Royal National park and Harbourfront lunch Wollongong

Are you looking for something different to do on the weekend?

If you live in Sydney or are travelling around Sydney - take a weekend break and head south! Pack your trainers or hiking shows into a small rucksack with a bottle of water and some snacks, because you are about to see some of the most scenic and fun hiking trails in the Royal National Park!

The Royal National Park is a 50min drive south of Sydney. You will need to pay to get into the park (as  is with all National Parks in NSW) the daily entry fee is $11 AUD (if you intend on visiting a lot of National Parks if may be worth looking at getting an annual pass.)

We did the Werrong Beach Track - Amazing! Its only 2km but it is a hard walking track. It starts at the top of the cliff at Otford lookout. Take a camel back and snacks with you as well as your bathers - the secluded beach at the bottom is will be tempting as a rewarding dip when you get to the bottom of the track.

You will be hungry after that hike and swim - So swap your hiking boots for some comfy flats and continuing driving south to Wollongong - head to the Harbourfront. The Harbourfront has casual and fine dining options. We sat in the cafe section and indulged in courgette flowers stuffed with gooey goodness, gnocchi and a delish sticky date pud for dessert. the Cafe is Veggie friendly but not some much Vegan Friendly. it is a little pricey - but the food is amazing, and you do get what you pay for - delicious goodness!

Berrima Village

Step back in time to a town that still breathes the old way of life. Berrima, a quiet sleepy country town in NSW's Southern Highlands is just a skip hop and a smooth drive from Sydney city.

It has everything a small country town needs - just. Bring cash with you if you are arriving early in the morning and make sure your gas tank is full of petrol. There is no Petrol station and no ATM. Well, there is one ATM, in the pub... which doesn't open until 11am. Not to fear though most of the cafes and shops do take EFTPOS - but just in case - bring some cash!

The town is extremely picturesque and if you are a buddy photographer - bring your camera. there are so many angles and textures and colours to capture - you will have a ball.

Make sure you visit the Court House and old gaol. for a small country town it's quiet and impressive building with sandstone pillars framing the front, its hard to miss it.

When you get hungry head to the pub. Its good food at a reasonable price, but if you're after more variety (there are other cafes around that offer amazing food in Berrima) Bowral is only a 20min drive north.

Bowral - Tulip Time and the parade

From the 18th of September to the 1st of October Bowral, in the Southern Highlands, springs to life (Spring pun intended hahaha) for the annual Tulip Festival.

The town becomes a wash of colour as everyone welcomes in the change of season. The festival has been running for a few years - starting back in 1958, the town pride for this event is overwhelming beautiful.

The open gardens (there is an entry fee of $10 pp) are carefully manicured with row upon row of delicate flowers. Carefully selected and placed into geometric shapes and pattens.

Markets venders line the side streets selling trinkets and home made produce, and like any market completely stimulate all of your senses. Scattered throughout the town you will find buskers jamming out and entertaining the crowds.

The highlight of the day is the town parade that takes place in the high street Bong Bong. It starts at around 3pm and pays respect to the town members. Vintage cars, local shop owners, businesses and even a marching band proudly stroll down the high street waves and smiling at onlookers.

I have mentioned Bowral once before in my blog, its still not a place that many people would think to visit. But I highly recommend it. Its is a nice weekend escape from Sydney (about a 2.5hour drive) giving you the best of the relaxed country lifestyle that it is so famous for.