Queanbeyan vi it Palerang BRAIDWOOD, BUNGENDORE, QUEANBEYAN & SURROUNDS Acknowledgment of Country We acknowledge the traditional custodians of the Queanbeyan-Palerang area, the Ngunnawal and the Walbunja peoples. We pay our respect and celebrate their ongoing cultural traditions and contributions to our surrounding region. G What’s in ide WELCOME Take time to wander 6 GETTING HERE Map, travel times & distances 8 STEP OUTSIDE 42 LIVING HERITAGE 46 ON THE MENU 50 EXPLORE Start your journey here 54 MAKERS & CREATORS 56 EVENTS Save the date 58 EXPLORE FURTHER Tablelands region 60 SERVICES & INFORMATION Visitor Information Centres 64 Region map 66 OUR PLACES Braidwood & Villages 10 Bungendore & Surrounds 20 Queanbeyan District 26 Towns & Villages 36 IMAGES Front cover: Penance Grove Walk, Monga National Park. Opposite: Blacksmith Lane, Queanbeyan. 4 visitqueanbeyanpalerang.com.au Discover your visitqueanbeyanpalerang.com.au 5 Take time to The Kingswander Highway runs through the heart of Queanbeyan- Palerang and links Canberra to the sparkling waters of the South Coast of NSW. It is a region full of contrastC with a distinctive character of its own. From the future-focused city of Queanbeyan, to the historic township of Braidwood and the delightful country town of Bungendore, there’s something for everyone to explore and uncover. 6 #VisitQueanbeyanPalerang IMAGES Left to right: London Bridge, Googong; Suki & Hugh, Bungendore. TAKE TIME TO WANDER IN QUEANBEYAN-PALERANG; A STONE’S THROW FROM CANBERRA, BUT WITH A DISTINCTIVE CHARACTER OF ITS VERY OWN. Experience the essence of the region by meeting the makers behind Queanbeyan-Palerang’s unique products and produce. Chat to TOWNS & VILLAGES winemakers at local vineyards, join a truffle farmer on a hunt, get NOT TO BE MISSED hands on with a cooking class, then learn a few tricks of the trade Braidwood from local craftspeople and artists. Bungendore Relive Australian history by travelling in the footsteps of infamous Queanbeyan bushrangers and explore the old gold mining villages of the region, Araluen before stopping by to dig a little deeper in historic Braidwood, renowned for its colonial buildings brimming with antiques, galleries, Captains Flat cafés, boutiques and more. Majors Creek Load the car up with a picnic and some camping gear and take in the Nerriga great outdoors with a trip to one of the region’s many lush national parks and nature reserves. Hike to fascinating natural landmarks, cycle through picturesque forest trails, or simply settle back, breathe in some fresh country air and keep an eye out for our impressive array of native birds and wildlife. #VisitQueanbeyanPalerang 7 Getting e e Sydney Conveniently located between ther nation’s capital, Brisbane 1hr 40mins Canberra, and the pristineE coastline of southern NSW, the Queanbeyan-Palerang region is easily accessible via car, plane, bus or train. 55mins Driving The highway network across southern NSW makes 4hrs Wollongong driving a breeze. Turn up your favourite sing-a-long and you'll reach your destination in no time. Canberra Airport Goulburn Direct flights available from Sydney, Melbourne, 3hrs 15mins Nowra Brisbane, Adelaide and Singapore. Train Daily Xplorer train services to Canberra Bungendore Bungendore and Queanbeyan Queanbeyan from Sydney and Canberra. Braidwood ACT QUEANBEYANPALERANG Captains Flat Batemans Bay NSW Adelaide 1hr 45mins VIC Melbourne 1hr 10mins By car Distance Canberra to Queanbeyan 10 minutes 13 km Canberra to Bungendore 35 minutes 41 km KEY Canberra to Braidwood 60 minutes 87 km Queanbeyan to Bungendore 20 minutes 27 km Road Queanbeyan to Braidwood 50 minutes 73 km Train Bungendore to Braidwood 30 minutes 48 km Fly 8 visitqueanbeyanpalerang.com.au Sydney Brisbane 1hr 40mins 55mins 4hrs Wollongong Goulburn 3hrs 15mins Nowra Canberra Bungendore Queanbeyan Braidwood ACT QUEANBEYANPALERANG Captains Flat Batemans Bay Our NSW Adelaide 1hr 45mins VIC Melbourne 1hr 10mins place BRAIDWOOD, BUNGENDORE, QUEANBEYAN & SURROUNDS visitqueanbeyanpalerang.com.au 9 Historic Braidwood 10 #VisitQueanbeyanPalerang IF YOUR IDEA OF BLISS IS WANDERING ENCHANTING COUNTRY VILLAGES, THEN A VISIT TO BRAIDWOOD IS A MUST-DO. Step back in time with a visit to the historic town of Braidwood. One of the region’s true hidden gems, the old gold-rush town is brimming with HIT THE ROAD colonial buildings housing unique boutiques, cafés, antiques and more. TO BRAIDWOOD The town was the first to be listed in the NSW State Heritage Register, From Canberra: but it is far from the sleepy old village you may imagine. Bustling with 60 minutes life, yet surrounded by Australian history, Braidwood is the ultimate From Queanbeyan: country getaway for city dwellers looking for a slice of tranquillity. 