Bundanoon

Nestled in the hills of the Southern Highlands, the charming village of Bundanoon is a quaint hamlet with a distinct Scottish ambience. Explore tree-lined streets and historic sandstone buildings framed in cherry blossoms, follow bushwalking and cycling trails, and enjoy the spectacle of the Bundanoon Highland Gathering festival.

Fairy Bower Falls at Bundanoon in Southern Highlands, Country NSW

Fairy Bower Falls, Bundanoon

Wilderness & waterfalls

With dramatic waterfalls, abundant wildlife and spectacular escarpment lookouts, Morton National Park offers superb wilderness to explore, a stone’s throw from Bundanoon. Take in the beauty of Fairy Bower Falls on a one-hour loop walk through tranquil bushland or enjoy scenic views on the Lovers, Riverview and Mount Carnarvon walking tracks.

An evening visit to the magical Glow Worm Glen is a must-do, with hundreds of larvae of fungus gnats producing an iridescent light show at night. The best time to see the glowing larvae is December to February, with the walk there through lush bushland taking about an hour return. Don’t forget to bring a torch to light the path.

Cycling mural on the side of the Cafe Bike Shop in Bundanoon, Southern Highlands

Cafe Bike Shop, Bundanoon

Cycling trails

The undulating roads and trails winding through the national park are perfect for cycling. Explore the Bundanoon cycling route with picnic spots and rewarding views from lookouts along the way. You can hone your cycling skills with Wild Horizon Outdoor Tours , which offers mountain biking clinics, private lessons and adventure tours.

 

Bundanoon Highland Gathering

The big drawcard on the Bundanoon events calendar and a great family day out, the Bundanoon Highland Gathering attracts thousands of people to the tiny village each April to celebrate all things Scottish. Join in the fun and the spectacle and see pipe bands, Highland dancing, feats of strength, live music and traditional Scottish games like caber tossing.

Caber tossing at the Bundanoon Highland Gathering Festival, Southern Highlands

Highland Gathering Festival, Bundanoon

Country pubs & restaurants

For a tiny village, Bundanoon offers plenty of choices for places to eat, with quality restaurants, cafes and bakeries. Linger over a traditional Italian long lunch at Bottega B Ristorante or stop in for a delicious gingerbread latte at the Potter’s Pantry. Visit The Bundanoon Hotel, a classic country pub built in 1922 and surrounded by superb gardens.

 

Getting there

Bundanoon is a 2hr 15min drive from Sydney and just under two hours from Canberra. You can also catch a direct train from Sydney and the journey takes around two hours. There are places to stay for various budgets, from hotels to guesthouses, cosy cottages and a health retreat.