Books, Tulips and food - the Southern HIghlands
July 21st 2008 04:19
The Southern Highlands region of NSW, an hour from Sydney, Wollongong and Canberra, is a book lover’s dream. An ideal day out to escape the heat of summer or to huddle by an open fire in winter, the secondhand bookstores of the Highlands are the places to stock up your bookshelves in style.
First stop, Berkelouw Book Barn and Coffee House, situated on a farm just south of Berrima. The two story book barn carries everything from popular fiction, to American literature and renaissance history books. For less than $50, I walked away with six books - two fiction and four non-fiction works.
The Cafe, complete with roaring fire, is an ideal way to rest between the history and travel writing sections of the store. I had a good strong coffee and a lemon curd sponge cake. The cake was delicious, but perhaps could have been a little fresher.
Next stop Antiquariat, which like Bowral where it is situated, is more posh than most other Highland secondhand bookstores. The special war room and theology sections draw interesting characters into the shop. There are fewer books here than at Berkelouw, but it is less overwhelming too.
The most notable aspect of these stores is the staff who all have a genuine love of books and booklovers. They go out of their way to help you find exactly the book you’re after and don’t begrudge you wandering through their stores for hours, then spending only $10.
Also in Bowral is the very curious Eccleston Books and Curios. This store reminds me of shopping in York or Bath. It has the old world feel of Europe, but not the prices, thankfully. Eccleston is right across the road from Anitquariat. If you’re hungry, drop in to the Organic shop next door. The steak sandwich I ordered there was one of the best I’ve ever had.
Worth a detour is Sophie’s Bookstore, tucked away in an arcade in Moss Vale. Sophie’s is tightly packed with all sorts of gems - my favourite, The Hundred Tales, a 1960 translation of the French book of short stories, Les Cent Nouvelles Nouvelles (1560). I won’t reveal the price - but it was definitely a bargain.
Moss Vale is a hidden gem in the Southern Highlands. If you fancy a visit to see the tulips but can’t bear the crowds in Bowral’s Corbett Gardens, try the park in Argyle St, Moss Vale. It’s tulips are every bit as beautiful, but you can stand alone to admire them, rather than jostle with busloads of tourists.
First stop, Berkelouw Book Barn and Coffee House, situated on a farm just south of Berrima. The two story book barn carries everything from popular fiction, to American literature and renaissance history books. For less than $50, I walked away with six books - two fiction and four non-fiction works.
The Cafe, complete with roaring fire, is an ideal way to rest between the history and travel writing sections of the store. I had a good strong coffee and a lemon curd sponge cake. The cake was delicious, but perhaps could have been a little fresher.
Next stop Antiquariat, which like Bowral where it is situated, is more posh than most other Highland secondhand bookstores. The special war room and theology sections draw interesting characters into the shop. There are fewer books here than at Berkelouw, but it is less overwhelming too.
The most notable aspect of these stores is the staff who all have a genuine love of books and booklovers. They go out of their way to help you find exactly the book you’re after and don’t begrudge you wandering through their stores for hours, then spending only $10.
Also in Bowral is the very curious Eccleston Books and Curios. This store reminds me of shopping in York or Bath. It has the old world feel of Europe, but not the prices, thankfully. Eccleston is right across the road from Anitquariat. If you’re hungry, drop in to the Organic shop next door. The steak sandwich I ordered there was one of the best I’ve ever had.
Worth a detour is Sophie’s Bookstore, tucked away in an arcade in Moss Vale. Sophie’s is tightly packed with all sorts of gems - my favourite, The Hundred Tales, a 1960 translation of the French book of short stories, Les Cent Nouvelles Nouvelles (1560). I won’t reveal the price - but it was definitely a bargain.
Moss Vale is a hidden gem in the Southern Highlands. If you fancy a visit to see the tulips but can’t bear the crowds in Bowral’s Corbett Gardens, try the park in Argyle St, Moss Vale. It’s tulips are every bit as beautiful, but you can stand alone to admire them, rather than jostle with busloads of tourists.
Tulips in Moss Vale, on the NSW Southern HIghlands
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