Accessible Tourism In the Southern Highlands

by Bruce Mumford July 2008

 I’d like to provide locals with a short guide to accessible tourist spots in our area.  Because as you probably know, when we visit other places we find scenic delights that the locals never got round to seeing.   Living here, we are surrounded by natural wonder- and yet most of us hardly notice it.

But if you want a great day out, on your own or with the family, you don’t need to travel any further than just down the road!  It’s close, it’s cheap, it’s suitable for individuals, groups and families; but is it accessible?

Accessibility quite simply means being able to get to and get around somewhere; whether you’re disabled, elderly, frail, have a baby in a pram or just want to get somewhere easily.  Here in the Southern Highlands we’re ideally located for day trips from Sydney or Canberra and accessible tourism is increasingly important.  While not everywhere is easily accessible, I’m going to let you know about quite a few spots that are.

You’ll have to consider your own personal needs though - as what’s a leisurely ramble for one person can be like climbing Everest for another.

Beginning right at Bowral, why not take in the whole Highlands from the great lookout on top of ‘The Gib’, which is fully accessible, with a concrete path leading to it.  Only problem is, there’s little signposting and you have to squeeze between some big rocks to get there. Turn off the Bowral- Mittagong road at the swimming pool.

 There’s also a good accessible lookout built by Rotary on Oxley’s Hill on the other side of Bowral.  Great views, but easy to miss, as again there’s little signage. Look out for it on your right on the way up Oxley’s Hill road.

If you like cricket, then while in Bowral you must visit the Bradman Museum (48621247 Bowral Street).  It’s completely accessible, including a lift to the upper floor, with disabled parking and toilets.  The Museum won the accessible tourism attraction part of the 2006 Southern Highlands business awards.  The staff are very helpful and there’s a wheelchair available if you forgot yours (but if you did, how’d you get this far??)  Even if you’re not much of a cricket tragic, you’ll still find the displays quite engaging and the circulation space is great.

On a good day, the Bong Bong walk is a great way to see the scenic “backside of Bowral” and also the site of the first white settlement in this area.  The concrete path starts at the Cecil Hoskins nature reserve, going under the Moss Vale-Bowral road, meandering along the Wingecarribee River and ending in Burradoo.

Everyone in the Highlands should have spent a day in Berrima, which is the earliest and most historic Southern Highlands village.  The delight is that it’s also very accessible.  Drop into the Berrima District Museum (48771130), opposite the park (where there are accessible toilets). There’s a step at the entrance, but curators Bob or Gloria will put out a little ramp and once inside you’ll find the museum level and very easy to maneuver around.

The displays are interesting, including a canoe made by prisoners from the World War 1 German raider “Emden” and it’s not too cluttered (unlike too many local museums).

The old Berrima Courthouse (48771505; next to the Gaol- which is only accessible in one direction) is also worth a look, although the step at the front may stop you if you’re in a wheelchair.  Inside it’s much like it was over a hundred years ago.

Unfortunately it also means the corridors can be very narrow and hard to get around in a wheelchair.

Shopping and eating in Berrima is a bit of a treat, with most shops and eateries accessible.

Out on the other side of the Highlands, the Robertson rainforest is well worth a look and it also has an accessible path; making it quite a bit easier for us to get through than early surveyors!   But you get a good idea of just how impenetrable (and how magical) this part of the Highlands once was.

The Illawara Skywalk at Barrren Grounds (1300 362 881) is also accessible – apart from the tower, which will test the stair-climbing ability of the able-bodied.  But it’s a great way to see what it’s like in the tree tops; long after your tree climbing days are past!  They also give locals a free “ambassador’s pass” for their next visit with friends.

Down South at Bundanoon, the National Parks and Wildlife Service have just completed an accessible lookout at Echo Point, inside Morton National Park.  There’s picnic facilities and an accessible toilet there too.  The lookouts here really hit you with the majestic scenery that we live right next to.  There’s places down in those valleys were no one has ever set foot.  And there’s just not many settled parts of the world left where you can still say that . . .

But one scenic wonder you really shouldn’t miss (and after all tourists have been trekking there for well over 100 years) is Fitzroy Falls. Under half an hour’s drive from either Moss Vale or Bowral, the Falls are easily accessed by a scenic boardwalk and there is an informative display, gift shop, accessible toilet, café and even a spare wheelchair at the Visitor’s Centre (48877270).  The falls themselves and the view over the wilderness are just superb. You might even see a lyre bird like I did right next to the Visitor’s Centre.

These are only a few of the more accessible scenic highlights available in our area.  You don’t have to go far here to be right in the middle of nature’s wonder – and it can be really easy to get there!  There’s a lot more accessible activities, businesses and wining and dining opportunities available around the Southern Highlands- but that’s for another time!

Credits

Louise Mumford for photos, Rohan and Ashley Mumford for pushing, Wingecarribee Council’s Access Committee, Tourism Southern Highlands, Berrima Courthouse, Berrima District Historical Museum, NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service, The Bradman Museum.