Dog-Friendly Southern Highlands, NSW: Visiting with a Dog

Just over one hour southwest of the centre of Sydney, it’s not long after leaving behind the sprawling suburbs that you’ll arrive at the start of the Southern Highlands region. Home to country estates, historic villages and cool-climate vineyards, it’s perfect for a weekend away from Sydney.

Centred around the towns of Bowral and Moss Vale, this NSW region offers up plenty of dog-friendly choices, including many accommodation options. In winter time it’s tempting to just curl up next to a roaring fire, with a dusting of snow possible on the coldest days. But that’s not the only option for a dog-friendly getaway to the Southern Highlands…

Dog-Friendly Sightseeing in the Southern Highlands

Whether visiting the Southern Highlands for just the day or a long weekend, fill your days with some of these dog-friendly things to do.

#1 Explore Berrima’s Heritage

My favourite village in all of the Southern Highlands is Berrima, and it’s a great spot to visit with you pup. Established in 1831, Berrima is the only largely preserved example of an Australian Georgian colonial town.

Two of the most significant buildings are the Berrima Court House and Old Berrima Gaol, both built in the 1830s. The surviving Surveyor General Inn, a dog-friendly pub, also dates to the same decade.

Due to the railway line bypassing the town, there were no new buildings built in the town for decades, and its historic buildings have been largely retained. These days the the village as a whole is listed on the Register of the National Estate, with many individual buildings heritage listed.

To explore the town on foot along with your pup, follow the Berrima Historic Walk, commencing at the Berrima District Museum. You can buy the map for a small fee at the museum or download it online. Follow the route to find out more about over 30 historical sites around Berrima.

#2 Walk Along the Wingecarribee River

In addition to the Berrima Historic Walk, Berrima is also home to another popular dog-friendly walk, the Berrima River Walk.

This walk starts at the Berrima Reserve at the end of Oxley Street and follows the Wingecarribee River. There are signs along the way about the constructions by the Germans interned in the area during World War I. It’s possible to download a brochure about the walk from the above site, or just refer to the large sign at the start of the walk.

The walk is 1.8km long in each direction and relatively flat. Allow about an hour return for the walk. I’ve heard reports that dogs are allowed off-leash along part of the track – follow the signs. It’s also a great spot for a dog paddle in the river during the summer months.

#3 Follow in Bradman’s Footsteps

One of the region’s most famous sons is Sir Donald Bradman, the legendary Australian cricketeer with an average of just under 100 runs. He grew up in the town of Bowral, and these days the local cricket oval, where he played many times in the 1920s and his ashes were scattered after his death, has been renamed after him.

While the Bradman Museum and International Cricket Hall of Fame isn’t open to four-legged visitors, don’t miss checking out the statue of Don Bradman located just outside it or taking a walk around Bradman Oval with your pup on a leash. Dogs are also allowed in the outdoor area of the onsite cafe.

For devout cricket fans, the 1.7km long Bradman Walk starts from the museum, visiting a variety of sites associated with Bradman, including his childhood home only a few blocks away. Your pup is welcome to join you on a leash.

#4 Visit a Dog-Friendly Winery

The Southern Highlands is a small but premier cool-climate wine growing region, and many of the cellar doors dotted around the area are dog-friendly.

My top pick is Artemis Wine, who made myself and my pup feel very welcome. Dogs aren’t allowed inside, but in outdoor areas on a leash. Make a booking for a tasting outside the cellar door, and the staff will regularly pop outside to pour you a tasting.

A small charge applies for tastings, which isn’t just limited to wines. The vineyard also has a distillery onsite, producing a range of spirits, including gin, Eau De Vie, brandy, whisky and Chinese-style Baijiu spirits. The spirits are also available to taste.

If you’d like to stay longer, book a spot on the lawn overlooking the vineyard, with cheese and charcuterie platters available to purchase from Monday to Friday, as well as wood-fired pizzas on the weekend.

Another excellent winery in the Southern Highlands region is Centennial Vineyards. Located just outside of Bowral, the cellar door is one of the most highly awarded in the region. It’s open daily for paid guided wine tastings, with bookings recommended.

The cellar door is very pet-friendly, with pets allowed inside for tastings next to the gas fireplace. Alternatively, sit at the outdoor terrace bar (complete with gas heaters) overlooking the vines, where you can order glasses of wine and grazing boards.

#5 Explore an Historic Property

The Southern Highlands is home to two National Trust properties that welcome dogs to join you, although only in the gardens.

