Blue Mountains

Everglades House & Gardens

With acclaimed landscaped gardens ablaze in autumnal colour and sweeping views across Jamison Valley, Everglades House & Gardens is a stunning place to while away a day in the Blue Mountains, on Dharug and Gundungurra Country. Tour the glamorous Art-Deco house then follow the curving paths down to a tranquil grotto while admiring seasonal blooms like Windflowers and Mexican Sage. Don’t forget to make time for tea in the striking Everglades House & Gardens tea rooms before you leave – the cloud like scones with ruby-red jam and cream will have you marking your diary for a return visit.

Make it a weekend…

Stop for coffee and croissants at Black Cockatoo Bakery in Lawson – the queue of locals winding out the doors is testament to the perfectly flakey, buttery pastries on offer. Stroll through the pretty town centre of Leura where you’ll find vintage clothing and furniture boutiques, independent book seller Megalong Books and The Candy Store, an old-fashioned sweet shop, tucked away in an arcade and brimming with glass jars of sugary treats. Later, gaze out over a panoramic vista of valleys presided over by the ancient sandstone rock formation of the Three Sisters at Echo Point. End your stay with dinner at Ates in Blackheath with elegant, Mediterranean-influenced sharing plates and natural wines.

Norman Lindsay Gallery

Combine an Autumn escape with an exploration of art at Norman Lindsay Gallery in the lower Blue Mountains. Nestled in the in the heart of Faulconbridge, on Dharug and Gundungurra Country, the original sandstone cottage is home to significant works by Norman Lindsay, as well as the painting studio of the Australian artist. After visiting the gallery, step outside for a walk through the sculpture garden to take in the changing colours of the season, then end your visit with a scenic bushwalk with spectacular views over the blue-tinted Grose Valley.

Make it a weekend…

Join the locals for breakfast at Vincent, a buzzy restaurant known for good coffee and a contemporary take on classic dishes in Glenbrook. Browse through the nearby homewares boutiques then stock up on antipasti treats at Con’s Continental Deli. Just south of Glenbrook Village is Jellybean Pool, a picturesque natural swimming spot perfect for a refreshing cold-water dip. Book ahead for a special dinner at Arrana in Springwood, which features a fine-dining menu focusing on native ingredients or for a more casual vibe head down to the foothills of the mountains to cult brewery Mountain Culture where you’ll find award-winning craft beers and a rotating line-up of food trucks.

Southern Highlands

Retford Park

With foliage scaling the colour chart from deep burgundy to radiant yellow, the stately deciduous trees of Retford Park make the gardens a glorious place to spend a sunny Autumn weekend. Stroll through piles of rustling leaves while admiring the grand Victorian-Italianate villa, painted in soft pink with intricate lace-like white ironwork. Book ahead for a house tour to see the elegant interiors designed by Leslie Walford AM and significant artworks curated by James Fairfax AC, one of Australia’s foremost art collectors and philanthropists who gifted the house and gardens to the National Trust. Make sure you leave time to visit both White Cottage Gallery and Ngununggula before you depart Retford Park. Known for inspiring and thought-provoking exhibitions, they make for a fitting end to a visit to a place that has played a significant role in the evolution of Australian art.

On Monday 20 April, Retford Park will be celebrating 15 years of the Southern Highlands Autumn Gardens Weekend and Plant Fair. Book a house tour and garden visit or discover how honey is harvested with a hands-on experience at Bowral Honey Farm, which is located on the grounds of the estate.

Make it a weekend…

A line-up of elegant eateries and cafes line the pretty streets of Bowral. Head to The Press Shop, where the stylish interiors are matched by light dishes focused on organic produce, indulge in locally made cakes and tarts at the Plantation Cafe or opt for elevated bistro fare at local favourite Harry’s on Green Lane. You can’t leave the Southern Highlands without indulging in a spot of antiques shopping. Discover a unique edit of vintage homewares at Found Antiques Bowral and an ever-changing curation from dozens of independent dealers nearby at Dirty Janes. The nearby village of Moss Vale also offers a plethora of places to eat and shop including stylish homewares stores Suzie Anderson Home and Hunter and Gatherer Collections, and excellent coffee and delectable edible goods crafted from local produce at the What If Society and Flour Bar.

Harpers Mansion

Looking out over the charming town of Berrima, Harpers Mansion has a storybook quality, with an enchanting Georgian House, pretty gardens bursting with rare camelias and inky purple irises, as well as a life-size hedge maze. During Autumn wander through the Woodland Walk amongst drifts of crisp, rustling leaves, step back in time with a tour of the 19th century house, then see how quickly you can find your way around the puzzling twists and turns of the maze.

Make it a weekend

The quintessential Southern Highlands Village, Berrima is imbued with the bucolic charm the region is known for. Spend a morning or afternoon browsing the inviting collection of shops housed in the historic buildings bordering the Old Hume Highway. Laying claim to the title of Australia’s oldest continuously licensed inn, the Surveyor-General Inn serves up classic country pub dishes at Bistro 1834. For a sweet finish, visit Baked in Berrima or Gumnut Patisserie where you’ll find rows of creamy quiches, silky chocolate eclairs and glazed fruit tarts.

New England

Saumarez Homestead

A drawcard of the New England region, the expansive Edwardian estate Saumarez Homestead is imbued with rural beauty and historic charm. Come Autumn the lawns are carpeted with a golden blanket of leaves shaken from the boughs of enormous Gingko biloba trees. There are also swathes of swaying windflowers and a rolling pastoral landscape scattered with grazing cattle to admire. At the centre is the graceful two-storey house, which offers a fascinating glimpse into life in the 19th century with a stunning collection of furniture, fashion and decorative arts. Extend your stay at Saumrez Homestead with our new accommodation, located onsite. The thoughtfully designed eco-tourism cabins and heritage Thomas House are the perfect place to stop, unwind and enjoy laid-back country living.

Make it a weekend

Drop into Herdies Coffee for a caffeine fix and baked treats before taking to the streets to admire the built heritage of this rural city, with stunning architecture dating back to 1860. Independent bookseller Reader’s Companion has plenty of inspiration for reading material if you plan on curling up with a book or seek out nature at Wollomombi Falls, where the main lookout offers a dramatic view of Australia’s second highest waterfall. Take a drive to Uralla for dinner, where the historic Bolt Inn has been meticulously restored and serves up classic pub dishes using ingredients sourced from local producers.

Southern Tablelands

Riversdale

Originally established as a coaching inn in the late 1830s, the pretty heritage house and gardens of Riversdale meld centuries of history with beauty. Autumn is a particularly lovely time to visit, when the burnished hues of the season cast an alluring glow over the meandering gardens. Wander through the original paddocks and outbuildings, then tour the cosy Georgian home, admiring stunning historical botanical art and intricately carved colonial furniture. Don’t miss picking up a jar or two of homemade jam from the National Trust shop which has been crafted by volunteers using fruit from the property’s heritage gardens.

Make it a weekend

Take a self-guided heritage tour of Goulburn and admire the stately historic buildings of Australia’s first proclaimed inland city. Nearby in the town of Collector you will find Some Cafe. Housed in a picturesque rustic building, it’s the perfect place to stop for lunch and pick up homemade preserves, honey and muesli. Also in Collector is award-winning boutique winery Collector Wines, which has a cellar door located in a beautiful c.1830s bakery. Take a pause to admire the serene waters of Lake George while you are in the region – although that is if it is there – this intriguing body of water has fascinated locals and visitors for years with its bewitching ability to rise or fall over an unexpectedly short period of time.