The Southern Highlands: it’s like the lovechild of rolling countryside and vintage charm, wrapped up in misty mornings and endless romance. This region is pure wedding magic, offering everything from grand estates to hidden gardens and wild farms that ooze character.
Whether you’re after modern elegance, timeless charm, or something a little in between, the Highlands delivers. We’ve rounded up the very best venues this stunning region has to offer -because when it comes to celebrating your love, only the best will do.
Why get married in the Southern Highlands?
The Southern Highlands of NSW holds the key to many hearts. A cool climate wine region with lush landscapes, perfectly manicured gardens, pretty villages and exciting culinary experiences, it provides an unbeatable mix of romance, charm, and natural beauty. And for engaged couples searching for the perfect wedding destination, a new generation of food-makers, wineries and retailers have made the region even more appealing.
Most importantly, the Southern Highlands is where a huge portion of incredible wedding venues are located and with its close proximity to Sydney and Canberra, it makes sense why it’s considered one of the best NSW wedding destinations. Still not convinced? Here are some other reasons to consider getting married in the Southern Highlands:
Stunning natural beauty for every season
One of the Southern Highlands’ biggest draw cards is its year-round natural beauty. Whether you envision a spring wedding surrounded by blooming gardens, an autumn celebration with golden leaves, or a cosy winter ceremony by a roaring fire, the region’s landscapes provide the perfect backdrop.
A wide range of wedding venues
When it comes to wedding venues, the Southern Highlands offers something for everyone. From historic estates and rustic barns to modern gardens and boutique vineyards, the options are as diverse as they are beautiful. Whether you’re planning an elegant soiree or a laid-back micro wedding, there’s a venue to match your style.
Convenience for you and your guests
The Southern Highlands is conveniently located just 90 minutes from Sydney and Canberra, making it easily accessible for couples and their guests. This proximity means less travel stress and more time to focus on celebrating. The region also boasts an array of charming accommodations from boutique hotels to cosy Airbnbs, ensuring your guests can stay comfortably nearby.
A culinary heaven
Foodies, rejoice! The Southern Highlands is known for its exceptional farm-to-table dining and cool-climate wines. Many wedding venues and wedding caterers in the region feature exciting and well considered menus that highlight local produce and flavours.
Perfect for weekend-long celebrations
Slow, destination weddings are a big trend for 2025 and the Southern Highlands is the ideal place for a wedding weekend. Start with a welcome dinner at a local winery or your wedding venue, enjoy your big day surrounded by stunning scenery, and wrap it all up with a farewell brunch or recovery party by the pool or in a beer garden locally. There are plenty of activities for guests too, including wine tasting, bushwalking, and exploring quaint villages and antique stores.
Ideal for elopements and large weddings
Whether you’re planning a small elopement or micro wedding or a large celebration, the Southern Highlands can accommodate weddings of all sizes. The versatility ensures that your wedding day will feel personal, no matter the size of your guest list.
The charm of country life meets luxury
The Southern Highlands strikes the perfect balance between rustic charm and refined elegance. You’ll find historic homesteads and modern amenities co-existing harmoniously. This blend means couples can enjoy the best of both worlds: the tranquility of the countryside and the sophistication of a luxe celebration.
Fab local wedding vendors
Some of the most talented wedding vendors call the Southern Highlands home, meaning couples can find their wedding team locally (and save on travel fees). Florists, celebrants, wedding planners, makeup artists, photographers, caterers and more, are all within easy driving distance of most of the Southern Highlands wedding venues below.
Caoura Cliffs
Capacity: 140
Accommodation: Yes - sleeps 12
Wedshed loves: Gun to our head, the property itself - the views here are just so special.
A jaws-will-drop style wedding venue, Caoura Cliffs is one of the Southern Highland’s newest offerings, located in the quiet town of Tallong. Set on 1,100 acres, it features a custom-designed pavilion with sky-high ceilings and sliding glass walls that provide 4km of breathtaking views of the Australian bush. It’s quite a remarkable space, with an indoor fireplace, full commercial kitchen and bar as well.
Perhaps the only thing more impressive than the pavilion is the views from The Cliffs - a breathtaking ceremony site (or photo location) that overlooks a near vertical escarpment that leads down to the sparkling Shoalhaven River which snakes through a gorge below.
To top things off, there’s also a charming and stylishly furnished cottage that comfortably sleeps 12 guests. Outside is a beautiful pool, lush lawns and a stone-floored alfresco dining area.
Growwild Wildflower Farm
Capacity: 120
Accommodation: No
Wedshed loves: The location (c’mon - a flower farm!) and the flexibility around catering and ceremony and reception spaces makes planning a breeze.
After hosting their own nuptials on their 25-acre wildflower farm, owners Jane and Lukas felt compelled to offer the same experience to other couples and Growwild soon became both a working flower farm and a Southern Highlands wedding venue.
