A taste trail through the NSW Southern Highlands

Start your day at Moonacres Kitchen in Robertson which brings in fresh produce from both its nearby regenerative farm and its neighbours, to create an ever changing array of bright, nourishing seasonal dishes. And if you’ve ever wanted to dig a little deeper into your food knowledge, Moonacres School runs weekend cooking classes focused on seasonal wellness themes that’ll have you cooking hands-on with joy.

For a quieter start, The Press Shop in Bowral is all minimalist interiors, soft sunlight and refined bakes – a coffee and eggs benny kind of pause that feels like permission to take your time. One pastry? Maybe two.

This is a region that knows how to lunch – slowly, deliciously and without restraint. In Berrima, Eschalot offers a refined paddock-to-plate menu inside a heritage-listed stone cottage that feels timeless but never stuffy. The food is beautifully crafted – hyper-seasonal, thoughtfully plated and deeply satisfying.

Prefer your meal with a backdrop of bookshelves and a roaring fireplace? Head to Bendooley Estate’s Book Barn, where crackling fires and shelves of books make the perfect setting for slow conversation, generous, produce-led plates and ambling through aisles to find the next addition for your TBR pile. Honestly, they had me at food and books under the same roof.

If you’re still around after dark, Fire Kitchen at Osborn House delivers moody, open-fire dining with a modern Highlands twist. Think crispy local mushrooms slicked with garlic kewpie, fire-smoked lamb shoulder that falls apart on the fork and that blissful, unmistakable feeling of every craving being completely, deliciously met. Want to take it up a notch? Stay the night in one of Osborn’s Forest Lodges and wander back to your private haven, where views of Morton National Park stretch endlessly and you can take advantage of the Forest Bathing Deck with its ice bath, sauna, jacuzzi, fire pit and unbeatable views (exclusive for Forest Lodge guests only).

There’s something about seeing where your food comes from that settles the soul. At Bowral Honey Farm, you can suit up and meet the bees, taste raw honey and learn how the hive works. Take your pick from immersive experiences that range from honey-infused cocktail making and leisurely long lunches to simple, soul-warming morning teas.

Mussett Holdings invites visitors into their regenerative rhythm – collect and stamp eggs, pat animals and see sustainability in motion. Over at Fungi Co, an underground mushroom tunnel turns into a sensory masterclass in fungi and a fascinating history lesson all wrapped in one.

If “mindful movement with a snack at the end” is your kind of wellness, try seasonal picking at Cedar Creek Orchard (persimmons and peaches are a highlight) or juicy-for-days strawberries at Berrylicious.

Looking for something wild? Experience Nature hosts gentle, guided foraging walks for edible plants and pine mushrooms in autumn. Meat lovers can make a beeline for Maugers Meats, where the focus is on ethical, grass-fed cuts sourced locally and sold through their traditional butcheries in Moss Vale and Bowral.

And come winter, you can follow trained truffle dogs through the oaks at Robertson Truffles, finishing with a meal crafted from local produce (and of course truffles) you won’t forget.

Keen to stock up on local produce before you leave? Railway Street Fresh Food & Produce Market is all colour, community and straight-from-the-farm goodness – no middlemen, just growers and great stories. Head to the Crop Swap in Robertson if you have a surplus of anything from homegrown veg to magazines, glass jars or even just good cheer. It’s a friendly local exchange where you can trade what you have or simply pick up fresh produce for free, no strings attached. The curated Co-op Growers Market in Bowral is another gem, compact and full of top-tier veg, flowers, preserves and local fare. If you’re unsure what’s in season, just ask – the stallholders will steer you in the right direction.