The Southern Highlands area is renowned as a beautiful place in which to live.  There is natural beauty in abundance with spectacular scenery extending from rolling hills and pastures to picturesque waterfalls and natural bushland in nearby national parks. The shopping is well known for its variety including the shops in town, the local markets, unusual specialty shops, craft shops, book outlets and antiques. The many open gardens are inspiring, especially in autumn when the beauty of these well-established private gardens can be captivating. Cold region wineries abound, many of which offer a delightful dining experience as well as cellar door tastings and sales. The old-world villages which are dotted around the shire provide a feeling of yesteryear in quaint main streets and monthly country markets.

The Southern Highlands area is not only a beautiful place to live with a distinct country atmosphere, it is also well serviced with a choice of pre-schools, schools, a TAFE and university campus, supermarkets, medical services, cultural activities, varied dining options, sporting activities, art and craft galleries, musical performances, choirs, orchestras, drama groups, organic food outlets, hairdressers, variety of therapists (including massage and beauty therapy) and a wide variety of community groups working actively in the community. Many leisure activities are available including golf on one of the many attractive local courses, polo, horse riding, cricket, football, soccer, baseball, basketball, archery, bowls, walking and cycling trails. There are a number of specialised function facilities and conference venues. Museums are dotted through the towns and villages and there are many interesting places and attractions to enjoy or share with visitors.

The Southern Highlands are ideally located within easy driving distance of Sydney (less than one and a half hours), Canberra (two hours), Wollongong (45 minutes) and the south coast. There are numerous weekend day trips to spectacular locations, and many of the locals drive to Sydney for evening shows and attractions. The climate is generally mild in summer with beautiful autumns followed by crisp mountain winters – often with a sprinkle of snow once or twice a year. Add to this the ease of moving around the district with little traffic or congestion and it is clear why people love living here.

For more information about the Highlands go to www.southern-highlands.com.au