Your Guide To Braidwood, Where History Meets Modern Style

The heritage-listed town of Braidwood is the perfect destination for a weekend away, boasting historic buildings, adventures in nature and fabulous local cuisine and wines.

The Southern Tablelands town of Braidwood is easy to love. At first glance, its spacious, inviting streets and heritage architecture evoke a bygone era, but as you stay a bit longer, you’ll discover that this NSW town is so much more than its beautiful facade. It’s also home to culinary delights (did someone say truffles?), talented artisans and national parks just awaiting exploration.

Braidwood quickly rose to prosperity after the discovery of gold in 1851, funding the town’s grand buildings, but its heritage charms are beautifully balanced with the area’s contemporary art galleries, luxurious B&Bs and chic wineries.

Listed on the NSW State Heritage Register thanks to its preserved Victorian-era architecture, Braidwood is a delight that deserves more than a coffee break on a road trip from Sydney or Canberra. Here’s how to make the most out of a trip to Braidwood, the cool country town that should be on your radar.

Braidwood Hotel exterior — You won’t miss the bright pink Braidwood Hotel. (Image: Adam McGrath)

Getting there

Braidwood is just over a three-hour drive from Sydney and an hour from Canberra, easily accessible from either city. The Southern Tablelands region sits within south-east NSW and is also just a short drive inland from the popular South Coast beach towns of Batemans Bay and Narooma.

Where to eat

Like any respectable Australian country town, Braidwood prides itself on its bakeries, the ideal first stop for a sweet treat after you arrive in town. The Braidwood Bakery, dating back to 1932, is worth any queue – you absolutely can’t beat their chocolate and fresh cream eclair, but the meat pies are also a fan favourite. Artisan bakery Dojo Bread is the best place to stock up on freshly baked German-style bread and bagels.

For a hearty country meal, Braidwood Hotel (you can’t miss it, it’s pink!), offers a roaring fireplace, Sunday roast and a convivial atmosphere. The Bushranger Restaurant within the Royal Mail Hotel is another heritage pub that doesn’t disappoint. Meanwhile, Smokey Horse, a popular Himalayan eatery offering craft beers and live music, has the best curries in town.

artisan bakery, Dojo Bread in Braidwood — Stock up at artisan bakery, Dojo Bread. (Image: Field & Film)

The Southern Tablelands climate and soil also creates ideal conditions for spirits and wine production. Lark Hill Winery, in nearby Bungendore, specialises in biodynamic, cold-climate wines; Agostinis at Lark Hill Winery, their on-site Tuscan eatery, is one of the best spots in the area for a long weekend lunch.

Time your visit with the bi-monthly Braidwood Farmers Market, held on Saturdays, to browse the stalls for delectable treats like local jams, honey and fresh produce. Braidwood is also known for its valuable black truffles, with several truffle farms open to the public for tours.

truffle hunting in Braidwood — Take a truffle farm tour at L’air du Wombat Truffles. (Image: Janine Fabre)

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Things to do

Braidwood Museum is the best starting point for learning more about the region. It’s open on Fridays and Saturdays and is packed with historical artefacts tied to the area’s settler, gold rush and even bushranger past (Ned Kelly, starring Mick Jagger and released in 1970, was filmed not in Glenrowan or Beechworth but Braidwood).

As you continue along Wallace Street, the town’s main thoroughfare, there’s plenty of impressive architecture to discover on the Braidwood Heritage Walk, including the Old Post Office (built in late 1864), the Albion Hotel (home to the fabulous Albion Cafe), the Court House and St Andrew’s Anglican Church.

The town centre is also a delight for antiquing, art galleries and boutique shops, run by passionate artisans. Studio Altenburg, within the heritage Commercial Bank building, has been family-owned since 1978 and has rotating exhibitions, plus an impressive gift shop of local crafts and clothing. The Braidwood Regional Arts Group Gallery is also a great option for affordable art.

