Get away for the weekend to the fabulous Hilltops Region, … just a short drive north west of Canberra …. and such fine food and wines and country experience!

If you're coming south from Sydney, take the Boorowa turn-off, just south of Yass. Boorowa is only three hours from Sydney and a little over an hour from Canberra.

Boorowa, with its Irish connections, dates back to the 1820s lies in the north east of the Hilltops Region. It is famous for its Irish Wool Fest on the October long weekend and its wonderful array of wine and produce.

If you're driving north from Victoria, before you arrive at Yass, look for turnoffs to the left to Harden-Murrumburrah, just 40 minutes from the Highway, at the southern end of the Hilltops Region.

The Hilltops Food and Wine region was one of the outstanding displays at Wine Australia recently.

The villages of Prunevale, Wombat and Wallendbeen are truly picturesque. Harden is famous as the home of the Australian Light Horse Regiment. Harden's Premium Produce day in mid February, is famous for its music and fabulous array of prime Hilltops foods…. a great day out.

From Harden or Boorowa, it's only a 30 minute drive on to Young, long known as the "Cherry Capital of Australia". Young is a rapidly growing regional centre, well known for stone fruits, premium wines and fresh farm produce. It is the home of the National Cherry Festival held in November each year. Young hosts the "Wine and Dine with Rhythm in the Vines" event in mid February, in a scenic vineyard and the "Young ... on a platter!" wine, food and music family day in April.

The region is a delightful setting with rolling hills, has fabulous soils and produces the widest array of the fine produce and country experiences:
· Cherries from the 'Cherry Capital'
· Stone fruits - peaches, nectarines, apricots, plums
· Prunes - from the finest fine d'argen plums
· Strawberries - big and luscious
· Olive trees, marinated olives and olive oil - of premium quality
· Mustard seed oil, plain or spicy
· The finest of merino wool and hand knitted wool products.
· Fat lambs, pork, beef, chickens, ducks, squab
· Jams, chutneys, preserves, sauces
· Traditional cordials with no colours, preservatives, additives
· Cool climate wines,
· Cherry wine and liquors
· Wheat, oil seeds
· Gourmet restaurants with innovative owner/chefs utilising local produce
· Alpacas - the furry and fun animal with fine wools
· Honey - from a fabulous array of pollen stock
· Fine handmade furniture - from recycled old timers
· Native plant and other specialist nurseries - with coffee shops
· Galleries, gardens, craft centres
· Festivals - Flavours of the Harvest Festival in February, National Cherry Festival in early December, Boorowa Wool Fest, traditional agricultural shows and rodeos in the main towns and smaller towns.

You can visit to the Hilltops for a day trip or a weekend. In season, you can fill you car with a wonderful range of fabulous foods. Summer is the best season for cherries, strawberries & stone fruits. All year round is fine for jams, chutneys, oils, cordials, wines, galleries, restaurants etc. The Hilltops lifestyle is friendly and easy-going. There is accommodation ranging from 4.5 star Motels through to the most modest of budgets. You can stay in premium Bed & Breakfast accommodation in historical homesteads, right through to caravan parks with all the amenities.

The fertile soils and gentle slopesof the Hilltops region create some unique flavours in both food and wine produced in the region.

We enjoy visitors, so take a weekend away with us. Come on over and relax in our authentic country environment. Take our scenic drives through our gold rush villages, taste the vast array of fresh wines, fruits and produce and stop at a village pub for a cold ale and a chat. Take in some fresh air, distant views and revitalise.

You won't find any traffic lights in the Hilltops Region!

Contact Young Visitor Information Centre Ph (02) 6382 3394 or Email: tourist@young.nsw.gov.au or visit the web site: www.young.nsw.gov.au.

For more information on Young go back to our events "home" page.