On the edge of Bowral, head to Retford Park. Built in the late 19th-century, this Victorian Italianate homestead is surrounded by gorgeous heritage gardens, dotted with sculptures. Prior to being handed over to the National Trust, the property was owned by James Fairfax AC, an avid lover of dogs, so it’s no wonder the gardens are dog-friendly.

The gardens of Retford Park are open year round from Thursday to Sunday. I visited the gardens during early Spring in September, but there are different flowers blooming year round. The pool house built in the 1960s is surprisingly modern, while the expansive lawns are great for walks and perhaps a picnic with your pup.

Harper’s Mansion is located in Berrima and is open on weekends between 11am and 3pm. Built in the 1830s like many of Berrima’s other historical buildings, the modest “mansion” is surrounded by cool-climate gardens, including one of the largest hedge mazes in Australia. Dogs are welcome to join you in the gardens, including in the maze.

At both Retford Park and Harper’s Mansion, make sure you keep your dog on a leash at all times and clean up after them. Plus note that dogs are not allowed inside on the tours.

#6 Browse the Local Shops

The Southern Highlands is a great shopping destination, especially for antiques and homewares. It’s still possible to fit in some shopping on a visit with your pup. In Berrima, Sticky Beaks Vintage Emporium on Jellore Street has a large sign out the front welcoming dogs.

In the centre of Bowral, head to Dirty Janes. This vintage emporium with over 80 stallholders is a delight to explore, and also dog-friendly. I’ve also heard reports that many shops in Moss Vale are dog-friendly – just always ask at the door.

#7 Follow the Cherry Tree Walk

There are plenty of dog-friendly walks on the Southern Highlands. A great option that is just a gentle stroll is the Cherry Tree Walk in Bowral.

Over 500 cherry trees have been planted as part of a Vietnam War Memorial along the Mittagong Rivulet. The cherry tress stretch for just over 1km from the Bowral Swimming Centre to Boolwey Street, close to Bradman Oval, but you can continue further along the walking path.

The walk is best appreciated during August or September, during the blooming of the cherry trees. The exact time of blossoming may vary from year to year, but many blossoms were flowering all over Bowral when I recently visited in mid-September.

The walk is also great during the Autumn months when the leaves turn colour. There’s plenty of parking available at the Bowral Swimming Centre, or walk from the centre of Bowral. Just remember to keep your dog on a leash.

#8 Sniff the Tulips at Tulip Time

In recent years, there hasn’t been a Dogs Day Out at Tulip Time, the yearly celebrations of tulips that takes part each year in Bowral’s Corbett Gardens. And unfortunately, dogs are generally prohibited from the popular festival.

However, in 2024, the Dogs Day Out returned – held on the final day of the festival. Hopefully the day also returns in 2025! Buy a ticket for yourself and bring along your pup – just keep them leashed and clean up after them.

During the rest of the year, dogs are allowed in Corbett Park, on a leash. And there are still some small plantings of tulips around the rest of Bowral that you can spot with your pup in September, although I was more taken by the blossom trees on my recent visit.

Dog-Friendly Parks in the Southern Highlands

Amongst the many parks in the Southern Highlands region are four off-leash dog parks, roughly one for each of the larger towns. The off-leash areas are located at:

• The western end of Alexandra Square, in Mittagong
• A central section of Centennial Park, in Bowral
• The southeast half of Seymour Park, in Moss Vale (including a Stick Library!)
• Jordan’s Crossing, just north of Bindar Crescent, in Bundanoon

The Seymour Park Dog Park in particular is extremely large and loved by locals and visitors alike. The main access through a double gate is located along Lovelle Street, but there are also some other gates around the boundary of the large park, that extends down to the creek. There’s also a Stick Library near the main entrance.

Each of the other off-leash exercise areas are also now fenced, including the latest fenced dog park at Jordan’s Crossing. Check out the signs at each park indicating the rules for usage, including to keep your pet under effective control.

Dog-Friendly Cafes in the Southern Highlands

The most dog-friendly cafe in the region is RAW & WILD Market & Cafe in Bowral. As well as dogs being welcome in the outdoor dining area, they also have their own menu. In the past it has included Doggie Organic Beef Pasta, plus ask about Dogacinos.

The cafe can also provide mats and water bowls for your pooch. Enter the outdoor dining area directly from the carpark at the rear of the cafe. If making a booking online, tick the box that you are bringing a dog.