50 minutes From Bungendore: SEE & DO 30 minutes Explore a bygone era as you walk along the streets of Braidwood on a self-guided heritage tour of over 45 historic locations, or pay a visit to the amazing Braidwood Museum which boasts an impressive collection of preserved artefacts and photos that tell the story of the people who have lived in the district. The rustic and rural streetscape of Braidwood has served as the IMAGES backdrop for many iconic Australian films. Relive scenes from Mick Opposite: St Bede's Church. Jagger in Ned Kelly or a young Ben Mendelsohn in The Year My Voice Above, clockwise from left: Broke on the very same streets that they were filmed. Braidwood Courthouse; Dojo Bread; Wynlen House. #VisitQueanbeyanPalerang 11 Also, a shopper’s delight, Braidwood is a To this day, the legacy of these Chinese mecca for eclectic boutique shopping, local pioneers lives on in Braidwood Museum’s artisan-made art, crafts, jewellery and amazing extensive collection of artefacts and photos of fresh regional produce. The town’s diverse and the era, as well as in many of the 19th century innovative shopping opportunities keep visitors buildings on the main street of Braidwood. coming back again and again to find treasures Thanks to Braidwood’s past as a centre of they can’t get anywhere else. the gold mining region in NSW, its history is The village is within reach of two of the region’s also filled with fascinating stories of infamous most impressive national parks, Monga and bushrangers. Immerse yourself in the history of Deua. Explore the great outdoors with a scenic the gold mining region by taking a trip to the drive over to the Big Hole in Deua or check out nearby villages of Araluen and Majors Creek. the magical misty forests of Monga. ARTS & CRAFTS HISTORY Braidwood is a hub for artists, designers and Braidwood received its name from one of the craftspeople alike. Check out Thompson district’s early residents, Dr Thomas Braidwood Bespoke Jewellers, William Verdon Wilson. Originally from Scotland, Wilson was Manufacturing Jewellers and Altenburg & Co a surgeon in the Royal Navy, which included for gorgeous unique jewellery and design. stints on convict ships. He settled down in NSW Marvel at the talents of local artists at an with his family, naming the property Braidwood. exhibition at the Fyre Gallery or the Braidwood Wilson was buried under a tree on a scenic Regional Arts Group’s Arts Centre, or go for a hilltop overlooking the town. drive to Jembaicumbene’s Mill Pond Farm to Braidwood boasts a rich multicultural heritage. visit the one-of-a-kind Wheatfield Gallery. Not only was the land occupied by Indigenous Meet local talent on the annual Arts Trail where people for thousands of years before European artists open the doors to their studios, galleries settlement, the town also saw an influx of and showrooms for a weekend dedicated to Chinese and Irish prospectors during the gold celebrating arts and crafts. rush era. 12 visitqueanbeyanpalerang.com.au IMAGES Left to right: Provisions Deli & Grocery; Warri Reserve. @savannahmurleyphotography INSIDER TIPS WITH JARRAH KNOWLES @jarrahknowles EAT & DRINK I grew up around Braidwood and there’s Braidwood boasts a wide variety of authentic, no doubt that the locals in this area local food produced by passionate and creative members of the community. Here, you have have played a big part in inspiring my the chance to enjoy astounding local produce photography. The town has such a creative such as premium cool-climate wines, beautiful art and music scene; it is so exciting to organic garlic and pure local honey. have grown up part of that. The town is home to many quirky cafés, If you’re looking to experience local arts, irresistible bakeries and traditional pubs. Stop I’d recommend checking out the events by for a pie at Dojo Bread and taste local apple calendar for the region. You will see a cider at Sully’s Cider at the Old Cheese Factory great mixture of local talent in music, in nearby Reidsdale, or drop in for a coffee arts and crafts with plenty of paintings, or a meal at one of the town’s many charming woodwork, photography and more on cafés and restaurants such as Deadwood display at the Braidwood Show. One of my or Casanova’s. personal favourites is the annual Majors Creek Festival, which I had a great time EVENTS photographing last year. Plan your visit to coincide with the iconic I’m constantly inspired by Braidwood. events of Braidwood and the surrounding The town is filled with quirky cafés, hidden villages, such as the annual Braidwood Show, laneways and beautiful gardens to shoot. the traditional Airing of the Quilts, the famous I also often go further out to places like vintage motorcycle get-together, the Machine Bombay River, Araluen and the Majors Show, or the annual folk music spectacle, Creek Falls to capture some of the natural Majors Creek Festival. You can also find hidden beauty of the region. Araluen has some handmade treasures and fresh local produce at spectacular landscapes and exploring the Braidwood’s frequent farmers' markets, usually valley is a must-do while you’re here.