Escape Sydney on a girls’ day out!

Happiness is…friends, food and wine.

I love catching up with girlfriends, and what better way to do it than over a glass of wine or two?

Fellow LML Shauna and I decide the Southern Highlands is where it’s at for a daytrip to escape the big smoke. On Saturday morning we jump in the car, and after a quick journey down the M5 we’re surrounded by the lush green hills of the beautiful countryside.

Our first pit stop is the Moss Vale Farmers Market, where we find lots of fresh regional produce and knick-knacks in a flea market set-up. We stop by Steve’s Honey, a stall with a huge variety of honey on display. I take home some creamed honey – yum!

The markets are open every fourth Saturday of the month from 8am until 1pm.

Moss Vale Markets

With time on our side before lunch, we decide a spot of shopping is in order and head for nearby Berrima.

The charming main street is full of history, with sandstone homes and historic 19^th-century public buildings as far as the eye can see. Berrima knows a thing or two about preserves! We taste-test our way through the stores, and, of course, we can’t resist picking up a jar or two.

Be sure to stop by the Two Skinny Cooks larder door for a range of take-home products made with the finest homegrown and local produce the Southern Highlands has to offer.

Taste testing at Two Skinny Cooks

With the sweet taste of jam on our tongues, our tummies are aching for lunch (we skipped breakfast, after all).  We jump back in the car and drive down the road to Bendooley Estate. Cue excitement!

Walking in, we’re greeted by the beautiful Berkelouw Book Barn, which has long been the centrepiece of Bendooley Estate.  The Bendooley Bar & Grill and cellar door are nestled in amongst the books, with wine tasting available at the end of the bar. The venue is set up in a way that you can wine taste till you’re full to the brim, then fall into a seat at a nearby table for a long lunch.

Our wine-tasting guru Nicole walks us through the wine-making process of the boutique Bendooley vineyard. Nicole explains that the warm days and long cool evenings allow for the fruit to stay on the vines longer, which results in a fruit-forward aromatic style of wine. We taste test seven different varieties, then each choose our favourite to accompany lunch.

Hot tip: book yourself a hotel for the night so you can take full advantage of the amazing wines on offer.

With the sweet smell of the meals being served around us, we’re taken to our table and quickly begin to drool over the menu. With recommendations from manager Mark, entrees and mains are chosen and Shauna and I get back to doing what girls’ days are all about… gossiping over a wine.

“One cannot think well, love well, sleep well, if one has not dined well” – Virginia Woolf

Lunch is followed by dessert and a walk around the grounds, where we spot a wedding party arrival and have a true ‘aww’ moment as we daydream about all things wedding-related… It is a girls’ day out, after all. 😉

With three courses tucked under our now-loosened belts, it’s time to farewell Bendooley and hit the road for some berry picking! After a couple of wrong turns, which we blame on the imminent food coma, we make it to Montrose Berry Farm.

Sadly our visit is at the wrong end of the summer season and the berries have all been picked, so instead we meet owner Fiona for a tour and tasting. She explains that their berries and fruit are used to make jams, vinegars and other delightful condiments and preserves. We’re lucky enough to taste a couple and both vow to come during the next berry-picking season to get our hands dirty!

Fiona takes us for a short walk through the grounds and shows us a beautiful set-up for a wedding that’s underway. We’re told that there are more wedding venues in the Southern Highlands than in the Hunter Valley (!), and with the quaint country-town feel and stunning scenery it’s easy to see why.

Next stop, and last of the day, is Centennial Vineyards for, you guessed it, more wine tasting! Centennial Vineyards is located minutes from historic Bowral and is also a cool-climate vineyard with vines planted over 80 acres. Specialising in Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, Riesling and many more white varieties, Centennial exports all over the world and really puts the Southern Highlands on the map.

Wary of the hour-and-a-half drive back to Sydney, we have to keep the wine-tasting in check. We sample a few drops at the cellar door, then call it a day.

While the drive back is super easy, we wish we could stay the night and extend our trip. I guess that just means we’ll have to come back for another trip 😉

All in all it’s been a fantastic girls’ days out, full of giggles, sunshine and selfies. #girlsjustwannahavefun

Pssst: Got any NSW foodie photos to share? Get social and hashtag #NewSouthWales and #liveeverylastminute and we’ll share our faves 🙂

What’s your fave destination for a NSW girls’ day out? Tell us in the comments!

• Stay in the Southern Highlands
• Stay in the Hunter Valley
• Fly to Sydney
• Find amazing things to do in the Southern Highlands with VisitNSW.com