{"id":215605,"date":"2020-08-11T12:21:52","date_gmt":"2020-08-11T02:21:52","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.australiantraveller.com\/?p=215605"},"modified":"2023-02-17T11:47:36","modified_gmt":"2023-02-17T00:47:36","slug":"bowral-accommodation","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.australiantraveller.com\/nsw\/southern-highlands\/bowral\/bowral-accommodation\/","title":{"rendered":"10 places to stay in Bowral and surrounds"},"content":{"rendered":"
From a weatherboard cottage in the centre of town to an architectural icon and all manner of elegant country estates.<\/h5>\n

A trip to the NSW Southern Highlands<\/a> makes for the ideal country retreat \u2013 if your ideal country retreat involves a distinctly English flavour and a croquet lawn. Bowral<\/a>, its main hub, is the place to base yourself to soak up all the region has to offer in terms of cafe culture, antique trawling, wine tasting, nature and history.<\/p>\n

By the 1880s Bowral, had become a fashionable summer retreat for Sydney\u2019s gentry and a volume of great estates were constructed as a result \u2013 well over a century later, many of them are operating as unique hotel stays.<\/p>\n

Here\u2019s our pick of the region\u2019s elegant manors with a sprinkling of cottages, coach houses and other unique stays thrown in for good measure.<\/p>\n

1. Peppers Manor House<\/h2>\n

For the quintessential Southern Highlands country retreat experience, check into Peppers Manor House<\/a>. A 15-minute drive from Bowral in Sutton Forest, this elegant old pile was built in 1926 and has been fashionably repurposed while retaining its heritage charm and old-world appeal. It has 43 rooms and suites plus a range of inviting common spaces you\u2019ll want to linger in.<\/p>\n

\"Peppers

Peppers Manor House was built in 1926 and has been fashionably repurposed.<\/p><\/div>\n

During the cooler months, make yourself at home next to the roaring open fireplace in the Great Hall. And in summer, station yourself beside the pool with a drink or in the leafy courtyard for lunch or dinner \u2013 the hotel is home to hatted restaurant Katers. While you\u2019re there, you can also indulge in such gentile pursuits as billiards, badminton, croquet or simply the fine art of drinking tea.<\/p>\n

\"Peppers

The quintessential Southern Highlands country retreat experience can be found at Peppers Manor House.<\/p><\/div>\n

2. Peppers Craigieburn Bowral<\/h2>\n

Another elegant old country estate that\u2019s now part of the Peppers portfolio, Craigieburn<\/a> is a breezy five-minute drive from the centre of Bowral. It has 72 guest rooms across the arboreally named Elms and Morton wings, some with gorgeous French doors that open onto a shaded balcony and some with views of the golf course \u2013 which is a star attraction in its own right.<\/p>\n

The nine-hole Craigieburn Hickory Golf Course is over 100 years old and guests can look to resident golfing pro Roger Podmore for help perfecting their swing. You can also try the hybrid game of foot golf out for size, have a round of tennis or play a game of billiards. And, when you\u2019ve worked up an appetite, dine in Hickory\u2019s Restaurant and Bar or enjoy a laid-back picnic on the gracious grounds.<\/p>\n

\"Peppers

Craigieburn is another elegant old country estate that\u2019s part of the Peppers portfolio. (Image: Destination NSW)<\/p><\/div>\n

3. Seidler House<\/h2>\n

This one is for the architecture buffs: built into rock face, this is the most iconic private home built by the late Harry Seidler \u2013 Australia\u2019s great modernist architect. Seidler House<\/a> is located in the old Southern Highlands ghost town of Joadja, once a thriving mining town, 30 minutes\u2019 drive west of Bowral.<\/p>\n

Accommodating up to eight people, this sculptural accommodation masters the art of indoor\/outdoor living. It has open-plan interiors with floor-to-ceiling windows affording dramatic views to the gorge below, open fireplaces, expansive decks and gardens and a swimming pool.<\/p>\n

