Balmoral Travel Guide

Mittagong

Hewn out of the living rock in the 1860s using hand tools and blasting powder, Big Hill Cutting was at one time the deepest railway cutting in the southern hemisphere. Taken as it was near the eastern end of the cutting, even this pic doesn't properly illustrate the depth. The cutting has a long and macabre history, with several workers killed during its construction due to a blasting accident and several drivers later perishing after crashing their automobiles through the old timber bridge's guardrails and down onto the rails below. Despite the history, it's a peaceful and beautiful place. The old railway line was abandoned in the 1970s and runs for around 50km between the towns of Thirlmere and Mittagong. Although not a proper rail trail, there are service trails parallelling the railway for much of its length. I've walked it a few times, including the trip pictured which was undertaken 2-Boot-Drive Swagman style ;-)
Hewn out of the living rock in the 1860s using hand tools and blasting powder, Big Hill Cutting was at one time the deepest railway cutting in the southern hemisphere. Taken as it was near the eastern end of the cutting, even this pic doesn't properly illustrate the depth. The cutting has a long and macabre history, with several workers killed during its construction due to a blasting accident and several drivers later perishing after crashing their automobiles through the old timber bridge's guardrails and down onto the rails below. Despite the history, it's a peaceful and beautiful place. The old railway line was abandoned in the 1970s and runs for around 50km between the towns of Thirlmere and Mittagong. Although not a proper rail trail, there are service trails parallelling the railway for much of its length. I've walked it a few times, including the trip pictured which was undertaken 2-Boot-Drive Swagman style ;-)

Popular places to visit

Destination Southern Highlands

Destination Southern Highlands is just one of the places to see in Mittagong, so why not enjoy the other things to explore during your travels? Amble around this relaxing area's picturesque gardens and enjoy its top-notch restaurants.

Destination Southern Highlands

Bargo State Conservation Area

Explore the great outdoors at Bargo State Conservation Area, a lovely green space in Hill Top.

Bargo State Conservation Area

Mount Jellore Lookout

Explore the great outdoors at Mount Jellore Lookout, a lovely green space in Mittagong. Amble around this relaxing area's picturesque gardens and enjoy its lively bars.

Mount Jellore Lookout

Sturt Gallery

You can spend time studying the exhibits at Sturt Gallery in Mittagong. Amble around this relaxing area's picturesque gardens and enjoy its lively bars.

Sturt Gallery

Boronia Park

After visiting Boronia Park, make a plan to see the other sights and activities in Mittagong.

Boronia Park

Birrahlee Park

After visiting Birrahlee Park, make a plan to see the other sights and activities in Mittagong.

Birrahlee Park

Things to do

Highland Vines

Personalised wine tour experience in the beautiful NSW Southern Highlands

฿5,394
per adult
Personalised wine tour experience in the beautiful NSW Southern Highlands
Sydney Wine Tasting & Southern Highlands with Pick up & drop off

Sydney Wine Tasting & Southern Highlands with Pick up & drop off

฿8,696
per adult
Sydney Wine Tasting & Southern Highlands with Pick up & drop off
Sydney: Tandem Skydive with Optional Transfers

Sydney: Tandem Skydive with Optional Transfers

฿7,683
per adult
100% of travellers recommend
Sydney: Tandem Skydive with Optional Transfers
See all activities in Mittagong

Top hotels in Balmoral

Park Proxi Gibraltar Bowral

Park Proxi Gibraltar Bowral

4 out of 5
Boronia Street (off Centennial Road) Bowral NSW
The price is ฿4,212 per night from 30 Mar to 31 Mar
฿4,212
฿4,633 total
30 Mar - 31 Mar
includes taxes & fees
Stay at this golf hotel in Bowral. Enjoy free Wi-Fi, free parking and a golf course. Our guests praise the helpful staff and the spacious rooms in their reviews. ...
8.4/10 Very Good! (1,007 reviews)
The bathroom was huge and beautiful.

