Self-guided audio tour

Southern Highland Discovery Day Tour

Wollongong
Southern Highland Discovery Day TourDriving tour
Driving7h 30m83 km7 stops

The Southern Highland Discovery Day Tour is a self-guided GPS audio driving tour through the Southern Highlands region of New South Wales, south-west of Sydney. The route covers approximately 83 km and is designed for around 7 hours 30 minutes, exploring the area's historic villages, cool-climate gardens, and scenic highland landscape above the escarpment. It is available in the QuokkaGuide app for AUD $9.99 as a one-off purchase on iOS and Android. GPS narration plays automatically at each stop, providing history and local context for the Southern Highlands' towns and countryside. The tour works fully offline after downloading, reliable on rural highland roads. It suits history buffs, garden lovers, and weekend travellers from Sydney and Canberra who want a narrated, self-paced drive through the Southern Highlands without a guided group, minibus, or fixed itinerary.

About this drive

Escape the everyday and step into the timeless beauty of the Southern Highlands, where nature, history, and culture weave together into a perfect day of discovery. This guided journey invites you to experience the region’s most enchanting landscapes and townships, each with its own story to tell.

The adventure begins among the waterfalls of Morton and Budderoo National Parks, where the roar of water tumbling over sandstone cliffs sets the scene. From Carrington Falls to Belmore Falls and Fitzroy Falls, each stop reveals a different face of the escarpment, reminding us of the ancient forces that shaped this landscape and the deep cultural significance it holds for the Traditional Custodians. These falls are more than just natural wonders—they’re living symbols of the Southern Highlands’ wild heart.

From nature to heritage, the tour then leads into Berrima, one of Australia’s best-preserved Georgian villages. Walking its tree-lined streets and admiring sandstone cottages, you’ll feel transported back to the 1830s, when convicts, settlers, and travellers passed through on their journeys south. Yet Berrima is no museum piece—today it thrives with art galleries, cosy cafés, and boutique shops, offering a blend of history and modern country charm.

A short drive brings you to the elegance of Bendooley Estate, where the Highlands’ creative spirit comes alive. Surrounded by rolling vineyards and manicured gardens, the estate is famous for its fine wines and the iconic Book Barn—a haven for food, literature, and culture lovers alike. Here, the pace slows, inviting you to savour local flavours and soak in the estate’s peaceful atmosphere.

The day concludes in Bowral, the beating heart of the Highlands. Known for its vibrant gardens, boutique shopping, and gourmet delights, Bowral combines sophistication with country warmth. It’s also a place of sporting legend—the hometown of Sir Donald Bradman—and a cultural hub that celebrates both tradition and creativity. Whether you wander through Corbett Gardens, explore antique stores, or simply enjoy the relaxed café culture, Bowral offers the perfect finale to the day.

Threading through every stop is a single story: the Southern Highlands as a place where nature, history, and lifestyle converge. From waterfalls shaped over millions of years, to villages that preserve Australia’s colonial past, to vineyards and townships alive with contemporary energy—the Highlands invite you to pause, reflect, and connect with something larger than yourself.

By day’s end, you’ll have traced a journey that flows like the waterfalls themselves—beginning in the wild, cascading through history, and settling into the warmth of community life. This is not just a tour, but a discovery of the Southern Highlands’ enduring spirit.

Preview the audio

Southern Highland Discovery Day Tour0:00 / 0:00

7 stops on this route

Stories trigger by GPS as you arrive — no tapping while you drive.

Start — pick up the route anywhere
1
Illawarra Fly Treetop Adventures
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2
Carrington Falls
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3
Belmore Falls Lookout
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4
Fitzroy Falls Lookout
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5
Berrima
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6
Bendooley Estate
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7
Bowral
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Finish — 83 km of stories behind you
$9.99AUD · one-time
Virtual Tour
Offline maps & audio included
Lifetime access — replay anytime
Works without mobile signal
Turn-by-turn navigation
Buy once and your tour is yours for life — replay it on every trip.

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Good to know

Questions, answered

How this self-guided audio tour works — before you buy.

The route covers approximately 83 km and is designed for around 7 hours 30 minutes of self-guided driving and stops. It costs AUD $9.99 as a one-time purchase in the QuokkaGuide app.
The tour passes through the Southern Highlands' historic townships and rural landscape, with GPS audio at each stop describing the history of villages, heritage buildings, and notable gardens in the region.
The Discovery Day Tour covers a broader range of Southern Highlands highlights including villages and scenery, while the Vineyards Day Tour focuses specifically on cellar doors and wine. Both tours are purchased separately.
Yes. The Southern Highlands sit between Sydney and Canberra, making it accessible from both cities. The 83 km route fills a full day and fits well into a weekend based in the region.
Yes. Once downloaded in the QuokkaGuide app, audio, maps, and GPS triggers all function offline. Rural highland roads with limited coverage will not interrupt the narration.
Southern Highland Discovery Day Tour
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