I’m always a bit of a sucker for a rural scene. Here’s a few more glimpses of the Southern Highlands, around rural Mittagong, Berrima and Bowral.
Mmm, thinking of vineyards, it’s just about time to crack open a nice bottle of red, or a sticky or a port!
Last autumn seems very far away when it’s nine days till Christmas and 30C outside, but I’ve conjured up a few photos to cool you down a little.
A girl’s weekend in the Southern Highlands was a perfect opportunity to sample to autumn foliage.
A foggy start to the morning…
Cleared to a fine day…
For wine tasting.
Back to the 1840’s actually. Berrima must be one of the best preserved villages in NSW. Lots of sandstone architecture, built by convicts of course. The original gaol is still there, although it’s now apparently a ‘training facility’.
Aside from the lolly shop, we wandered around to the court house and then down to the Holy Trinity Anglican church. There, we were lucky enough to be given a glimpse inside by two local ladies, who enthusiastically told us of its history.
Apparently it’s designed by the same architect as the much larger St Andrew’s Cathedral in Sydney, and its stained glass came all the way from some village church in Cornwall. Oil lamps (now converted to electricity) still hang from the ceiling and the original pipe organ is still in place. I sat for awhile, contemplating the starry ceiling in this delightful place.
The Lolly Swagman in Berrima certainly brings out the child in people.
How cute is this?
And for adults…
That looks like a steak house! Well, we were in the country, near the Southern Highlands village of Berrima to be exact, so Zen Oasis, despite the name, blended well with its surroundings.
The food wasn’t bad either. A lot of it was standard yum cha fare, but equal favourites for me were the lemon ‘chicken’ and the fake fish.
By the time I tried all of the savoury dishes I hadn’t much room for dessert, however it was enough to fit in the pandan agar jelly.
Static and Silence 