The best things to do in Berrima revolve around celebrating its lovely landscapes.

One of the best things to do in Berrima is to simply set out with a loose plan on your road trip down from Sydney; windows down, tunes cranking. I always look forward to the slow, winding journey around the Southern Highlands, the air heavy with the scent of roses, fields dotted with cows and kangaroos. Despite being only 90 minutes from Sydney, Berrima has an abundance of things to do that are based around an appreciation of the landscape.

Historic Berrima is Australia’s best-preserved village from the 1830s, known for everything from its bushrangers to its landmark book barn, its killer pies, wineries and Georgian architecture. The Southern Highlands town, which was built around a village green, is also home to Australia’s oldest surviving gaol.

Here are some of the best things to do in Berrima and beyond.

Getting there

Berrima is situated on the Old Hume Highway and is about a 90-minute drive from Sydney or Canberra. One of the most relaxing ways to get to Berrima is to catch the train to nearby Mittagong, Bowral and Moss Vale, which takes just two hours from Sydney’s Central Station. You can then get a taxi to Berrima.

Admire Australia’s oldest Georgian village

The first thing to acknowledge about Berrima is that it is on the Traditional Lands of the Gundungurra and Dharawal people and named after an Indigenous word that means ‘to the south’. In 1831, when the town was established, Berrima set its sights on becoming the regional centre of NSW. However, a new railway line was built in 1867 that bypassed the tiny community, leaving it frozen in time for close to a century.  Located 125 kilometres southwest of Sydney, Australia’s oldest Georgian village owes its very existence to those unpredictable colonial times. Discover the historical village with Berrima Walking Tours.

Shop Berrima’s main street

There’s a charming collection of shops lining Berrima’s main street. Crab apple and plum trees complete the picture in contrasting shades of pretty. Hit The Brown Shutter for everything from boots to body lotion. Pack your wicker basket with chai and chutney from Mrs Oldbucks. Fossick for knitwear at Berrima’s Overflow and the Australian Alpaca Barn. And trawl for hand-thrown ceramics at Berrima Village Pottery. One of the best things to do in Berrima is visit Michael Reid Galleries’ new exhibition space which has a roster of curated group and solo exhibitions. Pop into Tillaura Lou to pick up a bouquet of flowers for your Berrima Airbnb.

Cafe hop in Berrima

There are no longer horses and carts tethered to hitching posts on the main street of Berrima. But the pace here remains reasonably slow. I checked out the Southern Highlands Escape Map ahead of my visit to plan my route between heritage sites and cafes in Berrima. I found local favourite Berrima General Store & Cafe owned by Italian chef Diego Arata a top spot for country-style cakes and coffee roasted locally by Rush Roasting. We also picked up some Taluca Park eggs and pork, fresh focaccia and lasagne at the store where Diego’s hospitality is on show. Willow and Chai was also on our itinerary for its ice cream.

Dine out at a local institution

Dining at Josh’s Café is one of my favourite things to do in Berrima. The restaurant is regarded as one of the best in Berrima for its homespun hospitality, great food, live music and vibe. Owner Joshua Leving understands the cafe is more than just a place to linger; it’s also a charming community hub. When I visited Josh’s Café, the dish of the day was Turkish spiced lamb mince with pine nuts and flatbread. Nearby Eschalot is another local institution. Expect fresh flowers and quirky artworks inside the sandstone cottage and for much of what you sample to be sourced from the kitchen garden.

Try out Berrima’s pies and bakeries

The Gumnut Patisserie has three venues dotted across the Southern Highlands thanks to the demand for its creative cakes, slices, pastries and pies. It’s one of the places to go for morning tea in Berrima. Over Easter, Gumnut Patisserie’s spice-packed hot cross buns run out the door, but the pies are perfect all-year round. Pop into Baked in Berrima for apple tarts and chunky beef pies, one of many irresistible stops along the Southern Highlands Pie Trail. The bakery is the sister business to The General Store Cafe and is where to find one of the finest brews in Berrima village.

Fill up on pub grub at Surveyor General Inn

A personal favourite of mine is the Surveyor General Inn, which continues to serve up some wicked pub grub and is said to be the oldest continually operating hotel in Australia. The menu at Bistro 1834 at The Surveyor General Inn reads like a Greatest Hits list: expect classics like bangers and mash, char-grilled Scotch fillet with red wine butter, and chicken parmigiana. There’s also a vegan curry of chickpea, potato, tomato, steamed rice and crispy onions, which is one of the finest plant-based pub meals in the region.