Elsewhere in Bowral, dogs are welcome at the outdoor tables at Harry’s on Green Lane, one of the charming cafes located along Green Lane just outside Dirty Jane’s. Open daily for lunch and on Friday and Saturday evening for dinner, bookings are essential – just select to sit outside.

A popular patisserie (and pie shop) on the Southern Highlands is the Gumnut Patisserie, with stores in Berrima, Bowral and Mittagong. At the Bowral store, there’s a hook to tie up your dog while you pop inside, plus tables outside. Or head to the quieter Berrima branch.

Alternatively, continue driving south to the long-running Robertson Pie Shop. The shop has a huge range of sweet and savoury pies, in small and large sizes, available for takeaway.

Dog-Friendly Restaurants on the Southern Highlands

Hickory’s Restaurant and Bar is located in the historic homestead at Peppers Craigieburn, just outside of Bowral. Just as the resort is pet-friendly, this contemporary restaurant is also pet-friendly, with pets welcome to join you on the verandah for lunch, dinner or a high tea in the sunshine.

In particular, Pet-Friendly Patio Sundays are held each week. Make a booking for yourself and your four-legged friends for an enjoyable outing to Peppers Craigieburn, enjoying pet-friendly dining in beautiful surrounds – perhaps also take your pet for a stroll through the spacious grounds?

Dogs are also welcome to join you for lunch on the outdoor terrace of the Book Barn Restaurant, located at Bendooley Estate, outside of Berrima. Bookings are recommended – choose the Restaurant Terrace option. Note however that the area is weather dependant, and dogs are strictly to be kept leashed and outside of the buildings.

Dog-Friendly Pubs on the Southern Highlands

If it’s a cosy dog-friendly pub you’re after, head to the Surveyor General Inn in Berrima. At this historic pub dating back to 1834, Australia’s oldest continuously licensed inn, dogs are allowed in the front bar, to relax with you next to the fire. It’s best to book a table on weekends.

Dogs are also welcome at the Burrawang Village Hotel. Dogs are allowed on a lead anywhere in the garden and outdoor areas. Bookings are also advised on weekends.

Dog-Friendly Accommodation in the Southern Highlands

There’s a wide variety of pet-friendly accommodation options available on the Southern Highlands. During my recent visit, I stayed at Peppers Craigieburn, a great option for a luxurious weekend away with your pet.

Peppers Craigieburn is a country estate on the outskirts of Bowral, centre around a homestead built in the late 19th century, but long run as a guest house. The highlight of the property are its extensive gardens and nine-hole golf course – there are no shortage of pretty spots to walk your dog!

A handful of rooms have been designated as pet-friendly – make sure you book one when booking on the website. Pets are also allowed to join you on the verandah of Hickory’s Restaurant and Bar (see above), where a buffet breakfast is also served in the mornings.

Read more about my recent stay at Peppers Craigieburn.

More Pet-Friendly Accommodation Options

Another place to stay with pets on the Southern Highlands is Bundanoon Lodge, a luxurious but homely bed and breakfast just outside Bundanoon. It’s best to book directly with the lodge, so that there is no additional charge for your dog.

Dogs are permitted only with prior arrangement, in all but two of the guest rooms. Up to two small dogs or one large dog is permitted per room and you’ll definitely meet the resident poodle, Milly at breakfast. For more details, see their regulations.

Alternatively, consider Links House in Bowral, a small hotel that was built in 1928 and aims to capture the charm of that era. Small pets are welcome to stay with you in two rooms – call to discuss the options available. A full a la carte breakfast is included with all stays in the onsite restaurant.

There are also a wide variety of holiday cottages to rent on the Southern Highlands, varying in size between small couples ideal for couples to larger houses for groups. Some options allow pets – always double check the full rules in advance.

Dog-Friendly Camping on the Southern Highlands

If you have your own caravan, both the Mittagong Caravan Park and Moss Vale Village Caravan Park are pet-friendly, but only on sites. There are also a small number of sites to book at the Moss Vale Showground, or try and book one of the four sites at Berrima River Reserve. A fee of $18 applies per night, with a maximum stay of two nights. Facilities are basic but it’s beautifully located in historic Berrima.

For a stay out in the bush, head to Wollondilly River Station. The farm is located down Wombeyan Caves Road, 50km west of Berrima. (Note that about 45 minutes of the drive is along a windy and bumpy dirt road, with a 4WD recommended after the floods of recent years.)

All pets are welcome, and previous guests have loved that dogs are allowed off-leash, plus the beautiful spread-out campsites.

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