Many times I’ve thought about jumping in the car and heading off for a weekend away. I recently did just that and found the ideal place to escape to – the Southern Highlands – but there is a twist: my car sat at home the whole time I was gone.
Let me introduce you to Turo. A car rental marketplace that connects car owners with travellers looking for a car for their next trip. Think of it sort of like Airbnb for cars.
I used the app to find a car near me, and when it happened to be a Mercedes, I will say a smile crossed my face. The car’s owner Linh was utterly gracious and easy to communicate with! She dropped the car to my house at 8am one morning and then came to pick it up three days later.
I must say the ideal part of using Turo was that you can make sure you get the exact car you’re after, not the usual “something similar” that is usually heard from typical car rental places. If you want a car with a surfboard rack, then the app will deliver it. The same goes if you are like me and looking for something a bit sleeker than your normal ride. But it doesn’t have to always be a luxury number, the options on Turo are endless!
My rented Mercedes and I decided to take the scenic route to the Southern Highlands with stops along the coast first. A quick stop at the Bald Hill Lookout at Stanwell Tops was the first glimpse of the magic I was in for during my trip. The next stop was at Robertson Pie Shop, a must stop for any road trip down south! My tip: the apple pie with fresh cream!
The next stop was a bit kooky but worth every second. I stopped and did a tour of a mushroom farm inside a Victorian era railway in Mittagong – the site is full of WWII history (perfect for this history nerd!). Led by Mycologist farmers Leonie and Peter, I have truly never seen someone so dedicated to the mushroom.
Following the mushroom tunnel tour, it was time to check into my home for the weekend: Peppers Manor House. The manor has been re-purposed from its original homestead into charming accommodation perfect for a getaway, a conference or a wedding. In my opinion you don’t even need to leave the grounds to have a varied itinerary! From a dip in the pool to a spot of badminton guests at Pepper’s Manor House will never be bored. My favourite part though was the chance to rest with a book in a cosy armchair by the roaring fire in the Great Hall.
My room – in the Garden Wing – was effortlessly glamorous. The view of the sprawling grounds of the estate felt like it should have been framed and the room was big enough to feel more like a suite! It had everything this weary traveller needed (including a large bathtub).
I didn’t rest in my quarters for long because I had a gin blending experience booked on the grounds with Nathan from Millsheds Distillery in Bowral. Nathan was so full of energy and gave so many interesting insights into how gin is made.
Nathan soon let the group loose to taste a range of different botanicals to find the flavours that would make our own special blend. A simple touch during the experience that truly elevated it was the onsite printing of a label with the name you chose for your gin. It’s the small things!
The next stop was Peppers’ onsite restaurant Katers. The restaurant is dimly lit giving the perfect ambience for a decadent dinner. The group I was with chose to try the sharing menu which has a 1.2kg red gum tomahawk steak and a whole Tumut region rainbow trout. The food was expertly prepared leaving it to simply melt in your mouth. You can’t visit Peppers Manor House without a stop here.
The next day, I enjoyed a lazy morning lounging exploring the manor’s garden (I even saw a few bunnies hopping around), before heading into Berrima. The historic town is full of charm, and after a stop at a bakery I wandered through the various shops – all full to the brim with care.
Lunch was preceded by a wine tasting at Bendooley Estate. The 200-acre property is perfect for a casual lunch or a glitzy wedding. The sommelier led me through a wine tasting of some of the wines produced from the estate. Her knowledge and charm only highlighted the experience, leaving me no choice but to buy a bottle or two.
The afternoon saw me back at Peppers Manor House I went to relax (and snooze off the wine) before heading back into Berrima for dinner. We went to Eschalot, a fine dining restaurant inside a heritage listed stone cottage where we were seated in a private room and delivered the chef’s ‘feed me’ menu – which is driven by the produce of the day. This is a must do.
My last morning at Peppers Manor House saw me wake with both excitement and nerves because I had an activity booked that I never thought I would do: beekeeping. On site at Peppers Manor House are beehives tended to by Bowral Honey Farm and groups can book a beekeeping experience without having to leave the grounds.
Hamish, the lead beekeeper, clad in a yellow and black striped t-shirt was so full of life and passion that I could not have been more invested in the experience. This is a must do for anyone staying at Peppers Manor House. Afterwards I got to taste test some of the honey Hamish had extracted from the bees – a truly magical experience.
If you are looking for a weekend getaway my pick is Peppers Manor House in the Southern Highlands – do it in style with a hire car from Turo.
