Us Highlands folk love our hounds, which means there is lots to do with our four legged friends when the weekend rolls around.
Here’s where you can go and what you can do to keep puppers and doggo’s busy and happy!
Saturday Morning Walkies + Brekkie
A Saturday morning favourite for us is the Cherry Tree Walk in Bowral, starting at the Bowral Pool on Mittagong Road.
There are plenty of places to park your car and the walk into the township is gorgeous.
This is an on-lead walk and you can walk as far or as near as you like as this pathway heads out to East Bowral.
Just turn around when you’re ready!
On your return walk, peel off to the left at Merrigang Street and head down to Raw & Wild Market Café [you can access it from the carp park next to the fire station] which is a dog friendly venue that has a special doggie menu with Dog-A-Cino’s and servings of organic beef pasta made especially for our fur babies – sooo cool! They also offer mats, water bowls, and plenty of canine companions at nearby tables.
What a great way to start the day for you and your mate.
Dog Park Play Dates
A visit to Seymour Park in Moss Vale offers some off-the-leash action with a very large fenced-in area where your dogs can roam safely and freely.
Park at the car park at the playground and then head left – you’ll see the gate to enter.
Wander into Moss Vale for lunch after a run around – Highlands Merchant on Argyle St is a favourite with local pet owners with their water bowls out the front and location next to Leighton Gardens.
Here’s a list of other local off-leash dog parks for you to check out too.
Saturday Arvo Beer Garden Vibes
Make the most of these sunny autumn afternoons and head to the beer garden of a dog-friendly pub in the Highlands.
There’s plenty around and some of our favourites – thanks to the space and beer garden set ups – are:
- Surveyor General Inn
- Sutton Forest Inn
- Bundanoon Hotel
- Burrawang Village Hotel [Honey, pictured below, is a fan!]
Sunday Fun Day
On Sunday, you can go bush and take in a longer walk through the state forest behind Mittagong – the 40 Foot Falls + 60 Foot Falls .
As most farms and all national parks do not allow dogs because of the native animals, the state forest options in the area offer bushland that your dogs can adventure in with you.
[Heads up, the Box Vale Track which offers a 2-4 hour walk through native wooded areas with great single-track walking for off-leash exploring and is popular with local dog walkers is currently closed after a landslide some months ago.]
Oh, and don’t forget to check for ticks afterwards – here’s a guide from one of our local vets on how to do that.
Treat yo’self and your pupper post-walk with a visit to Artemis Wines – swing by after your walk for some refreshments and woodfired pizza or cheese plate – this fab local winery is dog-frendly and there’s plenty of space for both you and your happy hound to rest up after a busy weekend!
Written by Amanda Fry of Experience Nature Group in 2017, updated by The Fold Editorial Team in October 2022, May 2023 and June 2024.
