Wellness & Pampering

• At Yass Valley Day Spa right in the heart of Yass, you’ll discover a long menu of beauty treatments. Located at 70 Laidlaw Street, Yass, please book as the spa is only open on certain days of the week. Psst, they get rave reviews too!
•  Be pampered at Bello Beauty Salon in the main street of Yass. Again offering a comprehensive suite of beauty treatments, dermabrasion and Cosmetic injectables and Dermalux LED Skin Treatments.
• SMD Beauty also offers specialist treatments with advanced skin therapy, FibroBlast skin tightening, skin needling, tattoo removal and more. They’re also a Dermatalogica expert.
• At Belle Mere Hair & Beauty, expect great styling, colours, cuts, extensions.
• Jennique Beauty located at 173a Comur St, Yass offers nails, piercing, manicure & pedicure.

Explore & Discover

History, Landmarks, and More

• Yass Valley Information Centre (259 Comur Street): Gather maps and information about local attractions. Then hop out of the car for a walk around – takes about 1 hour Yass Walkaround. History boffins can delve into Yass History with its museum, archives and more.
• Yass & District Museum: Learn about Yass’ history with exhibits, archives, and more.
• Historic Architecture: Explore Victorian, Georgian, and Federation-style buildings, including the Yass Courthouse (1880) and St. Augustine’s Church (1864).
• Comur Street: Lined with heritage buildings, boutique shops, cafes, and galleries, perfect for a stroll.
• Hamilton Hume’s Grave: Visit the final resting place of this pioneering explorer at Yass General Cemetery.
• Yass River: Enjoy a peaceful walk along the river and take in the scenic views.

Must-See Historical Sites in Yass

• Hamilton Hume’s Grave: Visit the final resting place of this pioneering explorer at Yass General Cemetery.
• Banjo Paterson Park: Renamed in honour of Australia’s famous poet and writer, Banjo Paterson.
• Yass Railway Museum – in the centre of Yass Town this Museum shows off the history of the Yass Tram Way. Spend the day, picnic and enjoy the collection of locomotives, passenger cars and freight wagons.
• Dotted about Yass are many small townships, each with their special DNA, and worth stopping by if only for a coffee and a sticky beak. Quaint towns and villages Explore Yass Valley Towns: Binnalong, Bookham, Bowning, Burrinjuck, Gundaroo, Murrumbateman, Sutton, Wallaroo, Wee Jasper, Yass.
• Cooma Cottage: the home of famous explorer Hamilton Hume in an idyllic location overlooking the Yass Valley. Walk through Hume’s original house and soak up the stories of pioneering life in the nineteenth century. Take a picnic in the cottage gardens with its sweeping views of paddocks and the Yass Valley. Only a five-minute drive from Yass’ town centre, it’s also the starting point of the 440-kilometre Hume and Hovell Track that follows the route taken by Hume and William Hovell in 1824. The cottage is only open on Sundays.

Unique Local Experiences

• Tootsie Gallery located in a historic art deco garage in the beautiful Yass Valley. It’s a creative space which has been renovated and transformed into a creative way of life. The building has and continues to evolve into a larger-than-life work of art encouraging creativity within its walls. Enjoy the café, try one of 24 flavours of gelato, be inspired by the outdoor mosaic garden, participate in a workshop, and learn more about yourself through creative expression.
• Careys Cave in Wee Jasper is the closest limestone cave system to Canberra, located in the beautiful Wee Jasper valley about 50 kilometres from Yass. A variety of workshops and musical events are on offer and we recommend booking ahead.

Horseback Riding Schools in Yass: Learn to Ride with Expert Instructors

• Saddle up for an adventure with Burnelee Excursions on Horseback. Alternatively Gooromon Park Riding School in Wallaroo has grown from a small horse riding school in Canberra, to, today, a very successful riding school boasting exceptional equine knowledge.