Located just 15 minutes from Bowral, the property now boasts a stunning permanent marquee with timber flooring, a quirky bar and an outdoor patio for post-ceremony canapes. There’s also a charming, rustic barn purposely designed for small weddings of up to 50 guests. It’s BYO and pet-friendly and suitable year-round with an outdoor fire pit providing comfort and ambience in the cooler months.
The Pill Factory
Capacity: 36 (seated) 40 (standing)
Accommodation: Yes - sleeps 36
Wedshed loves: It’s unique charm (it was indeed a pill factory) and ability to sleep everyone on-site.
For a truly fun wedding celebration, consider The Pill Factory. This heritage listed, converted sandstone factory is a sophisticated and character-filled adult’s playground where nobody has to be on driving duty (it sleeps as many people as it hosts).
Spread across three levels, inside is a dining room and kitchen area for micro weddings as well as a full bar area with pool table and attic games room (ideal for kids). There’s also 14 bedrooms, five bathrooms and two open fireplaces. Outside is equally well-equipped with a fire pit, barbecue area and kitchen.
It’s comfortable, cosy and quirky and perfect for couples looking for a historic, BYO wedding venue in the Southern Highlands.
Mali Brae Farm
Capacity: 110
Accommodation: Yes - sleeps 2
Wedshed loves: The five equally dreamy ceremony sites.
Mali Brae is one of the Southern Highlands most sought after wedding venues and all it takes is once glance at any of the scenic ceremony and reception spaces to understand why. An idyllic, 90-acre cattle property that was once a dairy farm, Mali Brae features a beautiful blend of old and new structures and ceremony sites, including The Ruins, The Indoor Pavilion, The Barn and Augustine’s Room (to name only a few).
With so many locations, Mali Brae is extremely versatile and suitable year round for elopements, micro weddings and larger celebrations of up to 110 guests. As well as being pretty, these spaces are well-equipped with cutlery, glassware, bathroom facilities and more.
The range of gourmet catering options and on-site cottage (sleeps 2) is the cherry on top for any couples wanting a unique and all-inclusive wedding experience in an incredible location.
Centennial Vineyards Restaurant
Capacity: 180 (seated) 250 (standing)
Accommodation: No
Wedshed loves: The spacious courtyard overlooking the vines and the carefully curated menus.
Lovers of good food and wine will be delighted by this Southern Highlands wedding venue, renowned for its exciting, seasonally-inspired menus and award winning cool climate wines.
Located just 90 minutes from Sydney, this winery has a stunning on-site restaurant and verandah, expansive courtyard and picturesque gardens that can accommodate anywhere from 12 to 250 guests, making it ideal for micro weddings and large celebrations.
The surrounding rows of grapevines offer a beautiful outlook and a great spot for photos and with plenty of parking and accommodation nearby, weddings here are easy.
Sylvan Glen Homestead
Capacity: 144 (seated) 180 (standing)
Accommodation: Yes - sleeps 43
Wedshed loves: The ability to BYO and do everything in one stunning, historic location.
Sylvan Glen Estate is a quintessential Southern Highlands wedding venue that offers charm, seclusion, and sophistication. Nestled on 60 private acres of picturesque countryside, this historic estate boasts a private nine-hole golf course, stunning garden ceremony sites and an impressive heritage homestead built in the 1870s.
Sylvan Glen Estate can sleep 43 guests across 15 rooms with private ensuites, allowing couples to enjoy a relaxed weekend wedding surrounded by loved ones. Being BYO makes it a more affordable NSW wedding venue and the estate's rustic yet elegant vibe, combined with its dedicated team, ensures an unforgettable experience.
Fitzroy Inn Southern Highlands
Capacity: 200 (seated) 250 (standing)
Accommodation: Yes - sleeps 35
Wedshed loves: Its historic charm and the lush gardens.
The Fitzroy Inn Southern Highlands is a heritage-listed gem perfect for couples seeking a wedding venue steeped in history. Set on five lush acres, this venue features stunning colonial architecture, beautiful gardens, and a warm, inviting atmosphere.
The sandstone-lined, Tuscan inspired Conservatory and the silk marquee make for unique reception spaces and the historic ‘dungeon’ is perfect as an after-party location. For ceremonies, the gardens lined with century-old oak trees and lavender bushes provide a romantic and intimate setting. Plus, there’s onsite accommodation for 35 guests.
Weddings in the Wilde
Capacity: 170
Accommodation: 130 + camping
Wedshed loves: The unique log chapel and ability to personalise every aspect of your wedding. Also, everyone can stay on-site.
For couples dreaming of a boho or rustic wedding, Weddings in the Wilde delivers a truly unique experience. Situated near Morton National Park and nestled on 300 acres, this eco-friendly venue is surrounded by lush wilderness, sparkling billabongs and abundant Australian wildlife that can all be explored on a motorised cart (with a sneaky esky and nibbles on the back).
Weddings in the Wilde also offers a range of ceremony and reception spaces, including a beautiful timber barn, log chapel and outdoor glades. With onsite glamping and cabin accommodation, it’s perfect for weekend-long celebrations and Wedstivals where anything goes (couples can even organise an archery challenge or zip lining). This venue's commitment to sustainability and natural beauty sets it apart among Southern Highlands wedding venues.
