Balloon flight
Season: Year-round, weather permittingHot-air balloon flight over Camden
- Sunrise over farmland, rivers and the Razorback Range
- Many flights finish with breakfast
Two days is a good first taste of South West Sydney. You will see a heritage town, Australia’s largest botanic garden, Sydney’s best Vietnamese food street, a village of old railways and one of the finest lookouts near the city. You will need a car for most of it.
The plan at a glance
- Day 1: Camden, the Australian Botanic Garden and dinner in Cabramatta
- Day 2: Picton, the NSW Rail Museum at Thirlmere and Burragorang Lookout
Day 1: Camden, Mount Annan and Cabramatta
If you can, start before dawn with a balloon flight over Camden, drifting over the Nepean River flats as the sun comes up. Book it for the first morning of your trip, so you have the second morning free if the weather cancels it.
Have breakfast or coffee on Argyle Street in Camden, then walk up to St John’s Church for the view over the town. Mid-morning, drive about 10 minutes to the Australian Botanic Garden Mount Annan. Walk through the themed gardens, then head out into the woodland, where you may see kangaroos.
In the afternoon, visit the arts centre and Japanese garden in Campbelltown, or rest at your hotel if the day is hot. In the evening, drive or take the train to Cabramatta for dinner: a bowl of pho, a banh mi for later and something sweet from a dessert bar.
Day 2: Wollondilly
Drive south to Picton. Walk down to Stonequarry Creek to see the railway viaduct from below, then look into the old Mushroom Tunnel on the edge of town.
Ten minutes away in Thirlmere, the NSW Rail Museum has halls full of locomotives and carriages. Plan your weekend around a heritage running day if you can, when you can ride a train along the old main line.
After lunch, take a short walk at Thirlmere Lakes National Park, then drive north through The Oaks to Burragorang Lookout. The view over Lake Burragorang and the Blue Mountains is at its best in the late afternoon.
Tips for the weekend
- Check opening days: museums and heritage train rides do not run every day.
- Beat the heat: in summer, do the walking in the morning and keep the afternoons for indoor sights.
- Stay central: Camden or Campbelltown are good bases for this route. See where to stay.
- Got a third day? Take a day trip to the Southern Highlands or the coast. Read our guide to day trips from South West Sydney.
