Sat 1 and Sun 2 April 2023
Wander the Wingecarribee, is a heritage food and wine trail through Berrima showcasing not only current local produce but a culinary journey through the timeline of the village. We want to immerse guests in the culture that has shaped this mainland Georgian village by bringing to life the stories of past inhabitants, old and new ideas, customs, and social behaviour with a huge focus on food and history. With the ongoing covid situation we have decided to rest this event in 2022 and come back next year, stronger than ever.
In 2021 Berrima was named the Top Tourism Town in NSW for under 5,000 residents so our walk through the village stopping at a series of food and beverage stations to enjoy a degustation lunch, meeting the local food and wine producers, and hearing the stories that shaped the town is a great way to really experience all this amazing place has to offer.
Due to the foot traffic expected and limited parking all guests will be bused in from Mittagong, Bowral or Moss Vale and back again unless you have accommodation booked in Berrima. We will also have a recreational area set up with plenty of shade so you can stay on in the village after your degustation lunch and just enjoy this picturesque part of the Southern Highlands.
We welcome our local supporters and partners Destination Southern Highlands and the Berrima Residents Association as part of making this event possible. To our knowledge this is the only degustation lunch of its type in a regional village in Australia.
In 2021 local partners such as Surveyor General Inn, Harpers Mansion, Schmokin, Berrima District Museum, Baked in Berrima, Berrima General Store, Joadja Estate Wines, Peppergreen Estate , Berrima Courthouse , Gumnut Patisserie, Bendooley Estate Wines were all part of this unique event and we look forward to sharing even more in 2023.
The food is locally sourced and matched with local wines, ales or infused beverages to offer foodies and wine lovers alike a very different kind of food experience. The walk through the village is flat in some areas, there are gradual slopes as well as some single file tracks and steps along the river section, so it’s suitable for all fitness levels. Any questions just email us at hello@experiencenature.com.au We are unable to accommodate specific dietary requests however most of the stations are suitable for vegetarians.
We take bookings at allocated times with each group around 20 people, so guests are staggered throughout the day. You will be stopping at 6 stations as part of your experience and these will be different on each day. As parking is limited in the village we will be running buses from Moss Vale, Mittagong and Bowral to bring you into Berrima and return you back. This is all part of your ticket price.
Cost
Degustation Lunch $195 per person.
This includes parking, bus ride there and back which is 15 mins each way, all food and wine for the day.
We are very excited to introduce you to Berrima in such an innovative way and meet the people that live and work here.
2023 will be on sale soon.
Description
Berrima has a truly remarkable story and today is still a unique and historic village on the traditional lands of the Gundungurra People. Established in 1831, Berrima is the only example of an existing and largely preserved mainland Australian Georgian colonial town. From its humble beginnings when Governor Bourke approved Robert Hoddle’s plan for the village to its growth boasting a Court House and Gaol by the 1840’s, Berrima was the centre point of traffic passing into the area boasting 13 inns by 1860’s.
Besides the many historical buildings the Oldbury Inn that is now White Horse Inn, Berrima’s best-known building is Harper’s Mansion. Recognised for its Georgian design and history relating back to 1834, the house was built by James Harper and is known for its gardens and maze. This is where our historical food trail begins.
The entire walk is around 2km and will take around 2.5 hours so expect to be in Berrima for half a day or more.
What to expect
We suggest taking your time to really get the most from this wonderful location so we expect our groups will take 2-2.5 hours to really enjoy this food experience and take in the stories and personalities you will encounter on the day.
You will be given a wine glass with holder as well as a Wander Booklet with the days menu, the stories behind each food choice and information on the people that have joined together to bring you this wonderful insight into the village of Berrima. There will be 6 stations to stop, dine, chat and connect as part of your experience.
We recommend flat shoes that cover your feet like trainers, no thongs or sandals, as this is a village walk but also the Berrima River Reserve is a dirt track and whilst it’s a well worn track, it is an unmodified natural surface. Please bring your own filled water bottle (there will be refill stations along the way), sunscreen and a hat for the Autumn weather. This is a beginners walk so suitable for all fitness levels however these are stairs behind the Church and a few hills to manoeuvre.
Additional information
| Experience | Wander the Wingecarribee |
|---|---|
| Day | Sat 9 April, Sun 10 April |
| Time | 9.40am Bowral Bus, 10am Moss Vale Bus, 10.20am Mittagong Bus, 10.40am Bowral Bus, 11.00am Moss Vale Bus, 11.20am Mittagong Bus, 11.40am Bowral Bus, Noon Moss Vale Bus, 12.20pm Mittagong Bus, 12.40pm Bowral Bus, 1pm Moss Vale Bus, 1.20pm Mittagong Bus, 1.40pm Bowral Bus, 2pm Moss Vale Bus |
This is the first event my partner and I have attended with Experience Nature and I cannot wait to book another experience. It was a wonderful day out. Beautiful food, amazing wine, informative and entertaining history, all with a gorgeous walk through a charming town. I would highly recommend this outing. Thanks again for a great time!!!!
thanks so much for coming along today Nicole and to all our great partners for making this event possible
We had a great time on last Saturday’s walk through Berrima. It provided us with some fascinating insights into Berrima’s history as well as some delicious food and wine experiences along the way. At each station we were met by engaging hosts who explained the historical significance of different sites from both a colonial and indigenous perspective. We have been locals in the Southern Highlands for ten years but had never venture much beyond the main street of Berrima. We were really intrigued by the many different facets of Berrima’s history and will certainly be back to explore in more detail. We would highly recommend this experience to anyone who loves history, food and wine.
Robin and Neil Warner