A refined country escape with grand estates, cosy fireside dining and iconic heritage, Bowral has officially claimed its title as Australia’s best country town.
It’s not hard to see why Bowral has been crowned Australia’s best country town – and fifth best town overall – in Australian Traveller’s 100 best Aussie towns list. Set in the heart of the Southern Highlands, this once-unassuming village has quietly evolved into a polished weekend escape, where heritage estates, elevated dining and cultural icons converge.
During my 48-hour stay, it was the seamless blend of old-world charm and new energy that stood out — from the grandeur of newly reimagined estates to intimate local experiences that leave you in awe of the neighbourhood’s character. It’s no surprise that Sydneysiders and Aussies alike flock to Bowral for a refreshing getaway. Bowral deserves a spot on every traveller’s list.
The grand estate bringing Bridgerton charm to Bowral
I arrive at the newly reopened Ardour Milton Park in East Bowral for my first night and am warmly greeted by hotel manager, David McDonald. He enthusiastically gave me an informative history lesson on the property and a walkthrough of the grounds, which felt like a scene straight out of the 1993 movie The Secret Garden. Just 90 minutes from Sydney and Canberra, calm arrives almost instantly, unfolding through ivy-lined gardens that seem to slow everything down the moment you arrive at the picturesque estate.
Inside the Sage Green Garden Terrace room. (Credit: Ardour Hotels & Estates)
The sitting room at Ardour Milton Park. (Credit: Ardour Hotels & Estates)
Ardour Milton Park at sunset. (Credit: Supplied by Salter Brothers Hospitality)
Purchased by the Salter Brothers in 2023, Milton Park began an extensive $10-million transformation, with a complete renovation of the restaurant, kitchen, lounge, guest rooms, and spa, and reopened in February 2026 as the flagship property of Ardour Hotels & Estates.
Drawing attention for its cinematic pull during Bridgerton Season 3’s Regency-inspired takeover of Bowral, where scenes are captured at nearby Retford Park, Ardour Milton Park becomes part of the story itself, hosting exclusive, era-inspired events across its stately grounds.
Need tips, more detail or itinerary ideas tailored to you? Ask AT.
AI Prompt
The restaurant interiors is country estate charm to a tee. (Credit: Ardour Hotels & Estates)
Dine on modern Australian-inspired cuisine at Horderns Restaurant. (Credit: Ardour Hotels & Estates)
Polo Bar is a blush-pink dream. (Credit: Ardour Hotels & Estates)
Seafood features prominently on the menu at the onsite restaurant. (Credit: Ardour Hotels & Estates)
The Polo Bar is a blush-pink dream. (Credit: Ardour Hotels & Estates)
I am shown to my romantic garden view room, where I’m able to switch off for a couple of hours before heading to Èliva Spa for a 60-minute illuminating facial. Following the facial, it’s time for cocktails in the Polo Bar before tucking into XL Yamba prawns and Riverina Black Angus beef sirloin at Milton Park’s signature dining venue, Horderns Restaurant, which showcases modern Australian-inspired cuisine alongside an exquisite wine selection.
The Berida Hotel is another charming stay. (Credit: Destination NSW)
The following night, I check into the tranquil Berida Hotel for another cosy night fireside. Evolving from a 1925 grand manor into a modern boutique hotel, this accommodation hosts 46 stylish and elegantly restored guest rooms. It is then time for a cheeky cocktail at the Aspinalls Bar and Lounge, before heading into town for dinner.
Fireside meals and wine tastings
Bowral has no shortage of outstanding dining options. After enjoying my first dinner at the exquisite Horderns Restaurant at Ardour Milton Park, I begin my second morning in Bowral at the famous Gumnut Patisserie, which almost feels like a rite of passage when arriving in the Southern Highlands. I devour a spinach pastry before fitting in a vanilla slice, which leaves me feeling slightly sick but far from regret.
