Best Things To Do In Moss Vale, Southern Highlands

Moss Vale is a charming country town layered with a collection of seriously stylish stores, cafes and eateries that makes for an alluring day-trip destination or long-weekend escape.

There are so many wonderful things to do in Moss Vale that I like to plug each place into my SatNav and plan a detailed itinerary. Getting to Moss Vale from Sydney is a breeze: it’s just a 90-minute drive away or two hours by train to its heritage station. The town of Moss Vale, located on the Traditional Lands of the Gundungurra and Tharawal peoples, was established in 1819. More than 200 years on, the village is firmly established as a destination for a short break.

Here are 10 of the best things to do in Moss Vale in NSW’s Southern Highlands.

In short

If you do only one thing in Moss Vale, make it dining at The What If Society. The guiding principle here is one of sustainability, with community at its heart. It’s enough to make you want to ditch your big city life and move to Moss Vale.

Pick up some provisions for a picnic

The best things to do in Moss Vale will always include food. The Exchange is the sister store to The What If Society just a short doddle down Hoddle St. And the question at the providore remains the same as the cafe: what if we cared a bit more about what we eat and where it comes from and committed to businesses that are doing the right thing? The What If Society is a cornerstone of the local community. Check the Instagram page to schedule a return visit to attend pop-ups such as Fields or Supper Club.

Shop the high street

bed furniture at Suzie Anderson, Moss Vale — Freshen up your home with elegant furniture from Suzie Anderson. (Image: Abbie Melle)

Joining the dots between shops is one of the best things to do in Moss Vale. Suzie Anderson has two stores in Moss Vale: her flagship store fitted out with elegant furniture, linens, coffee table books and chic knick-knacks; and the handsome, more rugged lad-leaning store housed in The Old Bank Atelier. Suzie’s impeccable aesthetic is also evident at her Bowral store inside Dirty Janes. Visit the emporium for European antiques, French Provençal decor and homewares. You can also hunt for homewares and gifts at Hunter & Gatherer Collections , Mossy Store , Bowerbird on Argyle , Nest & Burrow , and Made By Others .

Dine at The What If Society

Searching for the best thing to do in Moss Vale? I’ve called it: it’s dining at The What If Society . Head chef Eilish Maloney is at the helm at the rustic-chic eatery, which doubles as a community hub. Today, there’s an artistic couple; one with an Elvis quiff; the other wearing vintage glasses. And a group of bros hoofing down cheeseburgers. You can Trust the Chef with a set menu or order a righteous special such as the pork schnitzel with vodka sauce and cabbage salad. This zero-waste operation is also a co-operative and cooking school.

Have coffee and cake at Highlands Merchant

The laid-back town of Moss Vale is also home to the Highlands Merchant , which is aimed at lovers of good coffee and good food. If uncovering the best things to do in Moss Vale is your goal, then you’ll want to include coffee and cake at this cutesy cafe painted duck-egg blue; it’s always buzzing with stylish locals and out-of-towners who are drawn here for the delicious homemade treats such as cakes, cookies and slices. There’s also a rotating menu of fresh salads. Grab a table under the stripey awning outside and watch the world go by at a meander.

Go for a bike ride in the Southern Highlands

the town of Bundanoon, Southern Highlands from above — Follow the scenic route to the nearby Bundanoon and other Southern Highlands towns from Moss Vale. (Image: Destination NSW)

One of the best ways to explore Bowral, Moss Vale and beyond is on two wheels: head to The Fixed Wheel to hire a bike and tackle the loop that connects Moss Vale, Sutton Forest, Berrima and Bowral. Follow Highlands Trails on Facebook to stay across what mountain-biking tracks are open. The single-track trail that slices through Wingello State Forest is one of the most popular. Have kids in tow? Bounce along Bong Bong Common from Moss Vale to Burradoo.

