Horse Sports
Guests of The Loch are welcome to bring their horses when competing in local equestrian events or simply to enjoy the property and hilly surrounds. The guest suites and living areas arelocated directly above our custom designed stables. The Highlands is idyllic horse country with plenty for riders and spectators to enjoy.
RACING – THE FAMOUS BONB BONG PICNIC RACES
First held 125 years ago in 1887 at Throsby Park, Moss Vale, the now famous Bong Bong races have a colourful history. Declared a district holiday in its day, the original evening ball was held in the agricultural society’s hall. Undergoing countless incarnations over the decades, the iconic race fell from fashion during the depression years but was back in business by 1959 and by 1980 had grown to the largest picnic race meeting in the world as numbers swelled to 35,000. Held on Caulfiend Cup Saturday, the meet drew greater numbers than the corresponding Sydney metropolitan meeting. Congestion and unruly crowds unfortunately led to abandonment of the event. Revived in 1992 as a members only event, Bong Bong has for many years now been held each November at Wyeera; an aboriginal word meaning ‘turning of the soil’.
Website: http://www.bongbongprc.com.au
THE HUNT
The Loch caters to lovers of traditional English hunting to hounds, periodically hosted by Sydney Hunt Club in the uniquely Australian rural backdrop of The Southern Highlands. Guests are welcome to bring their horses and free to use our custom designed stables, located immediately downstairs from the luxury guest suites.
Dating back to 1811 in Australia the hunt is an exhilarating non competitive sport and an ideal training ground for eventers wanting to improve fitness and expose horses to new environments.
Website: http://www.sydneyhuntclub.com.au
BERRIMA HORSE TRIALS
Berrima Horse Trials are three day cross country challenges that draw Australia’s star eventing riders to the Highlands on three occasions during the year. The trials were originally founded on a wet winter in 1989 at Araluen, an equestrian country estate in Sutton Forest. Designers of the high quality cross country course make provision for lower grades through to more elite classes. Riders range in years and experience from Olympic medalists and national champions to outstanding local riders. Three phases of competition test physical fitness and endurance as well as strength of character, starting with dressage, then cross country with road, track sections and steeplechase, finishing with show jumping.
Website: http://www.berrimahorsetrials.com.au
BURRADOO POLOCROSS
Continual since 1945, this is the longest standing Polocrosse club in the world. Originally at Burradoo, the club now calls the famous Bong Bong Picnic Racetrack in Bowral home. National championships and international tournaments are regularly hosted and the club is renowned for its horsemanship.
Website: http://www.burradoopolocrosse.com
VAULTING SOUTHERN HIGHLANDS
Accredited with being one of Australian’s most impressive teams, The Southern Highlands Vaulting Team make this an energetic and exciting sport to watch. Vaulting dates back to Roman times and involves riders performing compulsory and freestyle moves to music on horseback at walk and canter. Regular events during the year provide an opportunity for visitors to the region to experience this captivating sport.
Website: http://www.shvt.equestrian.org.au
PONY CLUB
Rally days on the first and third Sundays of each month draw up and coming equestrian stars to the Berrima District Pony Club. Gymkhana competitions with other clubs are held during the year to help members build confidence and presentation.
Website: http://www.bdpc.org.au
Cricket
One of the most sought after playing grounds in Australia, The Bradman Oval at Bowral in the Southern Highlands is a field of champions. One day international cricket matches are regularly hosted here throughout the cricket season as are cricket coaching camps and home games for the local Bowral Cricket Club. The now famous cricket field was originally part of Governor Thomas Brisbane’s land grant to John Oxley, Surveyor General of the colony back in 1823. International cricket arrived on the scene in 1891 when Lord Sheffield’s sponsored English Team, captained by the legendary Dr W.G. Grace, visited and defeated the Twenty Four of Bowral. During Don Bradman’s time improvements to the site led to it later being formally named Bradman Oval in 1947. In 1976, re-dedication of the Bradman Oval was commemorated by a match between the local team and a Jack Chegwyn X1 led by Doug Walters, opening with Bill O’Reilly ceremonially bowling the first ball to Bradman. Visit the legendary oval, Bradman museum and collections at the new International Cricket Hall of Fame.
Website: http://www.internationalcrickethall.com
WORLD CLASS CRICKET
The Southern Highlands now lays claim to The International Cricket Hall of Fame, incorporating the original Bradman Museum Collection. This exciting and educational portrayal of one of the world’s most popular sports pays tribute to Don Bradman’s historic contribution to the game internationally. Installations include interactive displays, recent cricket footage from around the world and extensive memorabilia that will keep you entertained for hours.
Website: http://www.bradman.com.au
Golf
Golf originates in Scotland and as the Australian home of all things Scottish its no surprise the Southern Highlands is a haven for passionate golfers. Golf is a favoured pass time of locals and visitors alike . There are more than five outstanding 18 hole courses to choose from, many more village and private courses attached to guest houses and of course a driving range at Mittagong.
Website: http://www.southern-highlands.com.au/golf
STAND OUT COURSES
BOWRAL GOLF CLUB
The cornerstone of Highlands golf was laid out by Carnegie Clark in 1919 and traditional Croquet is still played every morning on the club’s croquet lawn. Close to the town centre, the suberb fairways are lined with exotic old English and native trees.
Website: http://www.bowralgolfclub.com.au
MOUNT BROGHTON COUNTRY CLUB
everything you want a Highlands golfing experience to be this country club is the essence of Scottish golfing heritage. Ranked as one of Australia’s top 10 courses. Its championship layout is one of the longest in Australia set in the alluring natural surrounds of Sutton Forest.