Studio Altenburg, Braidwood — Wander the rotating exhibitions at Studio Altenburg. (Image: Destination NSW)

Once you’re ready to explore beyond town, the Southern Tablelands are a treasure for hikers and walkers, with several national parks nearby. Monga National Park, about 20 kilometres from Braidwood, is home to an ancient temperate rainforest and important cultural sites for the Yuin and Walbunja people, the area’s traditional owners. Serious walkers will enjoy the 16-kilometre one-way Corn Trail walking track, an important historic route for both Indigenous peoples and settlers, but it can also be explored on horseback.

Deua, Budawang, Tallaganda and Morton National Parks are also just a short drive from Braidwood, each offering plenty of scenic walks for all skill levels. Morton National Park is home to Pigeon House Mountain Didthul walking track, with the hike to the top offering some of the state’s most iconic views.

Couple enjoying panoramic views across to Pigeon House Mountain (Aboriginal: Didthul) in Morton National Park. — Take in the view at Pigeon House Mountain. (Image: Destination NSW)

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Where to stay

You’ll find plenty of welcoming and unique accommodation in Braidwood, whether you want to stay for a night or a week. For luxury and history, The Doncaster is an excellent choice. As the town’s first hotel, dating back to the 1840s, The Doncaster has been a convent, boarding school and even a temporary safe haven during the Second World War. Today it’s an elegantly restored guest house with beautifully landscaped gardens and old-world style.

The Doncaster, Braidwood — Sleep in luxury and history at The Doncaster.

Farm stays and B&Bs are also plentiful throughout the Southern Tablelands. The dog-friendly Braidwood Farm Stay & Cafe is a working farm and offers tiny houses or shared bunks for guests. Enjoy a morning flat white on your balcony as you watch wallabies graze, cool off in the nearby swimming holes at Bombay Reserve, or join in on a horseback ride.

Cedar Lodge, a conveniently located and well-equipped inn, is a stylish and modern take on the traditional roadside motel that’s an ideal base for meandering around town. Meanwhile, Mona Farm‘s award-winning gardens play host to seven luxurious historic guest houses, providing the perfect romantic getaway surrounded by contemporary art and sculpture.

Mona Farm Homestead, Braidwood — Stay at Mona Farm’s Homestead, one of seven accommodation options.

Bate Bay’s sweep of beaches has been crowned Australia’s best for 2026, placing Sutherland Shire in the spotlight as a top coastal destination just south of Sydney’s CBD.

The beaches fringing Bate Bay – Cronulla, North Cronulla, Wanda, Elouera and Greenhills – have topped Tourism Australia’s 2026 list of best Australian beaches (as curated by Beach Ambassador Brad Farmer). For locals, it’s less revelation, more recognition.

The mood shifts from the moment you step off the T4 train service from Central to Cronulla and catch a glimpse of the ocean. At dawn, the Esplanade is already buzzing with regulars, and by mid-morning, parents have staked out a toasty spot on Cronulla Beach where excited toddlers clamber over rocks, and the Jellybean swim squad at Oak Park have donned their bright pink caps while singing Oh, What a Beautiful Mornin’.

By the afternoon, towels are being collected from across the sand as visitors wander back to Cronulla in loose formation.

North Cronulla beach — Dive into the world’s best beaches.

That’s the thing about Bate Bay beaches. This isn’t a story about a single beach. This long, uninterrupted sweep of sand and sea, where you can walk for kilometres without breaking stride, is not just enjoyed over summer; it’s a year-round destination. Here, Cronulla’s buzz gives way to Wanda’s wild edges, before stretching out to the quieter reaches of Greenhills.

But while Bate Bay’s beaches may have taken top honours in the 2026 Best Australian Beaches list, they’re only part of the drawcard. Sutherland Shire stacks up as a full-spectrum coastal escape, where good food, national park adventures and on-the-water experiences sit within easy reach of the shoreline. Whether you’re planning a long weekend or stretching out a stay, here’s how to make the most of Cronulla beyond the sand, sea and surf.