\"Seidler

Seidler House masters the art of indoor\/outdoor living.<\/p><\/div>\n

4. The Old Bank<\/h2>\n

Stay in an old bank reimagined as a boutique hotel in the historic town of Mittagong, a few minutes\u2019 drive from Bowral. With character and charm in spades, The Old Bank Hotel<\/a> has six heritage-styled suites in the main, circa 1892, building.<\/p>\n

Two come complete with balconies and each has a unique design, en suite, underfloor heating and individually designed woollen floor rugs. At the back of the property are further digs in the shape of self-contained Cottages and Stables.<\/p>\n

And while there\u2019s plenty to explore on your doorstep in Mittagong by way of boutique stores and cafes, The Old Bank\u2019s inviting chill-out spaces and dining room might just stop you in your tracks \u2013 filled to the brim as they are with plump chesterfield couches and armchairs, cosy fireplaces and eclectic rugs and furnishings.<\/p>\n

\"Old

Stay in an old bank reimagined as a boutique hotel.<\/p><\/div>\n

5. Links House Hotel<\/h2>\n

On the leafy fringes of town, Links House<\/a> was built in 1928 as a country guesthouse and was the first in Australia to have en suite bathrooms. In its latter-day incarnation as a small boutique hotel, it still offers the same relaxing experience today \u2013 albeit with updated facilities.<\/p>\n

Links House has a range of rooms and suites, from king to family to accessible, with clean contemporary styling, decor by local designers and supremely comfortable, Australian-made mattresses with bamboo-made sheets<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\"Links

Links House was built in 1928 as a country guesthouse and was the first in Australia to have en suite bathrooms.<\/p><\/div>\n

There\u2019s also a standalone, bird-themed Garden Retreat out back plus lots of lovely nooks to relax in: from the rose garden to secluded courtyards and comfy sitting rooms.<\/p>\n

In-house restaurant Ethos serves a seasonal menu, plus yoga sessions are held on Monday and Saturday mornings.<\/p>\n

\"Links

Links House has a range of rooms and suites, from king to family access.<\/p><\/div>\n

6. Bendooley Estate<\/h2>\n

You\u2019ve probably heard of the Book Barn, Berkelouw\u2019s iconic home located on the geographically blessed Bendooley Estate \u2013 with its sweeping Southern Highlands views. Here, an atmospheric cafe and restaurant resides among shelves of tomes old, new, rare and antiquarian with a big stone fireplace to boot.<\/p>\n

\"Bendooley

Stay at the iconic Bendooley Estate.<\/p><\/div>\n

But did you know you can also stay on site? There\u2019s a clutch of accommodation<\/a> available to book: four individually designed studio cottages, a two-bedroom Book Barn Cottage \u2013 originally the gatekeeper\u2019s lodge of the 1839 Bendooley Homestead \u2013 and the three-bedroom May Gibbs Cottage, which channels a contemporary style via its bespoke wallpaper and artwork, heated handmade tiles and deep free-standing bathtubs.<\/p>\n

\"Bendooley

There\u2019s a clutch of accommodation available to book.<\/p><\/div>\n

\u00a07. The Coach House at The Rift Estate<\/h2>\n

For a luxurious stay that blends heritage with modern country chic, check into The Coach House at The Rift Estate<\/a> \u2013 the former stables of a grand Victorian Italianate mansion set at the base of Mt Gibraltar in Bowral.<\/p>\n

\"The

Enjoy a luxurious stay at The Coach House at The Rift Estate. (Image: Ella Ottaviano)<\/p><\/div>\n

Accommodating 13 people across six bedrooms and with four bathrooms, this is the ultimate spot for special celebrations with family or friends. It has a fully equipped chef\u2019s kitchen, an al fresco entertaining area with barbecue and cosy fireplaces. Bathrooms boast claw-foot baths and underfloor heating.<\/p>\n

