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.

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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.

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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.

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.

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