going on a dog-friendly holiday. So many countries are ahead when it comes to being pup-friendly, but Australia isn’t one of them (yet). It was only when I looked into the eyes of my adorable 13 year old dachshund that I realised he deserved the trip of a lifetime, and to see beyond what Sydney has to offer. That is when the Googling began, and I was suddenly thrust into the world of dog-friendly holidays in NSW.
The Southern Highlands are a beautiful part of NSW, and are only a 1.5 hour drive from Sydney. The more well-known towns of the area include Berrima, Sutton Forrest and Bowral, but every town (no matter how big or small) offers something unique and unforgettable. If you’ve got the leave from work, I’d really recommend taking advantage of the area and spending a long weekend exploring the Southern Highlands. There is something for everyone, whether you’re a wine lover, total foodie or shopaholic - you’re sure to be satisfied.
If you’re like us and want to give your dogs the holiday of a lifetime, then look no further than the Southern Highlands. We were completely surprised at the amount of dog-friendly accommodation, cafes and wineries there were! As we’re still in COVID-19 times, I’d highly recommend booking ahead so you don’t miss out. Below is my guide to the perfect dog-friendly weekend in the Southern Highlands:
STAY - Hillview Heritage Farm Stay Review
Built in 1882, the Hillview Heritage Farm Stay is a Former Vice Regal Retreat and a genuine piece of Australian history. Nestled on top of a (very) tall hill in Sutton Forest, Hillview Heritage offers unparalleled views of the Southern Highlands. The best part? 7 out of 8 cottages are dog friendly, complete with never-ending acres for your four-legged friends to run around on.
Now, if you’re looking for 5 star luxury, then this isn’t the place for you. It’s charming, quaint and quite frankly… old! As you’d expect from cottages built in the 1800s, they’re completely unique and built for a time gone by. We stayed in Cottage 6, which was the Deluxe Junior Suite. It was completely dog friendly, with floorboards and even a private fenced backyard for the dogs to explore. The bedroom had an enormous king size bed that created a centrepiece for the room, and it was surrounded by a magnificent antique golden mirror and a claw foot bathtub. Yes, the bathtub was so close to the bed you could almost jump straight from bed to bath… my idea of heaven!
The cottage also offered a large living space, with an extremely comfortable lounge, TV and very warm heater. Despite the age of the accommodation, the heaters worked so well that we never felt cold! The only thing missing from the cottage was a functional kitchen - the only sink in the entire cottage was in the bathroom, so it was a slight inconvenience washing dishes up in the bathroom sink.
In saying that, when you look at the location, price and views from Hillview Heritage Farm Stay, it’s very easy to forgive the lack of a kitchen sink. Hillview also is home to a sculpture park, and you can walk around the vast acreage and explore each sculpture. I’d recommend either catching sunrise or sunset while on a walk around the property, we saw beautiful roos enjoying dusk and the most beautiful colours in the sky! If you’re looking for dog-friendly, authentic and unique accommodation in the Southern Highlands, then look no further than Hillview Heritage Farm Stay.
WHERE TO EAT IN THE SOUTHERN HIGHLANDS
We stopped at this gorgeous old teahouse and shared the lemon tart and coffee cake. The slices and coffees were enormous, but so were the price tags. Well worth the stop if you’re hungry and hankering for cake, but be prepared to pay a little more than normal. Dogs are welcome to sit out the front, and they have plenty of outdoor seating for you to sit with your dogs and feast!
Next door to the Magpie Cafe is the delightful Surveyor General Inn, which is Australia’s oldest continuously licensed bar. It was built in 1834, and actually used convict labour to build the Inn from local sandstone, bricks and a shingle roof! The Inn was absolutely buzzing when we got there, and they’ve got a wide range of drinks available. The Bushranger’s Bistro offers a classic pub menu (a little bit on the pricy side), but well worth the splurge. The meals were massive and delicious. The outdoor alfresco area means you can relax in the open courtyard with your dogs by your side - perfect for a dog friendly holiday in the Southern Highlands.
I love a cafe that is combined with a local grocer, and the Raw & Wild Market Cafe in Bowral is a real standout. Book ahead as even though there is plenty of seating, this place books out pretty fast because of it’s delicious menu. Everything looked SO good, but I went for their famous eggs benny and couldn’t fault it. We sat outside with blankets (as we visited in winter), but it was surprisingly warm and our dogs sat beside us. The entire back of the cafe is outdoors and dog friendly, and it must be a favourite for locals as it was jam-packed with dogs and humans alike!
Alright so this isn’t somewhere we sat down and ate, but if you’ve got time and you’re passing through Berrima, you must visit the Gumnut Patisserie. They’ve got outdoor tables out the front that you could easily sit with your dogs, but we got takeaway coffee, vanilla slice and sausage rolls, and headed to the park across the road. This is an award-winning bakery, and you’ll be able to tell why the minute you step in. Everything looked so good and it’s at the top of my list to visit when we go again!
WHERE TO DRINK IN THE SOUTHERN HIGHLANDS
An absolutely stunning winery that offers views of endless rolling green hills, the Southern Highlands Winery is a popular wedding venue and it’s not hard to see why. The winery is fresh, spacious and modern, and offers a beautiful selection of cool climate wines and food. The tasting was $10, but if you bought a bottle of wine (we bought 6!) it was free. We sat in the outdoor courtyard and basked in the sun with the dogs, and had a private tasting at our own table. That’s my idea of absolute heaven!
If you’re looking for a view to take your breath away, then you can’t look past Cherry Tree Hill wines. Set on an incredible estate, there are beautiful views of both the vineyards and animals everywhere you look! They were extremely accommodating to the dogs (we were allowed inside for a tasting!), and gave them water and lots of pats. We also got to try the most wines at Cherry Tree Hill wines, which was really lovely and at no point did we feel rushed or pressured to buy anything. (Spoiler, we bought 4 bottles!).
Other dog friendly wineries that we couldn’t visit because of COVID19 but will definitely visit next time include Artemis Wines and Tertini Wines. While we couldn’t stop and do a tasting, we did pop in to both of these and bought a few bottles. They were delicious and if you can, make sure you continue to support small winemakers by buying from them directly online!
If you are looking for a dog friendly weekend in the Southern Highlands, I hope this itinerary works for you and you have an incredible time. It’s more important now than ever to support our rural communities, and what better way than to visit and explore their beautiful towns!