BEYOND Canberra

Just outside Canberra’s centre, explore iconic Australian countryside, and countless wineries and fine food destinations

Taste

CONTENTIOUS CHARACTER $$$$

Cool-climate wines are the specialty of Contentious Character – a vibrant modern winery located in the hills of Wamboin. Visit the cellar door or have a meal in the restaurant, where contemporary Australian and Italian flavours combine with stunning vineyard views.

810 Norton Rd, Wamboin contentiouscharacter.com.au

FOUR WINDS VINEYARD $$$$

Stop by the cellar door at Four Winds Vineyard for an award-winning glass of wine and a woodfired pizza, which you can enjoy surrounded by verdant vineyards. The menu also includes several locally brewed beers. Only a 30-minute drive from Canberra, this inter-generational familyowned winery is heaven among the vines. Join the wine club for tipples delivered to your door.

9 Patemans Ln, Murrumbateman fourwindsvineyard.com.au

GUNDOG ESTATE $$$$

Visit the cellar door at Gundaroo to try wine that has been cultivated in local vineyards. Purchase a bottle of your favourite to take home, as well as a selection of locally sourced meats, olive oils, chocolates and other artisan products from the gourmet pantry.

42 Cork St, Gundaroo gundogestate.com.au

LAKE GEORGE WINERY $$$$

Lake George Winery is one of Canberra’s first wineries.

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At the cellar door, sample award-winning, cool-climate wines. If you arrive in time for lunch, head to the winery’s Westering restaurant, which offers a seasonal and rustic menu, wines available from the private cellar and large windows overlooking the vineyard.

Federal Hwy, Lake George lakegeorgewinery.com.au

POACHERS PANTRY $$$$

This triple threat includes a cellar door, a smokehouse and a restaurant. The Smokehouse Restaurant showcases the house-made cured and smoked meats in a modern Australian menu that can be enjoyed over a glass of wine produced in the picturesque on-site vineyard.

431 Nanima Rd, Springrange poacherspantry.com.au

THYME TO TASTE $$$$

A deli, café and wine bar in one, where visitors can purchase a curated selection of artisanal treats from local producers. The café courtyard is a perfect spot for enjoying some genuine, rustic country cooking in the sunshine. 60 Comur St, Yass thymetotaste.com.au

TRAPPERS BAKERY $$$$

This bakery is a local favourite, known for its traditional breads, pies, quiches, sausage rolls, fresh sandwiches and mouth-watering sweet pastries. It’s located right near the Big Merino, making it an ideal stopover point for lunch. On sunny days, grab a spot on the outdoor terrace and enjoy your coffee and pastry with views of the town.

4 Sowerby St, Goulburn trappersbakery.com.au

Shop

Capital Region Farmers Market

Stop by these fresh food markets every Saturday morning to pick up the region’s best produce. Start with a coffee and wander through the stalls to choose fruit and vegetables, meat and seafood, baked goods and more. Exhibition Park, Mitchell capitalregionfarmersmarket.com.au

Explore

Bungonia National Park

Half an hour from the centre of

Goulburn is Bungonia National Park, one of NSW’s oldest conservation reserves. Popular outdoor activities include rock climbing, canyoning, canoeing, abseiling and bushwalking. You can even stay for a few days at the campground. 838 Lookdown Rd, Bungonia nationalparks.nsw.gov.au

Corin Forest

About a 45-minute drive south of Canberra, you’ll find Corin Forest: the ideal place to get your fix of outdoor adventure. In winter, people of all ages can try skiing or snowboarding (on both natural snow and artificial snow, courtesy of snowguns), or throughout the year, revel in the alpine slide, which descends 1.2km through the majestic mountain ash forest. corin.com.au

Historic Braidwood Town Walk

This self-guided walk is the best way to experience Braidwood. With 54 points of interest, set aside a full day for exploring at your own leisure. A map can be acquired at the Braidwood Visitor Information Centre. 100 Wallace St, Braidwood

Mount Kosciuszko

Don’t miss a walk in the national park surrounding Mount Kosciuszko, Australia’s highest mountain at 2,228m above sea level. nationalparks.nsw.gov.au

Tidbinbilla Nature Reserve

Less than an hour’s drive from Canberra, located in the rugged Namadji National Park, is Tidbinbilla Nature Reserve, an expanse of protected bushland where you can spot kangaroos, koalas, cockatoos and maybe even a platypus. There are more than 22 marked trails to explore, ranging from 15-minute walks to full-day hikes.

Tidbinbilla Reserve Rd, Paddys River tidbinbilla.act.gov.au

Yass Railway Museum

Housed in the original station building, built in 1891, this railway museum displays original period steam engines alongside carriages and goods vans. The Railway Museum is open Sundays including most public holidays 10am–4pm.

8 Crago St, Yass yassrailwaymuseum.asn.au

Experience

The Big Merino

This incredible monument of a Merino sheep stretches three storeys high and 18 metres long, while weighing about 100 tonnes. It was built to celebrate Goulburn’s immense ongoing contribution to the fine-wool industry. Admission is free. Hume and Sowerby sts, Goulburn bigmerino.com.au

Goulburn Historic Waterworks Museum

This historic steam pump facility is now a museum offering a fascinating look back at the Goulburn region’s early water supply. When the museum isn’t open, take a walk along the trail that winds past the weir. Check the website for opening hours. Marsden Weir, off Fitzroy St, Goulburn goulburnwaterworks.com.au

Wakefield Park Raceway

Adrenaline junkies will love this raceway, one of the most popular car and motorcycle tracks in NSW and the ACT. Check the website for events. 4770 Braidwood Rd, Tirrannaville wakefieldpark.com.au