Braidwood

Braidwood town - Credit: Queanbeyan-Palerang Region Council

History & heritage

Historic Braidwood is a National Trust-classified town, the first to be listed on the NSW State Heritage register. Its charming colonial buildings, rustic streetscapes and rural beauty have been the perfect backdrop for iconic Australian films such as The Year My Voice Broke, Flirting and Ned Kelly (starring Mick Jagger).

Braidwood Hotel and Braidwood Museum, Braidwood - Credit: Queanbeyan-Palerang Region Council

Gold fever struck this prosperous pastoral area in the 1850s. Visit the Braidwood Museumand nearby goldfields at Jembaicumene, Majors Creek and Araluen to learn more about this fascinating era – and the bushrangers that ruled with it. The historic 1890-built Royal Mail Hotel served as a staging point for gold rush coaches and still stands on the main street.

Things to do

Braidwood is a creative hub for artists, designers and craftspeople, with quirky boutiques and galleries to browse like Studio Altenburg, as well as a busy events calendar. Don’t miss the Braidwood Book Fair in June.

Art exhibition at Studio Altenburg, Braidwood - Credit: Visit Queanbeyan-Palerang [QPRC]

Nearby is the beautiful Deua National Park, where you can bushwalk through remote wilderness past pinkwood rainforest and eucalyptus trees, walk past limestone caves, see gushing waterfalls and there are many places to swim and picnic while watching the birdlife.

Walking track to Deua River, Deua National Park – photo credit: Lucas Boyd/DPE

Eat & drink

You’ll never go hungry in Braidwood with its plentiful country pubs, cafes, and bakeries. Enjoy a coffee at Deadwood, pick up a sweet treat from Dojo Bread or tuck into a rustic pizza at Casanova’s. Afterwards, relax in the leafy garden courtyard of Vanilla at Altenburg.

Stop by for a delicious country meal and a cold beer at The Bushranger Restaurant in the historic Royal Mail Hotel or settle in for wood-fired pizza and live music at the Braidwood Hotel, built in 1859. Smokey Horse  is another popular local favourite, serving up craft beer and delicious Nepalese cuisine.

Deadwood Cafe, Braidwood - Credit: Kimberley Pickrell - Visit Queanbeyan-Palerang

Braidwood is also renowned for its rare black truffles, with farms in the region supplying restaurants around the world. You can savour this gourmet delicacy at Durran Durra Truffles and see Bella the truffle-detecting wonder dog in action on a truffle hunt. For more fresh produce, head to the Braidwood Farmers Market, held twice monthly.

Mona Farm, Braidwood

Getting there 

Braidwood is just over three hours’ drive from Sydney and one-hour from Canberra. A range of accommodation options are available in and around Braidwood including campgrounds, historic pubs, motels, tiny houses and an ultra-luxe retreat on a working farm.