Party Planning in the Southern Highlands
Party Hero lists Southern Highlands manor houses, country estates, hotel dining rooms and village pubs, along with the celebrants, florists, caterers, musicians and drivers who work across the region. See each venue's rooms, guest numbers and any opening price, then enquire free with the ones you like.
The Highlands spread out from Mittagong and Bowral through Moss Vale and Sutton Forest to Berrima, Bundanoon and Robertson. Bowral holds most of the hotels and restaurant rooms, the country around Moss Vale and Sutton Forest is home to manor houses and garden estates, and the outer villages keep their old pubs, inns and guest houses.
Seasons set the tone here. Autumn leaves and spring blossom bring the wedding crowds, while frosty winters suit open fires, long lunches and Christmas in July.
Many celebrations run over a weekend, with guests booking rooms nearby. Every listing shows its spaces and any starting price, and enquiries go straight to the business, with no booking fee on top.
Venues make up a big share of the Highlands listings, with a strong group of wedding and event suppliers around them. Estates and hotels often have florists and musicians they trust, so ask who they work with.
Choose what you are planning, whether a garden wedding near Sutton Forest or a team lunch in Bowral, and you will find the places and people who take that kind of celebration. From there, focus on the corner of the Highlands closest to your guests.
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From $1,200
From $300
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From $144pp
Party Hero divides the Southern Highlands into six areas: Mittagong & Northern Villages, Bowral & Burradoo, Moss Vale & Sutton Forest, Berrima & Western Highlands, Bundanoon & Southern Villages, and Robertson & Eastern Highlands. Bowral is the busiest centre for hotels and restaurants, while the estates sit in the surrounding countryside and the southern and eastern villages offer pubs and guest houses. Start with the area where most of your guests plan to stay.
Country venues reward early decisions about dates, beds and getting around. Use these four steps as a guide.
Autumn and spring Saturdays are the first to go at estates and manor houses, and several estates take just one wedding per weekend, so lock in the day before anything else.
Evenings can be chilly for much of the year, so check heating, fireplaces and the indoor option for any ceremony or drinks planned outdoors.
Hold a block of accommodation for guests who will stay over and book cars or a driver, since the villages are spread out.
Contact a handful of venues with the date, guest numbers and budget, compare what each offer includes, and confirm the one that suits.
Nothing. You can browse listings and send enquiries free, without creating an account.
You pay the venue or supplier directly. Their team handles the deposit, the contract and the final invoice.
Estates and manor houses often fill their autumn and spring weekends a year or more ahead. Winter dates and weekdays give you far more choice.
Pubs, clubs and hotels usually price by the head with set menus or packages, some rooms carry a minimum spend, and estates tend to charge venue hire or an all-inclusive wedding package.
For an evening celebration, most do. Several venues offer rooms or sit close to guest houses, which spares everyone a late trip on dark country roads.
Yes, especially in autumn and spring when the gardens are at their fullest. Have an undercover backup ready and tell guests to pack a jacket for after sunset.
Most cover the whole region, from Mittagong and Bowral out to Bundanoon and Robertson. Check the service areas on a listing before you get in touch.
Plenty do, from milestone birthdays and engagement drinks to office Christmas lunches, although a few country estates keep their calendar for weddings alone.