The Barn at Leeston
Capacity: 180 (seated) 250 (standing)
Accommodation: No
Wedshed loves: The buildings - an 1860s homestead and equally magnificent reception barn. Both wow.
The Barn at Leeston is a rustic haven located just outside Moss Vale. Previously a private farm, this Southern Highlands wedding venue offers a stunning mix of old-world charm and modern amenities. The barn itself features high ceilings, exposed timber beams, and a versatile open-plan layout perfect for creating a personalised wedding. Surrounded by rolling hills and lush paddocks, The Barn at Leeston offers a breathtaking backdrop for couples seeking a relaxed yet elegant NSW wedding with plenty of ceremony and photo locations.
And for couples who don’t want to shed a lot of blood, sweat and tears when planning their wedding, catering is included and it’s pet-friendly. For more, check out this real wedding.
Montrose House
Capacity: 130
Accommodation: Yes - sleeps 4
Wedshed loves: The gardens and how good this venue looks at every angle - impossible to take a bad pic here.
This place is pretty. Really pretty. Set on 33 acres it’s a quintessential English country estate with established old English-inspired gardens and beautiful meadows, orchards and an original 1861 homestead.
Its timeless romance extends to every aspect of the property, from the garden’s Greenhouse Bar (a perfect place for post-ceremony cocktails) to the chandelier-adorned reception space known as Badgery Hall (a nod to the Badgery family who used Montrose Homestead as a private summer retreat for almost 150 years). The open fire and ever-changing trees makes it enjoyable year-round and with exclusive use of the property for weddings, couples can enjoy complete privacy and a bespoke experience over an entire weekend. It’s also BYO alcohol which is a nice added bonus for couples looking for a more affordable NSW wedding venue.
Robertson Public House and Kitchen
Capacity: 100 (seated) 150 (standing)
Accommodation: Yes - sleeps 11
Wedshed loves: The effortlessly warm and rustic vibe. Good times here feel imminent.
For couples looking for a relaxed and vibrant wedding venue, Robertson Public House and Kitchen (AKA “Robbo Pub”) ticks all the boxes. Best known for its open fires and as the home of Highlander beer, this venue combines country charm with a contemporary edge. In operation since 1887, it features on-site accommodation, cosy indoor spaces, a kids room, a band stage and a sprawling beer garden, making it ideal for casual, fun-filled celebrations.
Its locally sourced menu and laid-back atmosphere also set it apart from other Southern Highlands wedding venues and make it particularly appealing for couples seeking something unique and affordable. It's also very suitable for small weddings with a dedicated space with its own amenities and bi-fold doors available for up to 15 seated guests.
Bendooley Estate
Capacity: 200 (seated) 250 (standing)
Accommodation: Yes - sleeps 20
Wedshed loves: The jaw-dropping grandeur and beauty of this place. Plus, being all-inclusive means couples don’t have to lift a finger.
Bendooley Estate is synonymous with luxury and grandeur in the Southern Highlands. Located in Berrima, this iconic venue is home to breathtaking gardens, a lakeside pavilion, and the famous Book Barn and the more recently custom-built reception space known as The Stables.
Its versatile spaces cater to weddings of all sizes, from intimate elopements to grand celebrations. With onsite accommodation and world-class dining options, Bendooley Estate offers an all-in-one experience that epitomises Southern Highlands wedding perfection.
Attunga
Capacity: 200
Accommodation: Yes - sleeps 127
Wedshed loves: The views, ability to have everyone stay on-site and no curfew!
It’s hard not to be in awe of Attunga - a private and tranquil Southern Highlands wedding venue situated on the edge of an escarpment high above the Wingecarribee and Wollondilly rivers and surrounded by 20,00 acres of national park. With a number of ceremony locations, an outdoor amphitheatre and expansive grounds, the beauty of this 330-acre property is hard to describe.
Ideal for unique, weekend-long celebrations in a peaceful setting, Attunga (an Aboriginal word that means “high place”) can accommodate 20 guests in a modern farmhouse with stunning views, and 127 guests across the entire property. There’s also a pool, full commercial kitchen and fire pit.
For receptions, the beautiful rustic barn can hold 200 people and features high ceilings, heated flooring and a large stage. Catering is included but alcohol is BYO. And perhaps the best bit? No curfew.
CREDITS (top to bottom): Caoura Cliffs Zac Mrak (featured image), Growwild Wildflower Farm Luke Fletcher, Caoura Cliffs Alex Marks, Jason Corroto, Zac Mrak The Pill Factory Thomas Stewart, Mali Brae Farm Translucent Photography, Centennial Vineyards Dan Cartwright, Sylvan Glen Estate Translucent Photography, Fitzroy Inn - own image, Weddings in the Wilde The Evoke Company, The Barn at Leeston Translucent Photography, Montrose House Translucent Photography, Robertson Public House and Kitchen own image, Bendooley Estate Luke Fletcher, Attunga - own image.
