Rainy days have a way of dampening the mood. Especially once the charm of a slow morning starts to fade.
The Southern Highlands offers plenty of ways to stay dry and entertained, with cosy cafés, boutique shopping, indoor sports, art, high tea, and hidden bars all on the list.
Here’s your guide to making the most of a grey day.
Empire Cinemas Bowral: For rainy day movie magic
Watching a movie at Empire Cinemas Bowral is a Highlands classic. They screen everything from Hollywood blockbusters to indie films and international features. All positively perfect for a drizzly afternoon.
Throw in some fresh popcorn, and you’ve got a low-effort, high-enjoyment kind of day.
Open 7 days
Location: Bowral
Southern Highlands Pubs
There’s something magical about a warm pub on a cold, wet day. Luckily, the Highlands has plenty!
Explore our Pubs Directory here.
Trivia Nights: Test your smarts, stay dry
A great way to spend a rainy evening in the Highlands? Trivia night at the pub!
Nothing beats a good trivia night to lift the midweek mood. Stay dry, grab a drink, and test your general knowledge in a warm local pub.
Head to our What’s On page to see the latest trivia nights happening around the Southern Highlands.
Southern Highlands Art Galleries: Culture + creativity indoors
Rainy days are made for mooching around art galleries, and we’ve got plenty to choose from.
Bowral, Mittagong, Berrima, Robertson and Moss Vale are home to beautiful spaces that showcase both local and national talent.
Check out spots like Ngununggula, Milk Factory Gallery, Spud Lane Gallery, or Whitewall Art Projects.
Browse our full list of art galleries here.
Tenpin Bowling: Good old-fashioned fun
Highlands Entertainment Centre in Mittagong is a classic rainy day go-to. Tenpin bowling, arcade games, and indoor putt putt = sorted.
Perfect for competitive mates or a retro-style date night.
Open daily in holidays, Tues–Sun during school terms
Location: Mittagong
Highlands Hatchets: Axe throwing in Mittagong
Yes, really. Axe throwing is a legit indoor activity, and it’s right here in the Southern Highlands.
Book in with a group of friends or go all in with their Date Night package for something totally different. Sessions run for one to two hours, and it’s all indoors! So the rain stays outside while you let off some steam.
Open Wednesday to Sunday
Location: Mittagong
Southern Highlands High Tea: Treat yourself, rain or shine
Few things feel more indulgent on a rainy day than High Tea in the Southern Highlands.
Try Peppers Manor House in Sutton Forest – for a classic experience. Or The Robertson Hotel for a moody, English manor vibe.
Or if you prefer to eat your cake in your trackies (zero judgement here), you can take-home some high tea goodies from Gumnut Patisserie.
Find our full Southern Highlands High Tea guide here.
Get Creative: Art and craft workshops
Rainy weather is the perfect excuse to get hands-on. Lucky for us, the Southern Highlands is full of creative workshops and classes.
Explore the creative side of the Southern Highlands with an art-filled day in Mittagong.
Start at the Art Café, and browse a fun ‘menu’ of art experiences, then try a hands-on pottery class with local ceramicist Geoff McKinnon. Keen to master watercolours? Book a one-on-one session with Mittagong artist Corrine Dany and let your inner artist shine.
See all the latest creative workshops around the Southern Highlands here.
Cafés + Coffee Shops: Warm up and watch the rain
Find a window seat, grab a book, and sip something delicious.
One of our faves is Italo in Bowral. It’s got a fireplace, warm Italian pastries and an excellent cup of coffee. What more could one need on a grey day?
For the full list of cosy cafes in the Southern Highlands, head here.
Don’t let the rain win today.
The Highlands might be wet, but it’s definitely not boring. There are plenty of rainy day activities for adults in the Southern Highlands to keep things cosy, cultured or just plain fun.
And if you’re still not sure what to do, head to our What’s On page for more ideas on what’s around town.