Explore Yass Wineries: Tasting Rooms, Vineyards & Local Wine Tours

• The Bowing Hotel in Yass spruiks about legends of the past. It’s claimed that Henry Lawson and Banjo Paterson sat at the Bowning Hotel having a drink and continuing the tit for tat ‘bulletin debate’ of bushman’s bible! It was the go to publication for writers and poets in early colonial life. Being writers and poets, Henry Lawson and Banjo Paterson wrote about the good life in the Australian “bush”, published from 1892 to 1893 in The Bulletin. Currently only open for its bar and events, the restaurant is closed. It still well worth quenching one’s thirst. Wineries are in abundance and the quality and styles reflect the cool climate…here’s a few to pick from:
• Four Winds Vineyard: Award-winning wines produced by an inter-generational family business. Offering cellar door and wood-fired pizza, only 30 minutes from Canberra, open 7 days.
• By taking a slight, but worthwhile deviation enroute to Yass (head north east out of Canberra via Lake George, drop into a cafe / restaurant amongst the grapevines at Lerida Estate. Almost 20 years in business, they’re open 7 days a week for superb 3 course lunches, a coffee or snack and cellar door experience. Lerida Estate Winery is sheltered in the lee of the Cullerin Range and a short 30 min drive from Canberra or Goulburn. The team produces a range of exceptional, unique, cool climate wines made from Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, Shiraz, Riesling and more!  
• In Murrumbateman, consider visiting Shaw Vineyard Estate, Clonakilla Wines for wine tasting of elegant wines with distinction and beautiful vineyard views. More information? Murrumbateman Wines.
• Nick O’Leary Wines: Ten years in the making n the picturesque Hall Valley, in the Murrumbidgee River corridor, just outside the ACT, the estate incorporates a modern winemaking facility and a mature 5-hectare vineyard. Multi award winning, this young gun specialises in making hand worked Shiraz and Riesling wines.

Good Eats

• The Poachers Vineyard is located on the northeast slopes of the granite hills in the Murrumbateman and Canberra Wine District. It offers shared lunches from Thursday to Sunday and has a Farm Shop with smokehouse treats. Known for its soft, peppery Shiraz and elegant white varieties, the vineyard is now run by the second generation under William Bruce. The cellar door is open daily from 10:30am. Poachers is also an ideal venue for a perfect country wedding.
• Discover enroute, only 30 min out of Canberra, Grazing. Under the tin roof of the historic 1865 Royal Hotel, look forward to a fine dining, award winning experience. A clever and thoughtful menu and local wine awaits. Open Thurs to Sun. Special events such as celebrating truffle season and functions are well worth watching out for.
• The historic Australian Hotel offers diners an opportunity to indulge in the region’s food and wine in its family friendly setting.
• On the main street in Yass, you’ll find Clementine Bakery a sweet little bakery that makes small batch sourdough, sweet pastries, croissants and sausage rolls. They’ve now opened a store in Murrumbateman too, so no excuses to miss this lovely group of artisans baking their hearts out. Open on limited days so check online before you set off.
• A gem of a find is Cafe Dolcetto. Serving sensational coffee (The Cat’s Pyjamas), all day breakfasts and delicious lunches. You’ll walk into quaint comfy rooms, marble fireplaces and relaxing alfresco dining areas where locals mingle with visitors, creating a wonderfully warm environment which warms the heart of the mother & daughter team who run Cafe Dolcetto. Open 6 days, at 6:30am (except Sunday) for the early birds.
• Galutzi Café serves Lavazza coffee, homemade cakes, authentic Turkish bread, gourmet sandwiches, smoothies and milkshakes as well as homemade sausage rolls and other delicious baked goods. Located at 93 Meehan Street, Yass –  opposite the Fire and Ambulance stations on Meehan Street.
• Trader and Co is a social good café in Yass, open 6 days a week, serving award-winning, in-house roasted, ethically sourced specialty coffee alongside authentic, seasonal food.
• Spice Affair Indian in Yass is well rated with its offer of a variety of dishes from different regions of India.
• Café 3: Sixteen Murrumbateman speaks volumes for country hospitality, and cheeky fun staff. Located at 1/5 Hercules Street, Murrumbateman, once again gets glowing reviews with its homestyle baking, delicious breakfasts, and locally roasted coffee. They’ve got you covered for savoury, sweet, vegetarian, vegan, gluten free and dairy free options.
• Cafe on Queen in Binalong is located on the banks of Balgalal Creek with a special focus on great coffee and fresh food. Open Friday, Sat and Sun, check opening times. @cafeonqueenbinalong.
• Dutchys Dining Room at the Binalong Hotel Bistro offer country hospitality, hosts serious dart competitions, pool table, live music, beers on tap, and TAB. Roast night special on Wed nights (bookings essential). Pizza and pies six days a week.
• Barney’s Cafe can justly claim to be the closest café to the Hume Highway. Barely a minute off the Hume, this café is across from the Bookham Rest Area. Sometimes simple fare is the best with delicious sandwiches filled with ham carved off the bone; a ham, cheese and pineapple toastie (yeah, not just pizzas eh!); chicken wraps; burgers with real carrot and beetroot;  cold-pressed fruit & vegetable juices and a dog friendly pitstop, outdoor heated area for chilly nights.
• Set in the old Police Stables at Gundaroo, the Cork Street Cafe & Gallery provides delicious gourmet pizzas, caters for breakfast, lunch, and dinner on selected days of the week.
• A quaint slab hut cafe in the historic village of Bowning NSW just off the Hume Highway, west of Yass, is the Rollonin Cafe.

