Timeless Berrima
The Southern Highlands is often referred to as ‘Sydney’s Cellar Door’, but that doesn’t quite do justice to the quality drinks crafted by the 20 wineries, distilleries and breweries in the area.
One of the best to visit is Bendooley Estate. Along with a wine room and a series of luxurious cottages, the estate is home to an excellent restaurant situated among the stacks of the much-loved Book Barn. Conveniently, Bendooley also has a series of EV chargers on site, making it the perfect place to top up the EQA SUV’s range and break for lunch. Settle among the stacks of the Book Barn and enjoy a selection of delectable dishes – woodfired flatbread, slow-cooked beef short ribs, pan-seared Atlantic salmon and za’atar roasted cauliflower steak are just a few on offer.
From there, it’s time to head into the tiny historic village of Berrima. Dating back to the 1830s and featuring an incredible cluster of sandstone buildings, the town has carved a niche as a gastronomic destination, offering everything from the artisanal sourdough and rustic carrot cake at Baked in Berrima, to fine dining at Eschalot and pub fare at the Surveyor General Inn, Australia’s oldest continuously licensed inn.
Harper’s Mansion is Berrima’s core attraction. Overlooking the village, the colonial 1830s Georgian residence is set on two acres of land and features one of the largest hedge mazes in Australia. You could spend hours strolling through the gardens and losing yourself in the maze – after which, local accommodation is available at the beautifully quaint Hillside Cottage.
Vine time
In the morning, enjoy a coffee on the cottage veranda overlooking the rose garden, before taking the EQA SUV further south over the river. If it’s a glorious sunny day, open up the panoramic sunroof and turn up the volume on the Burmester® surround sound system with Dolby Atmos® to make the most of the drive.
Be sure to stop at Mount Ashby Estate. A former dairy, the estate boasts hand-picked vineyards and a French-themed restaurant serving home-made soup and charcuterie boards. It is also home to grazing cattle and a flock of very inquisitive geese.
With plenty of charge to spare, it’s an easy decision to head further south to the spectacular Fitzroy Falls, part of Morton National Park in the Kangaroo Valley. A short walk down an accessible track will take you through forest to the edge of the escarpment, where the falls plunge 81 metres to the valley below. A truly breathtaking location, there are plenty of walking tracks to explore and native birds and wildlife to spot.
With the EQA SUV’s newly designed 20” AMG multi-spoke alloy wheels now happily covered in a thick blanket of dust from the crushed gravel driveways and country roads, it’s a timeless place to end our road trip – or discover what’s around the next corner.