Tick off Berrima’s heritage sites

Built out of convict-hewn sandstone and completed in 1838, The Berrima Courthouse & Museum is a place for both history buffs and those interested in early colonial architecture. The façade of this impressive heritage building comprises four Doric columns with classic Greek bases. Learn about the history of the building and infamous court cases on a self-guided tour of the Courthouse or steel yourself for an overnight ghost tour. You can also gawp at the Berrima Gaol which housed German internees during the First World War, bushrangers and crooked State politicians, too.

Harper’s Mansion

Harper’s Mansion has enjoyed many incarnations over the past 200-odd years. It’s been a family home, a presbytery and convent before falling into disrepair. The original mansion was built by James and Mary Harper around 1834. But the couple’s grand vision for the property was stymied during a financial downturn in the 19th century. The National Trust (NSW) took ownership of the property in 1978 and restored it after decades of use and neglect. It is open to the public on weekends thanks to the hardworking team of volunteers who generously give their time to maintain and operate it.

The National Trust-listed property now features a backyard maze and is a top spot for a picnic amid the heritage roses.

Experience nature

Take up a Waterfall, Wander and Wine tour with Experience Nature to take in a trifecta of some of the best things to do in Berrima. The adventure includes locations offering native wildlife encounters, stunning photo ops of the soaring escarpment, and a guided bushwalk to Belmore or Carrington Falls before a wine tasting at Centennial Vineyards. If time allows, do the Paddle, Dine & Vine tour, too. Experience Nature also creates tailor-made itineraries for visitors to the Southern Highlands.

Take a self-guided walk

Walking the Wingecarribee River on the Traditional Lands of the Gundungurra and Dharawal people is one of the best ways to experience Berrima. The Wingecarribee River is crisscrossed with bushwalks, fishing spots and secluded places for a picnic. Keep the cartographers in business and grab a map from the Berrima Courthouse, which also has the keys to various historic buildings. The Berrima River Walk is signposted to point visitors to the boat-building efforts of the German nationals who were interned in Berrima Gaol from 1915 to 1919.

Visit the Berkelouw Book Barn Bookshop

The literary-minded should dedicate an entire day to exploring the atmospheric Berkelouw Book Barn, which sells books on every imaginable topic. Berkelouw Book Barn was built last century and has been converted into a little fantasy land for bookworms, boasting exquisite chandeliers and stunning artworks. Furthermore, it’s famed for its collection of secondhand, rare and antiquarian books and huge sections dedicated to specific genres. After letting your imagination roam, set yourself up in the Book Barn Restaurant to savour cuisine inspired by the seasons of the Southern Highlands.

Stop for a tipple at Berrima’s wineries

The swanky new cellar door at Bendooley Estate is open for wine tastings matched with cheese and charcuterie from 10 am and from 3 pm daily. The sumptuous setting, adjacent to Berkelouw Book Barn, overlooks the estate’s vineyard and is an architecturally designed masterpiece of glass, steel, century-old pine and locally sourced stone. Sample wines that grow in the rich, red volcanic soil of the Southern Highlands before retiring to your elegant onsite accommodation. We also popped into Peppergreen Estate, Tractorless Wines and the charming family-run Sondara Estate.

Stay at Citizen Kanebridge Lodge

Citizen Kanebridge Lodge has taken over from where Berrima Vault House left off.  And being a member at this exclusive club has a lot of benefits. Apart from enjoying access to the lodge, members are invited to glitzy House of Robb events and experiences around the world. Relax. Those who do not have the cash to splash for a membership can also dine here for breakfast, lunch and dinner on certain days of the week. There’s also a happy hour 3-5pm every Sunday, offering guests a glimpse of what a membership here might look like. The original Taylor’s Crown Inn was built by convicts in 1844 and remains a creative space to gather, drink and dine. Check the website for events such as pop-up dinners and pottery classes.

Book a group stay at Hillside Cottage

Sometimes a bit of peace and quiet is all that is required of a weekend away. The historic Hillside Cottage sits on a patch of scenic countryside, nestled in the heart of beautiful Berrima. Established in 1843, the character-filled cottage can accommodate up to eight guests and is well placed for those looking for a romantic getaway, to play golf, visit local wineries or simply relax and retreat. Although the cottage has had a lick of paint, and a rejig, its heart and soul remain intact.

High tea at The Cupcake Co.

Things get a little lively at The Cupcake Co. when it’s packed to the rafters with excited tweens. The flower-filled Cupcake Co. serves ONA coffee and an extensive range of fine loose-leaf tea. But it’s also a destination designed to cater to kids who want their social feeds to pop with a profusion of cupcakes and flowers. If you’re looking to host a kids’ birthday party, The Cupcake Co. ramps up the country charm against the pastoral backdrop of Berrima. But it’s not just for special occasions; scarfing down cupcakes and scones here is one of the best things to do in Berrima.