Website: http://www.mtbroughton.com.au
GIBRALTAR, BOWRAL
A sensational 5054 metre par 69 with a 66 rating and reputation for golfing excellence. This is one of the most beautiful courses in the Southern Highlands specialising in destination golf days for corporate or private groups with a luxury day spa.
Website: http://www.gibraltarbowral.com.au
MOSS VALE GOLF CLUB
Regarded as one of the most attractive and challenging courses in NSW, with a number of surprising twists and turns, this course was laid out in 1936. Avenues of pines, elms, gums and striking claret ash flank the winding layout and the creek running thorugh the course has to be crossed 12 times during the round!
Website: http://www.mossvalegolfclub.com.au
OTHER CLUBS
BOWRAL COUNTRY CLUB – Bowral
A semi private club set on a 100 acre estate with a reputation for fine food & event facilities.
HIGHLANDS GOLF CLUB at Mittagong
a friendly club for experienced players and social golfers.
www.highlandsgolfclub.com.au
KANGAROO VALLEY COUNTRY CLUB at Kangaroo Valley
Jack Newton’s original design has been upgraded to take in hilly valley terrain for tough testing
from the back tees
www.kangaroovalleygolfclub.com.au
HOTELS WITH GOLF COURSES
THE DORMIE HOUSE
An old style, 1930’s guest house right on the golf course at Moss Vale with family friendly accommodation, recreation and dining facilities.
Website: http://www.dormiehouse.com.au
GIBRALTAR HOTEL – Bowral
A stunning contemporary development specializing in golf and spa packages.
Website: http://www.gibraltarbowral.com.au
PEPPERS CRAIGIEBURN – Bowral
An elegant original country estate on the outskirts of Bowral.
Website: http://www.peppers.com.au
PEPPERS MANOR HOUSE – Sutton Forest
A grand manor house with old world country charm and private golf course.
Website: http://www.peppersmanorhouse.com.au
BERIDA MANOR COUNTRY RESORT – Bowral
An old style resort hotel & golf course.
Website: http://www.beridamanor.com.au
SYLVAN GLEN COUNTRY HOUSE at Penrose
Specializing in three day group golfing schools.
Website: http://www.tonywhitegolfschools.com.au
Other Outdoor Sports
FISHING
Learn more here: http://www.fishingtipsandtechniquesforbeginners.com
FISHING THE HIGHLANDS
After golf, trout fishing ranks as one of the Highlands most popular pursuits. Fishing fanatics are frequent visitors to our captivatingly beautiful waterways and dams to perfect the art of fly fishing. The region’s lakes and streams have delivered spectacular catches since stockingwas introduced early last century. Wingecarribee river is well stocked for bait or lure fishing while Welby Weir is notorious for challenging rainbow trout.
Website: http://www.highlandshq.com.au/southernhighlands_fishing.php
MOUNTAIN BIKING
MOUNTAINBIKING ENDURANCE RACE
The Southern Highlands is among five locations in NSW and ACT, selected for flowing single track and fun factor, to host the SRAM Singletrack Mind Series endurance events. With solo and relay team categories, riders complete laps of a course ranging from 8-10km in length. Mountain bike trails of the Southern Highlands otherwise cater to any level of capability and endurance including 12km of purpose built forest trails at Wingello/Bundanoon and 5.8km of moderate tracks at Wleby/Mittagong.
Website: http://www.chocolatefoot.com.au
BIRDWATCHING
BIRDWATCHING SOUTHERN HIGHLANDS
More than 250 bird species are to be seen amid the vast natural beauty of The Southern Highlands with a ariety of trails and locations recommended to view likely species
Website: http://www.birdlife.org.au
Club Sports
SHOOTING CLUBS
CLAY PIGEON SHOOTING
Try your hand at clay pigeon shooting at this historic target club at Mossvale which was used as a military training range through the first and second world wars. Modifications was introduced in 2003 for small bore rifle and clay target shooting.
Website: http://www.mvsbrctc.com.au
BOWRAL PISTOL CLUB
International shooting federation matches are shot every Wednesday and on the first and third Sundays each month. Service Pistol, Rifle and Single Action shooting and Metallic Silhouette and IPSC target shooting are also offered. Air Pistol rifle shooting is at the Mittagong range.
Website: http://www.bowralpistolclub.net
RIFLE CLUB
Long established in the Highlands since 1898 and is open to visitors on Saturdays excluding public holidays.
Website: http://www.shrc.com.au
TENNIS CLUBS
There are tennis courts convenient to each of our villages:
Bowral Tennis Club – Phone: 4861-4529
Bundanoon Tennis Club – Phone: 4883-6925
Hill Top Tennis Club – Phone: 4889-8020
Moss Vale Tennis Club – Phone: 4869-4936
Wingecarribee Tennis Association – Phone: 4861-1957
Robertson Tennis Club – Phone: 4885-2096
CROQUET & BOWLS
SOUTHERN HIGHLANDS CROQUET CLUB
Phone: 4878-5315
Appropriately located in picturesque Exeter village.
BUNDANOON CROQUET CLUB
Phone: 4883-6174
Croquet is the growing sport among residents of beautiful bundanoon and attracting more visitors each year.
ROBERTSON BOWLING CLUB
One of the few in the Southern Highlands this friendly club is all about community spirit and customer service and has a thai restaurant on site.
Website: http://www.robertsonbowlingclub.com
BOWRAL BOWLING CLUB
With views of beautiful Mount Gibraltar the three pristine bowling greens are accessible to members and guests.
Website: http://www.clubbowral.com.au
BUNDANOON BOWLING CLUB
Established early in the village’s history as a small club to service the quiet village community. Regular roast nights and comfort meals created around local produce feature on the club menu.
Website: http://www.bundanoonclub.com.au