Walk along the river

the Wingecarribee River, Kangaloon — The Berrima River Walk traces the Wingecarribee River. (Image: Destination NSW)

Moss Vale is on the Traditional Lands of the Gundungurra and Tharawal peoples and part of Wingecarribee Shire, named after the river that rushes through it. Close all your rings on your Apple watch with a walk around Stone Quarry, one of the musts on a list of the best things to do in Moss Vale. Go a bit beyond Moss Vale to find the Berrima River Walk, which traces the Wingecarribee River as it squiggles past old World War 2 encampments and relics that are being reclaimed by the bushland all around.

Enjoy a local brew

the al fresco beer garden at Southern Highlands Brewing, Moss Vale — Sip on refreshing ales at Southern Highlands Brewing.

Cameron ‘Camo’ James and Ben Twomey launched Southern Highlands Brewing in 2015 after forming a connection based on a shared love of rugby and beer. The local brew bros are now part of a wider group which includes five other local breweries. Over summer, we recommend the Australian Blonde Ale, while in winter, the gold medal-winning porter is perfection. The brews are on tap at many of the pubs dotted around the Southern Highlands. Or you can pick up a sixpack from a local bottl-o.

Visit a local winery

resident ducks at Mount Ashby Estate, Moss Vale — Resident geese at Mount Ashby Estate. (Image: Kramer Photography)

The French country idyll comes alive at Mount Ashby Estate when a gaggle of geese waddle across the grounds as if on cue. In winter, enjoy a tasting at the cellar door followed by lunch around a roaring fire in Sant’ Alba. In summer, a table on the terrace at Mount Ashby Estate is the place to be, sun on your neck, glass of Petit Rouge Rose in hand. Stay tuned for Mount Ashby Estate 2.0, which will include tiny homes for the ultimate getaway. The relocated 1918 Bowral Produce Store is now an events space for everything from intimate occasions to big, fat country weddings.

Stay in a cosy cabin

the Hideout cabin set on a beautiful dam of a working horse farm — Get the reset you need in an idyllic farm setting.

You will understand why Moss Vale is such a popular destination for a short break with a weekend away holed up in Hideout . Voted as a finalist in Airbnb’s Best Nature Stays category, the 56-hectare property is a working farm and horse stud with stays coordinated around its 80 resident animals. The cosy couples-sized cabins come with all the prerequisites for a gracious stay, such as sumptuous bed linen, under-floor heating, Egyptian cotton towels and wine sourced from the neighbouring Mount Ashby Estate.

Retreat to Moss Manor

a suite with a private tub at Moss Manor — Soak in pure indulgence at Moss Manor. (Image: Tom Ferguson)

There’s a worn path leading from Moss Manor to the local real estate agent’s offices in Moss Vale. The boutique accommodation is so charming my husband and I started dreaming of a tree change. Stay in a Violet Garden room, which mirrors the landscaped surrounds filled with flowers and looks like a vignette torn from the pages of Vogue Living. Here, in the highlands hamlet of Moss Vale, a two-storey terrace is considered a high rise, and the pace of life in wonderfully languid.

The heavens take centre stage at this Outback NSW glamping lodge.

Crane your neck. Look up. If it’s nighttime in a major Australian city, you might see a faint dusting of stars. Now imagine yourself out in the bush. Here, those stars aren’t just scattered dots – instead, they’re smudged across the sky in endless, glittering streaks. Welcome to Wilderluxe Lake Keepit , a new glamping lodge in one of the most picturesque corners of outback NSW.

Between its eight stargazing tents, Gilay Guest Lounge, and shared tales of the Dreamtime night sky, this retreat is designed to exist in harmony with the breathtaking lake and surrounding landscape. Intrigued? Here’s everything you need to know.

Bathed in warm light, a couple watches the sun dip beyond the horizon. — Watch the sky melt into magic at Wilderluxe.

Getting to Wilderluxe Lake Keepit

Wilderluxe Lake Keepit is in the NSW Northern Tablelands, bordered by the Great Dividing Range. The lake itself is hard to miss: this mammoth body of water is two-thirds the size of Sydney Harbour.