Reviewed on 21 Feb 2026

Park Proxi Gibraltar Bowral
Berrima Bakehouse Motel

Berrima Bakehouse Motel

3.5 out of 5
19 Old Hume Highway Berrima NSW
The price is ฿3,922 per night from 30 Mar to 31 Mar
฿3,922
฿4,375 total
30 Mar - 31 Mar
includes taxes & fees
Stay at this motel in Bowral. Enjoy free Wi-Fi, a garden and a picnic area. Our guests praise the helpful staff and the clean rooms in their reviews. Popular ...
9.4/10 Exceptional! (1,000 reviews)
Always a pleasure to stay here close eat outs and lovely rooms

Reviewed on 22 Feb 2026

Berrima Bakehouse Motel
The Robertson Hotel

The Robertson Hotel

3.5 out of 5
1 Fountaindale Rd Robertson NSW
The price is ฿3,339 per night from 9 Mar to 10 Mar
฿3,339
฿3,673 total
9 Mar - 10 Mar
includes taxes & fees
Stay at this guesthouse in Robertson. Enjoy free Wi-Fi, free parking and breakfast (surcharge). Our guests praise the helpful staff in their reviews. Popular ...
8/10 Very Good! (360 reviews)
Lovely old style building. Room comfortable and quiet but the only option available at time of booking were rooms with a shared bathroom. Which was the main problem with the stay. Initially we had access to a shared bathroom next to our room. But the bathroom doors didn't lock (or even close properly) ...

Reviewed on 20 Feb 2026

The Robertson Hotel
Berida Hotel

Berida Hotel

4 out of 5
6 David Street Bowral NSW
Fully refundableReserve now, pay when you stay
The price is ฿4,617 per night from 2 Mar to 3 Mar
฿4,617
฿5,079 total
2 Mar - 3 Mar
includes taxes & fees
Stay at this golf guesthouse in Bowral. Enjoy free Wi-Fi, free parking and 2 bars/lounges. Our guests praise the helpful staff in their reviews. Popular attractions ...
8.6/10 Excellent! (1,001 reviews)
Berida aspires to be a 5 star hotel, but isn't. The female staff are warm, friendly and polite, the males less so - inexplicably unfriendly in my experience. The room was reasonably comfortable, but they need to spend on infrastructure, so that you're not woken at night when someone uses their bathroom, ...

Reviewed on 26 Feb 2026

Berida Hotel
Links House

Links House

4 out of 5
17 Links Road Burradoo NSW
The price is ฿4,918 per night from 4 Mar to 5 Mar
฿4,918
฿5,410 total
4 Mar - 5 Mar
includes taxes & fees
Stay at this golf guesthouse in Bowral. Enjoy free breakfast, free Wi-Fi and free parking. Our guests praise the breakfast and the helpful staff in their reviews. ...
8.8/10 Excellent! (765 reviews)
Comfy and stylish and great staff

Reviewed on 19 Feb 2026

Links House
Camden Valley Inn

Camden Valley Inn

4 out of 5
290 Remembrance Drive Cawdor NSW
The price is ฿3,439 per night from 9 Mar to 10 Mar
฿3,439
฿3,783 total
9 Mar - 10 Mar
includes taxes & fees
Stay at this motel in Cawdor. Enjoy free Wi-Fi, free parking and breakfast (surcharge). Our guests praise the helpful staff in their reviews. Popular attractions ...
9.4/10 Exceptional! (714 reviews)
Staff polite venue clean atmosphere warm

Reviewed on 23 Feb 2026

Camden Valley Inn
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Lowest nightly price found within the past 24 hours based on a 1 night stay for 2 adults. Prices and availability subject to change. Additional terms may apply.

Other neighbourhoods around Balmoral

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Yanderra

While Yanderra isn't home to many top sights, Bargo River State Conservation Area and Wirrimbirra Flora & Fauna Sanctuary are some notable places to visit nearby.

Yanderra
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Hill Top

If you're spending some time in Hill Top, Bargo State Conservation Area and Nattai National Park are top sights worth seeing.

Hill Top
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Colo Vale

If you're spending some time in Colo Vale, Bargo State Conservation Area and Nattai National Park are top sights worth seeing.

Colo Vale
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Alpine

Though Alpine may not have many top sights, you can venture to the surrounding area to see attractions like Destination Southern Highlands and Bargo River State Conservation Area.

Alpine
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Aylmerton

If you're looking for some top things to see and do in Aylmerton and surrounding area, you can visit Destination Southern Highlands and Mount Jellore Lookout.

Aylmerton
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Braemar

The restaurants and gardens are just a few features travellers like about Braemar. If you want to do some sightseeing nearby, Destination Southern Highlands and Mount Jellore Lookout are a few top places to visit.

Braemar

Balmoral Travel Guide