Weekend (Escape) in Goulburn

The grand inland city of Goulburn was once a mere stopover for many road trippers, but is now a destination in itself, layering contemporary food and wine experiences upon a rich and colourful rural heritage.

An effortless two-hour drive from Sydney will find you in the heart of Goulburn, surrounded by ornate heritage architecture dating back as far as 1830. Blend the past seamlessly with the present and you have a charming modern city with a wise, country soul. You may be surprised to find what Goulburn has to offer as one of NSW‘s major rural centres and emerging weekender destinations.

SATURDAY

Rise and Shine

If you’re not eating at your accommodation, The Roses Cafe right on leafy Belmore Park is a popular choice. The family-run, cosmopolitan deli-style cafe is a classy dollop of up-to-date service and delicious food with a nod to tradition. There are great vegetarian options, too, such as the sensational granola with seasonal fruits or smashed avo’ with Danish feta and lemon on sourdough.

Shoppers’ delight

Shopping Goulburn Somethign Special — Browsing the boutique wares at Something Special in Goulburn.

Saturday morning is the perfect time to stroll the busy streets and pick up a local bargain from one of the vintage or specialty boutiques, all within an easy walk. Stores such as Your Home Matters and Something Special carry a wide range of gift items and specialty homewares that will remind you of this charismatic region, while Baxter Boots & Shoes has a wide range of footwear to suit the whole family. Yes, all located right along bustling Auburn Street, the beating heart of Goulburn.

Kids will love the Goulburn Adventure Playground.

Any youngsters can work up an appetite at the Adventure Playground in Victoria Park. Swing, climb and crawl your way around the course. You can bet there weren’t playgrounds like this when you were growing up!

To market, to market

The leafy Belmore Park, Goulburn in the heart of the historic city.

A perfect venue for local artisans and producers, Goulburn hosts a variety of markets, one being the Rotary Parkside Markets held on the second Saturday of the month in Montague Street between the heritage-listed Goulburn Court House and Belmore Park, right in the centre of town. You’ll find stalls offering quality local arts, handicrafts, fresh produce, plants and flowers.

Public Art, Goulburn — The walk between the Visitor Centre and the Regional Art Gallery is dotted with works of public art.

Indulge your senses

Choose from any of the character-laden pubs along, or just off of Auburn Street for a hearty lunch. The Southern Railway Hotel serves Aussie pub food in one of Goulburn’s oldest pubs. If a late lunch is more your style, the Goulburn Soldiers Club offers a number of dining options.

Experience the past

Discover fascinating stories of Goulburn’s eclectic history with a Self-guided Heritage Tour (maps are available at the Visitor Information Centre ) and see such buildings as the heritage-listed Court House designed by the famous colonial architect James Barnet. Completed in 1887, this spectacular edifice took more than two years to build and cost the equivalent $3.5 million today.

Goulburn Court House — The heritage-listed Court House designed by the famous colonial architect James Barnet.

The Old Police Station, now an amazing second-hand book store, stands next door, while historic pubs and dainty heritage homes in the regional city date back almost 200 years.

Post Office Goulburn — The opening of the Goulburn Post Office in 1881 was such a cause for celebration it was declared a public holiday with parades of schoolchildren, mounted police and other dignitaries.

Whilst enjoying the fresh air and leafy surrounds, the beauty of Goulburn’s enviable rural location delivers in abundance – and there are plenty of ways to breathe it in. Cycle any of the dedicated pathways or power-walk some or all of the four-kilometre-long Wollondilly River Walkway .

Dinner Delights

You’ll be ready for dinner after such an odyssey, so why not spoil yourself at one of Goulburn’s premium eateries. The Tattersall’s Hotel offer a great alternate to pub dining: try the local, free-range chicken menu with Franks’ Hot Sauce. Stay and kick on with cocktails and live music.

Rest your head

Choose to retire for the night in one of Goulburn’s varied accommodation options: from boutique to B&Bs or branded. The Best Western Plus serviced apartments and superior rooms are just 600 metres from the CBD. If you want something closer to the night life, the new Abbey Motel will change your mind about old-fashioned ‘motels’. The charming motel was recently built on the grounds of the century-old former St Patrick’s Technical College.

Abbey Motel Goulburn — The new Abbey Motel will change your mind about old-fashioned ‘motels’.

SUNDAY

Sun Up

Sunday is a day for exploring by car. Grab an early breakfast at The Park Cafe [and make a visit to the poignant Rocky Hill War Memorial and Museum for best views of the city. Recently awarded the Tripadvisor 2020 Travellers’ Choice Award, which ranks it in the top 10 per cent of tourist attractions worldwide, the military museum is a must.

