Southern Highlands Coach Tours from Sydney
Village main streets, cool climate gardens and waterfalls on the escarpment, an easy day trip south of the city.
Why groups go to the Highlands
The Southern Highlands sit high enough above the coast to feel like another climate. Autumn turns the street trees gold, spring brings the gardens into flower, and winter mornings can be crisp enough for a fire in the café. The villages of Bowral, Mittagong, Berrima and Moss Vale are close together, so a coach can link three or four of them in a day without long stretches on the road.
It is a favourite with seniors clubs, garden societies and community groups because the walking is gentle, the lunch options are good and the drive home is short enough to be back before dark.
Who travels with us
- Seniors, Probus and garden clubs
- Church and community groups
- Overseas visitors wanting a taste of country NSW
- Corporate groups heading to Highlands retreats
- Wedding guests travelling to Highlands venues
We send 24 seat mini coaches for smaller groups and 39, 48, 53 or 57 seat touring coaches for larger ones.
A sample Southern Highlands itinerary
Leg 1: Sydney to Mittagong
Leave Sydney around 8.00 am and follow the Hume south past Campbelltown and Picton. The coach comes off the motorway at Mittagong, the gateway to the Highlands, a little under two hours later.
Leg 2: Bowral and Berrima
Morning tea in Bowral, then time to browse the main street and the gardens. A short drive west brings the group to Berrima, one of the best preserved Georgian villages in the state, for lunch and a walk past the old sandstone buildings.
Leg 3: Fitzroy Falls
In the afternoon the coach heads east through Moss Vale to Fitzroy Falls in Morton National Park. The visitor centre has bus parking, toilets and a café, and an easy boardwalk leads to the lookouts over the falls and the valley below.
Return: Back up the Hume
Leaving the Highlands around 3.30 to 4.00 pm has most groups back in Sydney by early evening.
Tulip Time in Bowral
Each spring, Corbett Gardens in Bowral hosts the Tulip Time flower festival. In 2026 it ran from 11 September to 5 October, with group tickets for organised groups of 20 or more and a designated group entry near the coach drop-off zone. Traffic and parking conditions change around the gardens during the festival, so we time arrivals to suit. Ask us early if your club wants to go, as spring weekends book out.
Coach access notes
The main village streets are coach friendly, but some cellar doors, gardens and guesthouses are reached by narrow lanes. Fitzroy Falls charges a small vehicle entry fee at the visitor centre car park. We check access for each stop before the day, and the NSW National Parks Fitzroy Falls page has current opening hours.
Where to stay
A Highlands weekend suits wedding parties, corporate retreats and clubs that want a slower pace. Bowral and Moss Vale have hotels and country house venues with room for a coach. We can run the guest shuttles on the day as well; see our wedding coach hire and corporate coach hire pages.
Heading further south or west? The Highlands make a natural first stop on our Canberra day tours and interstate coach charters.
The quote covers the coach and driver. Entry fees, meals and festival tickets are paid by the group.
Southern Highlands tour questions
How far is the Southern Highlands from Sydney by coach?
Bowral and Mittagong are about 110 to 130 km from central Sydney. Allow around one and a half to two hours each way by coach.
Which towns can we visit in a day?
Most groups see three or four of Mittagong, Bowral, Berrima and Moss Vale, plus Fitzroy Falls in Morton National Park.
Can a coach park at Fitzroy Falls?
Yes. The Fitzroy Falls visitor centre has bus parking. A small daily vehicle entry fee applies to the car park.
Can you take our club to Tulip Time?
Yes. Tulip Time is held each spring in Corbett Gardens, Bowral, with group entry near the coach drop-off zone. Book early, as spring weekends are popular.
How long is a Southern Highlands day tour?
Most tours run eight to nine hours door to door, with about four hours of travel and the rest in the Highlands.
Is the walking suitable for older travellers?
Mostly, yes. The village main streets are flat and the Fitzroy Falls boardwalk to the main lookout is easy. Tell us about any mobility needs and we will plan the stops around them.
Can we stay overnight in the Highlands?
Yes. Bowral and Moss Vale have hotels and country house venues with coach access, and we plan the driver’s rest around your booking.
