What are the best things to do in Mittagong, NSW?

The best things to do in Mittagong, NSW, include bird-watching at the Lake Alexandra Reserve, wine-tasting at Artemis Wines and seeing the birthplace of Australia’s iron industry in a shopping centre car park.

5 best things to do in Mittagong, NSW

The best things to do in Mittagong are:

Walk the 4.4km Box Vale Mine walking track along a former rail line.
Take in the Southern Highlands from the lookouts in the Mt Gibraltar Reserve.
Go for a picnic (or barbecue) in the Lake Alexandra Reserve.
See the remains of Australia’s first ironworks under the Highlands Marketplace shopping centre.
Go wine-tasting at Tertini Wines, Artemis Wines and the Hermitage Winery.

Where is Mittagong, NSW?

Mittagong, NSW, is the drab option in the Southern Highlands, at least by reputation. Most visitors prefer the handsome old buildings of Berrima, or the gardens, vineyards and Bradman Museum of Bowral.

Get the best Mittagong accommodation deals by booking in advance.

Mittagong has its own attractions, however, with the best things to do in Mittagong generally nature or wine related.

Things to do in Mittagong, NSW: Natural attractions & Lake Alexandra

Let’s start with nature. A good place to start is the Box Vale Mine walking track. This Mittagong walk follows an old railway line for 4.4km, passing through an 84 metre tunnel. Take a slight deviation, and you’ll get to Forty Foot Falls.

5 great Southern Highlands experiences to boost your visit

Personalised private Southern Highlands wine and attractions tours – tailored to your tastes.
Tutored wine-tasting and canapes experience.
Beekeeping experience – learn how honey is made.
Guided wine-tasting at the Mill – with tasting notes procided.
Behind the scenes tour of a sustainable winery in Berrima.

The Mt Gibraltar Reserve near Bowral has a few forested walking trails, plus a couple of impressive lookouts taking in the Southern Highlands. The Lake Alexandra Reserve, meanwhile, is largely a good spot for picnics and barbecues. It is based around the small, man-made Lake Alexandra. It was created to supply water for the steam engines hauling coal to the Fitz Roy Iron Works. But these days, bird life has taken over. You’ll see plenty of ducks and geese.

The Lake Alexandra Reserve in Mittagong, New South Wales. Photo courtesy of Destination NSW.

Things to do in Mittagong, NSW: Highlands Marketplace & wineries

The Fitz Roy Iron Works opened in 1848 and was the first ironworks in Australia. The smelting operation is long gone, but the ruins of the ironworks remain in the most unlikely place – the underground car park of the Highlands Marketplace shopping centre. It’s worth venturing under this Mittagong shopping centre to read the signs explaining the birth of heavy industry in Australia.

The other main things to do in Mittagong, NSW, are the wineries. Tertini Wines, Artemis Wines and the Hermitage Winery offer the most interesting visitor experiences.