Just 40 minutes from Tamworth and close to Gunnedah, it’s on the inland route between Sydney and Byron Bay. Drive or take one of the daily flights to Tamworth’s airport.

Aerial view of Wilderluxe. — Let vast waters and towering ranges set the scene for your escape.

Wilderluxe Lake Keepit rooms

Don’t settle for a paltry room when you can sleep directly under the cosmos. Wilderluxe offers eight domed ‘Star Tents’ , all named after Aboriginal sky stories – like Djirri Djirri, the sacred messenger bird, Baiame, the Sky Father and great creator, and Dhinawan, the Emu in the Sky constellation.

On a clear night, use your tent’s retractable roof for gazing above or wander to the outdoor bathtub on your private deck to soak under the night sky. No need to go anywhere. You can stay put come evening with a kitchenette inside and a gas barbecue on the deck.

A couple gazes up at a sky ablaze with stars at Wilderluxe. — Sleep beneath the stars.

Style and character

When it comes to aesthetics, Wilderluxe Lake Keepit stays on trend. The encampment blends with its surroundings, building up layers of minimalist visuals that mirror the ever-changing curves of the water.

Earthy tones, natural materials and timber finishes also anchor the retreat in its bushland surrounds. It’s enough to deepen the sense of calm you’ll experience as you drive off-grid, and this is only heightened as you spot kangaroos grazing at dawn or hear the chatter of native birds by the lake.

The dreamy sunset at Wilderluxe. — Go off-grid in style at Wilderluxe Lake Keepit.

Wilderluxe Lake Keepit dining

‘Dinner and a show’ hits differently with the property’s Big Sky dinner experience . Hosted in the Gilay Lounge, enjoy complimentary drinks and a grazing table with the host, followed by a screening of Big Sky Dreaming, a film produced exclusively for Wilderluxe guests in which Kamilaroi storyteller Uncle Len Waters narrates tales of the Dreaming above.

Once your imagination has been fed, it’s time to take a seat fireside for a glass of Australian port and a serving of s’mores.

Keen to explore the wider area? Staff can provide barbecue and picnic hampers, stuffed with regional meats, cheeses and organic local fare.

Wilderluxe Lake Keepit facilities

While you could very well spend all your time in your tent, sometimes it’s time to hit pause on the celestial show. Instead, make your way up to the Gilay Guest Lounge, where you can relax on the deck overlooking the lake or the outdoor fire pits. It’s a great way to unwind and clink glasses with other stargazers.

The Gilay Lounge with the view of the lake. — Unwind by the fire and raise a glass at Gilay Lounge.

Wilderluxe Lake Keepit experiences

No need to turn nocturnal; when the sun rises, there are still plenty of ways to touch the sky.

Lake Keepit hosted the 2020 Women’s World Gliding Championships, and it’s one of the best places in Australia to stretch your wings. The local Soaring Club operates year-round, meaning you can book a gliding experience any day of the year – or opt for a scenic flight to take in the vast beauty from above.

Prefer to keep your feet on solid ground? There are plenty of walking and cycling trails in and around the area. Luckily, bikes are part of the Wilderluxe package. All you have to do is ask a staff member for their favourite route, throw a picnic onto the back and cycle off into the great beyond.

Alternatively, nab a stand-up paddleboard (SUP) or kayak and head out onto the lake. Or, if you’re feeling lucky, borrow a fishing rod and try your chances.

A person kayaking through serene waters. — Paddle into peace.

The details

A two-night minimum twin-share accommodation package includes Big Sky dinner and drinks experience, plus daily continental breakfast. As well as access to leisure equipment including mountain bikes, kayaks, SUPs and fishing gear.

The interiors of the glamping tent. — Let nature restore you, while luxury takes care of the rest.

Start planning your outback glamping adventure at wilderluxe.com.au.

A comprehensive guide to the best things to do in Moss Vale