Beyond the beaches

Dining

The Sutherland Shire dining scene delivers from early morning to late at night with a mix of vibrant cafes, bars and pubs. Start your day at Grind Espresso, where the coffee comes strong and fast. From there, drift towards HAM for pastries, best eaten buttery warm.

By midday, locals linger across sun-lit tables. Loaf and Next Door appeal to the surfers who come in for snacks after chasing waves. Blackwood’s Pantry and The Press are also popular for breakfast and lunch, while Pilgrim’s continues to hold a special place in the hearts of vegans.

Newer arrivals signal where Cronulla is heading: Homer Rogue Taverna is being hailed as one of the best restaurants in Cronulla, with the confidence that comes from understanding what locals want. Ask a local to reveal their favourite restaurant for a special occasion, and it’ll likely be Pino’s Vino e Cucina al Mare, Yalla Sawa or Alphabet Street. Summer Salt, Sealevel, Benny’s, Bobbys and Pippis are a few of the best waterfront restaurants in the Shire.

Finally, when most places are winding down, Duke’s Providore shifts gears to become Duke’s After Hours – a low-lit romantic spot perfect for a date night. Parc Pavilion, Northies Cronulla and bars The Blind Bear, Las Chicas and Low & Lofty’s are also part of Cronulla’s identity.

Visit Bundeena

Bundeena Ferry Wharf — Catch a ferry to Bundeena.

A short ferry ride from Cronulla, Bundeena offers a counterpoint to Cronulla’s mighty surf beaches. If Cronulla is the Shire’s social heart, Bundeena – or Bundenesia, as it’s affectionately known – is the place to go to exhale and unwind.

Hop on the ferry from Cronulla, and within 30 minutes, you’ll be inhaling the eucalyptus-scented air. Check the creative pulse of the local community by timing your visit with the Bundeena Maianbar Art Trail on the first Sunday of every month.

One of the best things to do in Bundeena is paddle into Cabbage Tree Basin with Bundeena Kayaks. Follow the five-kilometre Jibbon Beach Loop Track that leads past quiet coves to ancient Indigenous rock art, or simply find a stretch of pearl-white sand to relax on.

Pristine walking trails

Royal National Park Cape Baily Walking Track — Cool off with a coastal stroll.

Beyond the coastline, Sutherland Shire offers myriad ways to shift gears. Royal National Park – the oldest national park in Australia – sits just minutes from the surf. Clifftop walks trace the edge of the continent, the rugged bushland is threaded with creeks and hidden waterfalls, and a network of tracks rewards those willing to go a little further.

Take the Coast Track, where the land drops cleanly into the ocean over sheer cliffs that have been stacked together like giant Jenga. Or veer inland, where pockets of forest cool the air and filter the light. It’s a reminder of how close nature sits to the bustle of suburbs in the Sutherland Shire.

Enjoy whale watching

humpback whale sighting noosa experiences — Spot whales from May to October. (Credit: The Edit Suite)

Twist your binoculars until the ocean is in focus, stretched like a creased blue sheet all around. Come May, the East Coast becomes the humpback highway. Thousands of whales migrate along this stretch of coastline each year, their movements tracked by keen eyes from vantage points like the Cape Solander platform in Kamay Botany Bay National Park, one of the best places for whale watching in Australia. There’s something quietly thrilling about seeing that first telltale spout or the arc of a breaching body against the vastness of the sea. From June to October, whale-watching cruises depart from Cronulla, offering a closer look at the migration.

Awards come and go. But places like Cronulla endure because they belong as much to the visitors as they do the early-morning swimmers, walkers and surfers.

Plan your escape at visitsutherlandshire.com.au.

Your guide to Braidwood, where history meets modern style

The heritage-listed town of Braidwood is the perfect destination for a weekend away, boasting historic buildings, adventures in nature and fabulous local cuisine and wines.

Getting there

Where to eat

Things to do

Where to stay

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