Foodies:

• Thyme to Taste – 47 Rose Street, Murrumbateman is a Beer and Wine Emporium sporting a great curated selection of wines from the Canberra District region. Beers feature too. Plus there’s foodie delights – cheeses, charcuterie, and condiments from both local and international producers and a cafe or stack the picnic basket and take-off.
• Blue Frog Truffles conducts truffle hunts from June till August. Located just north of Canberra (5 km from the ACT border), close to the Federal Highway. Established in 2003 with the planting of oaks and hazelnut trees, the area has expanded now to 4.5 hectares. Open on Sundays during truffle season. Blue Frog welcomes chef visits during Wednesday harvests (at no cost) and booking is essential.
• Murrumbateman Village Market, The Recreation Grounds, Barton Hwy, Murrumbateman, NSW. 9:00am -1pm.  2nd & 4th Sat of every month. Fresh local produce, handmade crafts, live music, and family entertainment.
• Yass2You is an online delivery store with deliveries in the region – order ahead 2 days by Tuesday for a Friday delivery.

Retail Therapy:

• Murrumbateman Chocolates – chocolate studio, cafe and gift store in the Canberra district cool-climate wine region, it is home to Sweet Pea & Poppy @sweetpeapoppy artisan chocolates, where passion and out of the box choccies prevail. Enjoy handmade ice cream, sorbet and gelato alongside Canberra region tea and coffee. It’s a treat!
• Boots and Buckles – 128 Comur Street, Yass. Boots, buttons from R.M Williams and R.M Williams, Stockyards, Vigorella, Digeridoonas and Goondawindi Cotton.
• Comur House sells beautifully presented homewares, clothing and gifts.
• Hillgrove Pottery re-opening in 2025. A gallery, café, workshops and markets will be on offer.

Visit Alpaca Farms in Yass Valley: Meet the Furry Locals

• Babylon Farm in Wallaroo offer a 5 in 1 Workshop – Introduction to Dairy Goats & Bee Keeping, Milking, Cheese & Soap Making and Alpaca Wool processing.
• Alpaca Magic Stud – Sutton, now one of the largest llama breeders in Australia as well as miniature and small English Donkeys and miniature Galloway Cows. Located just 20 minutes north of Canberra. Workshops  in animal and craft and alpaca and lama sales take place here.
• Clearview Alpacas in Argyle, 10 minutes from Yass, an easy 50 minutes drive from Canberra.
• Blackwattle Alpaca Farm – home of Blackwattle Yarn and Fibre is a working alpaca farm located in the lovely rural township of Murrumbateman. Free to enter but A fee for tours. Book a brunch tour, picnic or visit The Farm Shop which is full of yarns, wools, fibre, roving, packs, gifts, toys and more.

TIPS:

• Plan your roadtrip ahead and make sure you pack all weather gear, your camera and good walking shoes. Need some roadtrip inspiration? Check out our Roadtrip Canberra to Yass & Blakney Creek

If you think the Southern Tablelands sounds like a rejuvenating getaway destination, why not see our Stays with a WOW accommodation.