Located 110km from the Sydney CBD, the NSW Southern Highlands is a hidden gem for travellers seeking a regional getaway that combines modern attractions with tranquil surrounds.

Geographically, the historic region sits on the Great Dividing Range, 500-900 metres above sea level. It comprises the commercial towns of Bowral, Mittagong, Moss Vale, Berrima, Bundanoon and Robertson, as well as small residential villages dotted around them.

With a cool temperate climate and it being just an hour-and-a-half drive from Sydney – significantly less from the city’s southern suburbs – the area is an ideal winter getaway. For city slickers seeking clean, country air, the Southern Highlands offers natural beauty such as open countryside, national parks and waterfalls, as well as boutique shopping and hearty cuisine.

Easily accessible by road and rail – Bowral train station is serviced directly from Sydney and Canberra – visitors delight in the quiet pace and friendly locals.

As a business events destination, the region is perfect for offering the comforts of luxury accommodation, cool-climate wines, fantastic food and incentive leisure activities, where delegates can escape the everyday, bond with colleagues and learn.

Park Proxi Gibraltar Bowral

The centrepiece of the Southern Highlands for business travellers is Park Proxi Gibraltar Bowral (pictured, at top), a premium conference and events destination. Taken over by Seibu Prince Hotels & Resorts in 2023, and given a major spruce, the 77-room hotel is a contemporary and spacious getaway that features the scenic 18-hole Gibraltar Golf Course.

Relaxed, yet sophisticated, Park Proxi Gibraltar Bowral boasts eight versatile meeting spaces, including a double-height gallery and grand ballroom that offers a panoramic view of Mount Gibraltar and is capable of hosting up to 280 guests. The hotel’s purpose-built meeting rooms feature state-of-the-art audiovisual facilities and are bathed in natural light on nature’s doorstep.

Accommodation ranges from deluxe rooms to three-bedroom suites, and other facilities include bars and dining – one with an open fireplace – a gym, and an indoor swimming pool and spa.

Centennial Vineyards Bowral

Situated adjacent to Park Proxi Bowral Gibraltar, Centennial Vineyards is a sprawling 80-acre estate and cellar door specialising in cool-climate wines including Chardonnay, Riesling, pinot gris, albarino, pinot meunier, pinot noir and tempranillo.

The onsite restaurant has a strong focus on fresh regional produce and innovative, contemporary cuisine. It offers a la carte dining, Devonshire tea and high tea in a spacious and airy environment showcasing high ceilings, exposed beams, hardwood floors, antique furniture and full-length windows for stunning views.

For functions and corporate events, Centennial Vineyards offers a range of premium spaces to suit groups of all sizes. The restaurant and verandah spaces can host 180 sit-down guests, or 300 people in a cocktail setting. The verandah on its own can host 60 people for intimate gatherings, while the outdoor Tuscan courtyard is framed with creamy sandstone, an open fireplace and fountain, which is perfect for alfresco dining or marquees. The upstairs vineyard room can also host 12-80 guests.

Visitors also flock to Centennial Vineyards for special events, including performances by Australian and international musicians including Sting, Chris Isaak, Rod Stewart, James Taylor, Vika and Linda, Cyndi Lauper, Jon Stevens and James Reyne.

Pinnacle Team Events

Conferences and events held at Park Proxi Gibraltar Bowral can schedule team-building activities in itineraries, with the crew from Pinnacle Team Events able to come onsite to coordinate fun and engaging programs.

The company is driven by energetic corporate facilitators and event organisers who share a passion for making a difference in people’s lives. Their programs and events are thought-provoking, educational and motivational, and range from 30-minute activities to full-day action.

There are more than 100 team-building activities to choose from, including outdoor pursuits such as archery, laser clay shooting and lateral-thinking exercises; indoor engagement such as “paint and sip”, cocktail masterclasses, meditation and corporate social responsibility challenges; night events such as murder mysteries and trivia; and exercise sessions such as bootcamp, yoga and Pilates.

The company can cater for groups ranging in size from 10 to 1000 people.

Bradman Museum

Honouring Australian sporting icon Don Bradman, the Bradman Museum in Bowral is a place of national significance. As the greatest cricketer of all time, Bradman’s legacy lives on at this precinct that is home to the museum, Bradman Oval, Memorial Garden and Glebe Park.

Bowral is the town where Bradman spent his formative years honing his craft. The museum is a shrine to his life, career, achievements and the game of cricket – past, present and future.

Bradman Museum houses many spaces ideal for various events, team meetings, board meetings, corporate gatherings and training. The Pavilion has a boardroom and Private Bradman Library with audiovisual and conferencing equipment suitable for meetings and small groups.

Other spaces include the Pavilion Club Room; the upper outdoor pavilion deck for cocktail events and small gatherings; a theatrette that seats 100 people; the Museum Gallery that can host corporate events; and a tiered grandstand for informal outdoor events.

Craft breweries

For lovers of craft beer, the Southern Highlands is home to two of Australia’s finest independent breweries: Eden Brewery, in Mittagong, and Southern Highlands Brewing, in Moss Vale. Both businesses offer a range of artisanal craft brews, from lagers and pale ales, to IPAs and stouts, with other limited-release beers produced throughout the year.

Both breweries can cater for small groups and functions, including site tours and full venue hire.