Accompany a wine tasting with a charcuterie cheeseboard. (Credit: Destination NSW)
It is then time for coffee at the iconic Press Shop, before an afternoon of wine tasting at Centennial Vineyards. I enjoy a wine paddle flight on the Terrace overlooking the vineyards, paired with a charcuterie cheeseboard filled with an array of local artisan cheese, cured meats and fresh fruit.
Centennial Vineyards in Bowral. (Credit: Hannah Clark)
For dinner, I am lucky enough to get a booking at the French café-meets-bistro, Lucette, in the heart of town. It evokes the effortless rhythm and energy of Paris, with tables styled like a café terrace in Paris, while still feeling distinctly rooted in its local setting. I devour the chicken liver parfait and raw tuna tartare, before tucking into the larger Boeuf Bourguignon.
Weekly travel news, experiences insider tips, offers, and more.
Iconic names stealing the limelight
Inside the reimagined boutique stay at 52 Shepherd St in Bowral, which was once home to Don Bradman. (Credit: Bohdi & Co. Media)
One of Bowral’s most famous names, Australian cricketer Sir Donald Bradman, affectionately known as “the Don", called the town home. Today, you can stay in his childhood residence at 52 Shepherd Street, or explore his legacy at the Bradman Museum & International Cricket Hall of Fame on St Jude Street, where his story and Australia’s cricketing history are brought to life.
Inside Bradman Museum & International Cricket Hall of Fame. (Credit: Destination NSW)
How we chose the winners
Australian Traveller’s 100 best Aussie towns to visit were selected by a voting panel of much-loved Australians, industry experts and category authorities from across the country. The expert panel consisting of 15 travel experts, including the likes of Accor’s Adrian Williams, Ernie Dingo and Catriona Rowntree. Bowral was voted ‘Best Country Town’ and came fifth overall in ‘Best 100 towns’ in Australia.
Here is the shortlist of what not to miss in Bowral
The outback is calling, and the adventure is made all the easier with this hot new AAT Kings’ tour.
It’s the desert palette of rust-red earth and vast cobalt sky that calls you at first, for where better to get away from it all than the outback? Of course, once you start driving, taking note of all the weathered pubs, dusty tracks and tiny towns held together with humour, resilience and more corrugated iron than ever deemed possible, something else grabs a hold of you: the idea that far from the celebrated icons and landmarks associated with Australia, you’re finally immersed in an authentic slice of local life that few have ever experienced.
Ancient landscapes, proud pastoral histories, ghost towns, culinary powerhouses and a rich Indigenous heritage; there are plenty of facets to life on the land. The best way to experience all of the above with both ease and like-minded friends? AAT Kings’ new Outback New South Wales Adventurer, a 9-day small group tour. This Sydney-return itinerary is designed to connect travellers not only with iconic outback destinations, but with the characters, culture and experiences that bring each place to life.
Highlights? The Adventurer has more than a few, but here are eight to start.
1. Broken Hill
See the striking art at Living Desert and Sculptures. (Credit: Destination NSW)
Welcome to Broken Hill, where mining history, outback eccentricity and a surprisingly rich arts scene unite in a rusty desert landscape. In Australia’s first heritage-listed city, exploration is quickly rewarded. Begin with a guided walking tour taking in the city’s grand Victorian and Art Deco architecture. Later, enjoy visits to both the Broken Hill City Art Gallery and the Living Desert and Sculptures – the perfect place to enjoy the changing colours of an outback sunset. Of course, no visit to Broken Hill is complete without a stop at the historic Palace Hotel Broken Hill, famous for its role in The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert. Happily, it makes for the perfect spot for dinner.
2. White Cliffs
Strap on your hardhat and head underground. (Credit: Destination NSW)
Strap on your hardhat and start spending your imaginary fortunes; White Cliffs, Australia’s oldest commercial opal field, is begging you to come in search of rare pineapple opals. Admittedly, you’re much more likely to find white opals, but the true gems of White Cliffs – where much is built underground to escape the desert heat – are everywhere.
Here, you’ll descend 13.5 metres underground into a working mine to learn about the region’s heritage, and observe how miners continue the search for these prized gemstones. Perhaps you’ll even find a couple yourself?
