On a Saturday morning, Mum and I made the 1.5 hour trip up to Bowral in the Southern Highlands, NSW. Bowral is the largest town in the Southern Highlands and serves as a glorious rural retreat for both Sydneysiders and Canberrans, all throughout the year. Best known for it’s picturesque location, boutiques, antique stores and gourmet cafes and restaurants; Bowral is a great spot for a quick day trip, or weekend stay.
As Mum and I began the drive up from Canberra to this gorgeous countryside, I started to realise that I need to start doing this more often. Living in Canberra means that we are so lucky to live in an area where we are surrounded by some truly magical country towns – and they need to be explored! Who agree’s that there is nothing better than taking a day or two out from city life, and immersing yourself in the calm and relaxed countryside environment? I sure do!
Raw & Wild Market & Cafe
This was literally my heaven in a store. Organic fruit and veggies, wholefoods, healthy snacks and treats – I could of definitely spent lots of money in here! Part market and part cafe, this place was a hustle and a bustle and although we didn’t eat here, I am definitely planning to next time!
Babilonia
This is a cute lifestyle store situated in an old converted home – which made for a gorgeous fitting inside. This store stocks some renowned contemporary designers with a range of fashion, jewellery, home-wares and candles.
Lancelot Hill Antiques
This antique store was pretty wild and wacky, but a great one to explore nonetheless! I was immediately drawn to its mystical, overgrown storefront, and inside stocked some real treasures.
Suzie Anderson Home
I’m not kidding when I say that my mouth literally fell.to.the.floor when we stepped foot inside Suzie Anderson Home. Think European homeware pieces, mixed with Hampton’s styling – this store had me imagining just how I would style every aspect of my future home even down to the bathroom sink…
Dirty Jane’s Tea Salon
After walking and shopping around for a good couple of hours, we were feeling a little peckish and decided to treat ourselves to afternoon tea! Mum had a few pieces in Dirty Jane’s that she had her eye on, and I remembered seeing a tea room located inside the Emporium, so we decided to check it out – and oh my, I am so glad we did!
It’s one of those perfect little hideaway cafes, which was super cosy and provided a fantastic high tea offering. Mum and I shared the high tea which had some incredible tea cakes and mini sandwiches, as well as some very different, but equally delicious flower inspired green tea!
Bowral, and the entire Southern Highlands area truly is a fantastic place to visit, even just for a day trip like we did. Next time I plan on visiting for the entire weekend, and staying at one of the many luxury manor houses or hotels that are on offer!
This piece was originally published here on A Stylish Moment.
Image source: A Stylish Moment.