If you haven’t worn out your walking shoes, why not add the Public Art Walk to your program and examine the 40 or so items of accessible art on the streets of Goulburn. The public art program bounds way outside of the safety of the gallery and brings contemporary art into the everyday experience of moving around Goulburn. Note that the gallery itself is closed on Sundays.

Russel Lane, Goulburn — Add the Public Art Walk to your program and examine the 40 or so items of accessible art on the streets of Goulburn.

Cafe culture

Find yourself in one of Goulburn’s bourgeoning foodie scene eateries. Here you can enjoy high quality, fresh, regionally grown produce or varied exotic cuisines, paired with a range of local cool climate wines.

Grit Cafe, Goulburn — Sample the region in one of its many eateries.

Grape Escape

Take a road less travelled and venture south to Yarralaw Springs Wines . This unique straw-bale winery crafts award-winning wines from six classic varieties. To the east is Bungonia Creek Wines set overlooking the beautiful Bungonia Gorge: sample the wines and experience the no-dig permaculture gardens.,

Full Steam Ahead

Paddle Boarding Goulburn — Paddle boarding on Wollondilly River in front of the Goulburn Historic Waterworks.

The days of steam locomotives may be over, but the glory of the mighty mechanisms are alive and well in Goulburn. The Victorian ‘Age of Steam’ was a defining era of history and you’ll see the past come to life on ‘Steaming Days’ at the Goulburn Historic Waterworks Museum located on the picturesque banks of the Wollondilly River. Just out of town and accessible on foot as part of the Wollondilly River Walkway . A perfect spot for a picnic basket lunch.

Fishing Weir Gourlburn — Fishing from the weir in front of Goulburn’s Historic Waterworks on the Wollondilly River.

All the world’s a stage

Established in 1891, Goulburn’s Lieder Theatre Company is the longest-running theatre company in Australia. See a live performance in the historic theatre as a fitting finale to your glittering weekend in Goulburn.

Make Goulburn your next road trip or train weekend destination and let yourself be surprised. However, you may need more than one weekend.

For more information on things to do and see in Goulburn, visit www.goulburnaustralia.com.au/

Farmstay Goulburn — A farmstay in Goulburn, less than two hours from Sydney,

Sydney’s favourite Christmas night market will transform Circular Quay and The Rocks for 11 nights.

It’s official: the Christmas season is upon us. Sure, it’s only November. But in Sydney, the shops have transformed, the trees have gone up and Mariah Carey is defrosting for her annual appearance. So it’s only right that the Jolly Christmas night markets have been announced to be returning to Circular Quay this year – bigger and better than ever (and still free to attend). And all with a uniquely Australian flair.

From 11 to 21 December, what began three years ago as a small Christmas activation will now open with over 120 festive stalls stretching from Customs House to The Rocks. They’ll be selling everything from Christmas decorations to the flavours of local producers to creations of local artisans. Think handmade gifts, gourmet street food, boutique wineries and craft distilleries, all under a canopy of fairy lights. Oh, and let’s not forget a shower of fake snow every night. Delightful.

“Sydney deserves a Christmas celebration that feels as grand and joyful as the city itself,” said Vincent Hernandez, Founder and Managing Director of BBR Group, the creative team behind Jolly. “Jolly is our way of giving the city back a little magic, something that brings people together at night, supports local makers and celebrates Christmas’ balmy summer nights in true Sydney style”.

Dining at Jolly Christmas night markets

This year, the markets will feature a Wine & Dine Village with NSW’s best wineries and distilleries, masterclasses and tastings. Here, Christmas enthusiasts can find names like Petersons Family Wines, Savannah Estate, Cooks Lot Wines, Tractorless Vineyard and Ester Spirits alongside Ambrosia Distillery, Hold Fast Distillery, Burly Gin and Aihiki. Get amongst complimentary tastings and free daily masterclasses hosted by the winemakers themselves.

Not to mention gourmet street food sold around the entire market, with local and international flavours.

Live music at Jolly Christmas night markets

musician at Jolly Christmas Markets sydney — Let live music set the scene.

Live music will also be a staple feature of this year’s Jolly Christmas night markets (and not just Christmas carols either, although naturally, they feature heavily. From smooth jazz to acoustic soul to reimagined Christmas classics, there will be plenty of tunes to accompany visitors while they shop or eat.

The details

aerial of Jolly Christmas Markets sydney — Get ready for 11 nights of Christmas joy.

Dates: Thursday, 11 December to Sunday, 21 December 2025

Location: Circular Quay & Customs House, Sydney

Entry: Free to attend

Website: visit Jolly Market

Not enough Christmas? Watch this space for the best Christmas markets around Australia in 2025.

Weekend Escape in Goulburn