\"The

The ultimate spot for special celebrations with family or friends. (Image: Ella Ottaviano)<\/p><\/div>\n

Spend your days \u2013 when you\u2019re not exploring Bowral \u2013 playing bocce and croquet on the lawn and wandering gardens ripe with fruit and veggies, herbs and flowers against a backdrop of rambling countryside.<\/p>\n

\"The

Relax by one of the cosy fireplaces. (Image: Ella Ottaviano)<\/p><\/div>\n

8. Berida Hotel<\/h2>\n

With 43 rooms, this ivy-clad boutique hotel was built as a generously proportioned home in 1925 and is located a short walking distance to Bowral\u2019s main street.<\/p>\n

Among the usual hallmarks of a great Bowral stay \u2013 luxe guest rooms with a heritage flavour, elegant gardens to wander, open fireplaces, a library to curl up in with a good book and a tennis court and games room \u2013 Berida Hotel<\/a> also has an indoor heated pool, spa and sauna.<\/p>\n

\"Berida

Berida Hotel is located within a short walking distance of Bowral\u2019s main street.<\/p><\/div>\n

Sculptress at Berida Day Spa offers a wide range of traditional pampering treatments as well as some state-of-the-art technology. Also at Berida, you\u2019ll find the European-style restaurant and bar Bistro Sociale and the Produce Shop, which sells local Southern Highlands fare to take home as a souvenir.<\/p>\n

\"Berida

Play a game of pool in the games room.<\/p><\/div>\n

9. The Book Shed At Elouera<\/h2>\n

The Book Shed At Elouera<\/a> is a four-bedroom house available to rent via Airbnb that offers a point of difference from the region\u2019s gentile country piles. While set on a hillside on the 2.5-hectare Elouera Estate, this property offers modern, industrial-eclectic vibes.<\/p>\n

\"Book

The Book Shed is set on a hillside on the 2.5-hectare Elouera Estate.<\/p><\/div>\n

True to its name, this funky home away from home is packed to the rafters with books and magazines. Peruse them on the daybed piled high with squishy cushions or in any of the other inviting spots \u2013 not least its huge sunny deck with remarkable views over Bowral. The town itself is within short walking distance if you\u2019re happy to take on the steep hill.<\/p>\n

\"Book

This property offers modern, industrial-eclectic vibes.<\/p><\/div>\n

10. The Hidden Door Bowral Cottage<\/h2>\n

This delightful little weatherboard cottage<\/a> right in the centre of Bowral will steal your heart with its chocolate-box-cute blue and red facade before you even cross the threshold.<\/p>\n

\"Hidden

Hidden Door Cottage will steal your heart with its chocolate-box-cute blue and red facade.<\/p><\/div>\n

A century old and beautifully updated, it has one main bedroom with a king bed and a smaller second bedroom with a queen bed \u2013 all dressed with sumptuous linen.<\/p>\n

Its sister property, The Hidden Door Bowral Villa<\/a>, can be booked alongside the cottage to accommodate groups of up\u00a0to eight and is just as cosy and divinely appointed.<\/p>\n

\"Hidden

A century old and beautifully updated.<\/p><\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

From a weatherboard cottage in the centre of town to an architectural icon and all manner of elegant country estates. A trip to the NSW Southern Highlands makes for the ideal country retreat \u2013 if your ideal country retreat involves a distinctly English flavour and a croquet lawn. Bowral, its main hub, is the place […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":73,"featured_media":215607,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"article.php","format":"standard","meta":{"_expiration-date-status":"","_expiration-date":0,"_expiration-date-type":"","_expiration-date-categories":[],"_expiration-date-options":[]},"categories":[1077],"tags":[903,6238,5713,5517,4628,6237],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\n10 places to stay in Bowral and surrounds<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"From a weatherboard cottage in the centre of town to an architectural icon and elegant country estates, find Bowral's best accommodation now.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.australiantraveller.com\/nsw\/southern-highlands\/bowral\/bowral-accommodation\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta 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