Camping in the Southern Highlands

One of my favourite places in New South Wales is the Southern Highlands, a short train trip from Sydney. The best part is you can take your bike, perfect for a long weekend cycle tour camping trip.
 
​Start: Central Train Station @ 7:24am
End: Bowral Train Station @ 10:00am

Day 1 - Bowral - Fitzroy Falls - Bundanoon
Distance: 59 Kms
Strava: link

Pit Stop 1 - Bowral - Gumnut Patisserie
At Bowral we rolled into the Gumnut patisserie for a pre ride coffee and a multi award winning pastry. 

Pit Stop 2 - Someone's farm
Goggle maps took us through someone's private property but it was a short 100 m sneaky pass. We figured we weren't going to be long. So shhhh. 

Pit Stop 3 - Fitzroy Falls & Lunch
Mini hike around the top of the falls and a perfect spot for lunch. 

Pit Stop 4 - Exeter train station
​A quick snack break sitting at the Exeter train station only needed to move once for the freight train.

Pit Stop 5 - Camping - Bundanoon - Gambells rest site
Bookings essential details here. 
​Limited number of sites available here.
Cost: From $25 a night
Facilities: Hot (gas) showers, flushing toilets, gas stoves, taps

Dinner - Eggplant & tofu stirfry
Ingredients: 1 massive eggplant, packet of firm tofu, 4 packets of 2 minute noodles, cabbage, onion, soy sauce, ginger, cooking oil spray. Marinate the tofu. Fry up the onion and eggplant on the stove. Cook the noodles. Cook the tofu. Once the noodles are cooked, mix everything on the stove top. 

Bundanoon Night Ride to the Glow worm cave
In the dark surrounded one of the crew recited a beautiful Arabic poem by Ibn Arabi, 

I follow the religion of Love
whatever way Love's camels take
​that is my religion and my faith
ابن عربي - أدين بدين الحب

Day 2 - Hiking around Bundanoon
Lazy morning, slow to start. Pancakes on the stove top lathered in blue berry jam. 
There are plenty a hiking trails in the Morton National Park. We 

Day 3 - Easter Sunday - Bundanoon - Berrima - Bowral
Distance: 40 kms
Strava: link

Kicked Easter Sunday watching sunrise over Morton National park, followed by another epic feast of pancakes.

Pit Stop 1 - Bundanoon Markets
Packing down and heading into Bundanoon to sip coffee at the cafe and check out the local markets. Picking up a few goodies at the local op shop and sampling some delish vegetarian Indian goods. 

Pit Stop 2 - Berkelouw Book Barn
Lazing about reading in the sun lying on the beautiful grounds of Berkelouw Book Barn. 
Perfect ending to a beautiful Easter break.