Area Hotlist — Southern Highlands NSW

20 lifestyle anchors proven to sell property across the Southern Highlands area

Area Hotlist — Southern Highlands

1

Southern Highlands Botanic Gardens

82 votes

Spread across 15 hectares on Bowral’s eastern edge, these community-run gardens showcase cool-climate plantings from cherry blossoms to rare conifers. Dog-friendly paths, weekend plant sales and twilight concerts turn a casual stroll into a local event, while the annual Tulip Time overflow ensures constant foot traffic and café custom nearby.

2

Bradman Museum & Oval

78 votes

A shrine to Australia’s most-loved cricketer, the museum blends interactive exhibits with a boutique grandstand overlooking Bradman Oval, where grade matches and Milo-cricket clinics keep legends alive. School tours, corporate dinners and summer festivals draw year-round visitors, underpinning steady demand for short-stay accommodation within walking distance.

3

Retford Park

51 votes

James Fairfax’s former Italianate mansion sits amid formal hedges, rose parterres and a whimsical topiary garden now cared for by the National Trust. Monthly open days, sculpture exhibitions and high-tea picnics add Instagram glamour to the district and bolster Bowral’s reputation for relaxed country grandeur.

4

Oxley College

49 votes

This independent K-12 school combines strong academic results with performing-arts excellence on a picturesque Burradoo campus. Rowing sheds on the Wingecarribee, synthetic hockey turf and a purpose-built drama centre attract families from Sydney and Canberra, translating into keen competition for rentals inside the coveted school-bus radius.

5

Scottish Arms Hotel

47 votes

Bowral’s favourite neighbourhood pub pairs crackling log fires with 20 rotating craft taps and a menu heavy on local beef. Trivia nights, live acoustic sets and a leafy beer garden create a community hub that keeps weeknight streets lively and boosts property appeal in nearby Renwick estates.

6

Morton National Park

42 votes

Home to Fitzroy Falls, this sprawling reserve delivers sandstone escarpments, lyrebird song and lookouts reaching to the coast. Easy sealed access places world-class bushwalks fifteen minutes from Mittagong coffee, underscoring the Highlands’ unique blend of wild adventure and civilised convenience.

7

Sutton Forest

36 votes

Georgian inns, cellar doors and truffle farms dot this postcard village just off the Hume. Long lunches at Peppers Manor House, antique browsing and vineyard vistas lure weekending Sydneysiders, while locals savour rolling farmland only ten minutes from Moss Vale trains and supermarkets.

8

Kangaroo River

34 votes

Meandering below sandstone cliffs, the Kangaroo River invites canoe safaris, swimming holes and waterside picnic lawns. Its tranquil bends form the heart of Kangaroo Valley village, a popular day-trip that feeds local tourism jobs and provides Highlands residents with easy weekend escape options.

9

Chevalier College

33 votes

Set on 100 park-like hectares, Chevalier offers co-ed Catholic day and boarding with standout equestrian and rugby programs. Heritage cloisters, modern science labs and an annual country fair make it a lifestyle anchor, driving steady demand for family homes across Burradoo and Moss Vale.

10

Bowral Railway Station

33 votes

Victorian sandstone architecture, café kiosks and direct services to Central make Bowral Station a commuter lifeline and heritage gem. Fringe parking fills early as locals enjoy a stress-free rail link to Sydney’s CBD, preserving strong buyer interest in walk-to-train cottages and new townhomes.

11

Frensham School

27 votes

Established in 1913, this girls’ boarding school sprawls across 35 manicured hectares in Mittagong, blending Federation buildings with cutting-edge STEM centres. Renowned equestrian arenas and a vibrant arts program draw families nationwide, fuelling boutique retail and premium rental demand in the surrounding village.

12

Bowral Hospital

25 votes

Freshly redeveloped, Bowral & District Hospital now boasts a larger emergency department, new operating theatres and private-style inpatient rooms. The upgrade secures 400-plus healthcare jobs and peace of mind for retirees, reinforcing the Highlands’ reputation for big-city services minus the metropolitan sprawl.

13

Wingecarribee River

22 votes

Fly-fishers stalk brown trout beneath willow canopies while cyclists trace the river’s leafy fire trails toward Burradoo. Picnic reserves, wildlife corridors and kayaking launches create a natural playground threading through the shire, enriching daily life and safeguarding green outlooks for riverside acreage owners.

14

Moss Vale High School

21 votes

Strong agriculture, hospitality and construction streams mirror local industry, giving students hands-on skills alongside university pathways. Community musicals, sports carnivals and farm shows stitch the school tightly into town life, strengthening property appeal for families seeking an affordable public-school option.

15

Ngununggula Regional Art Gallery

21 votes

Opened in 2021 within a restored dairy at Retford Park, Ngununggula brings cutting-edge exhibitions, film nights and kids’ workshops to the Highlands. Gourmet food trucks in the courtyard and twilight talks create a buzzing cultural scene, elevating the region’s arts credentials beyond weekend markets.

16

Bowral High School

20 votes

Since 1929, Bowral High has blended heritage architecture with modern tech hubs and a celebrated music program. Proximity to the CBD lets students walk from school straight to part-time jobs, cafés or sports clubs, reinforcing the town’s safe, walkable lifestyle for growing teens.

17

Bowral Golf Club

14 votes

Tree-lined fairways, crisp mountain air and a welcoming clubhouse bar make this 18-hole layout a Highlands institution. Twilight rounds, charity days and junior clinics foster cross-generational friendships, while adjoining streets enjoy leafy vistas and quiet-but-central positioning near Bowral’s café scene.

18

Moss Vale Golf Club

13 votes

Regarded as one of NSW’s top country courses, Moss Vale offers undulating fairways, autumn-coloured maples and a heritage clubhouse popular for weddings. The destination restaurant and on-site motel draw visiting foursomes, injecting weekend spend that ripples through local shops and bakeries.

19

Moss Vale Aquatic Centre

10 votes

An all-season 25-metre heated pool, kids’ splash zone, modern gym and group-fitness studios make this facility a health hub for every age. Learn-to-swim programs, aqua-aerobics and school carnivals ensure constant buzz, encouraging an active lifestyle even through chilly Highlands winters.

20

Southern Highlands Christian School

10 votes

This non-denominational K-12 campus emphasises personalised learning, outdoor education and community service on a peaceful Mittagong site. Small class sizes, modern STEM labs and a supportive parent network appeal to families seeking a values-rich alternative—bolstering demand for nearby rentals and starter homes.