3. Mungo National Park
Spend time in the striking, lunar-like landscape of Mungo National Park. (Credit: Destination NSW)
With its lunar-like landscape made up of ancient, dried lake basins and sculpted sand and clay formations, a drive into UNESCO World Heritage-listed Mungo National Park is somehow two things all at once: uniquely Australian with vast outback skies, and somehow otherworldly, as though you’ve been dropped off by spaceship. At its heart lies the iconic Walls of China, a 30-kilometre sand-and-clay lunette shaped by thousands of years of erosion.
Understanding more than 40,000 years of Barkindji, Mutthi Mutthi and Ngiyampaa history begins with a visit to the Visitor Centre, and concludes with a sunset tour led by local Aboriginal guides. A key experience? Learning about the discovery of Mungo Man and Mungo Lady. At 40,000+ years old, these are among the oldest human remains found anywhere in the world.
4. Kinchega National Park
Meet the locals of Kinchega National Park. (Credit: Destination NSW)
Some come to Kinchega National Park for its iconic Darling River landscapes full of birdlife and haunting river red gums; others visit for its rich First Nations and pastoral history. Your visit will encompass all of the above, with a guided tour (part of AAT Kings’ MAKE TRAVEL MATTER Experience) designed to give a deeper understanding of Barkindji cultural heritage, history and traditions.
Walk with local guide David as he shares ancestral knowledge and creation stories, and explains how native plants – through bush food and bush medicine – have sustained Indigenous communities for thousands of years. Then sit back and enjoy those views alongside native tea and sweet treats.
5. Griffith
Treat your tastebuds to ‘the food bowl of Australia’. (Credit: Destination NSW)
How can you say no to a visit to a destination widely regarded as ‘the food bowl of Australia’? Shaped by fertile farmland and home to approximately 75 per cent of New South Wales’ wine grapes, this is a day to roll up your sleeves and enjoy the best gastronomy the state has to offer. Think vineyards, cellar doors, cafes and restaurants largely shaped by its multicultural heart (Griffith is not only home to over 60 nationalities, but has the highest proportion of Italian ancestry anywhere in Australia).
6. Mudgee
Visit some of Mudgee’s best wineries. (Credit: Destination NSW)
Nestled by the Cudgegong River, Mudgee packs a big punch for a heritage country town, having carved a reputation for itself as one of the country’s leading (and award-winning) wine regions, a key epicurean destination, and a regional arts centre growing in both visibility and vibrancy.
Take a moment to enjoy the town’s 19th-century charm before heading to Lowe Family Wine Co. for a guided tasting of organic and biodynamic wine, followed by a relaxed lunch featuring a feast of homegrown and local produce. Will you walk away with bottles of Mudgee’s iconic reds under your arms? It’s a distinct possibility.
7. Silverton
See the living ghost town of Silverton.(Credit: Destination NSW)
A once-booming silver mining hub, the dystopian setting for Mad Max 2, and now a tranquil settlement that’s home to around 50 people; Silverton is considered a living ghost town and remains a sight to behold.
Take time to explore its heritage streets (and perhaps take a look at the quirky Mad Max 2 Museum) and the Silverton Hotel, an iconic outback pub, before a visit to Silverton Gaol & Historical Museum. It’s home to a wealth of colonial artefacts, early mining equipment and stories from the outback’s pioneering past which will serve to anchor you firmly in place.
8. Shear Outback
Get a glimpse behind the wool curtain. (Credit: Destination NSW)
If you ever find yourself singing, “click go the shears boys, click, click, click…”, you’ve come to the right place. Shear Outback, an award-winning tourist and education attraction located in Hay, brings to life the traditions and stories of one of the outback’s most enduring industries: sheep shearing.
Here, in the heart of the Riverina, you’ll enjoy live shearing demonstrations, meet the shearers, shedhands, sheepdogs and yes, sheep, who come together to show guests exactly what it takes to provide Australians with all that glorious wool.
