Discover the country charm of Australia’s first inland city, which is perfectly positioned just two hours from Sydney, one hour from Canberra, and less than two hours from the coast.
Goulburn provides endless opportunities to experience heritage, culture, beautiful natural landscapes and delightful family adventures.
Embrace a perfect blend of country living, with all the city benefits. This region presents a unique and balanced lifestyle, where you can enjoy stunning rural scenery, admire heritage architecture, explore contemporary art, indulge in modern boutique shopping, and relish in relaxed casual dining.
A wonderful destination for a brief getaway or an extended retreat, this beautiful city is brimming with outstanding attractions, frequent events, and a variety of dining and accommodation options.
Spring/Summer Events
Steampunk Victoriana Fair – 19 October 2024
This annual fair is a blend of retro and futuristic design, with attendants encouraged to dress up in costumes which mix classical Victorian styles with contemporary industrial chic. All day long, visitors can browse clothing and art stalls, watch the costume parade and engage with roving entertainers.
Hosted by Goulburn Historic Waterworks, tours of the building offer a glimpse of the impressive steaming machinery. The whole event is family-friendly, and there are plenty of food stalls to try as well.
Lilac City Festival – 4-7 October 2024
One of Australia’s longest continuously-running community festivals is back for its 73rd year. Every October long weekend, Goulburn welcomes the spring season with carnival rides, stalls, music, art, flowers, and the famous Lilac City Parade.
The traditional shop front competition has local businesses looking their best, and the silent disco at Belmore Park welcomes anyone hoping to get their groove on.
Pictures and Popcorn in the park – 2 November 2024
Nothing beats watching a movie on the big screen, especially when it’s an outdoor cinema in the centre of luscious greenery.
Pictures and Popcorn returns this year with the theme of superheroes, encouraging kids and adults alike to dress up in their best hero outfit. With a stellar line up of three super films, plenty of food options, and a kid’s zone with face painting and a jumping castle, it’s sure to be a fun evening for all.
Sporting events – year round
This year, Goulburn is the host of the Hockey NSW Indoor Championships, with teams from under 14s all the way to masters. Home of One Raceway, visitors will also have the chance to experience the best of Australian motorsports on a newly renovated track, opening with Round 6 of the Australian Superbikes Championships on 4-6 October 2024.
Heritage
Self-guided tour
For those who like to explore at their own pace, the Goulburn self-guided tour is a blueprint to all the fascinating historical sites dotted around the city. There are several different options to choose from, including a 45 minute walking tour of an historic residential street, or a more comprehensive tour of the city centre.
After being settled in 1820, and declared Australia’s first inland city by Queen Victoria in 1863, Goulburn bloomed into a thriving city which continues to prosper today. Embarking on a tour is the best way to experience this culture for yourself.
Historic homesteads
Don’t have time to tour the whole city? There are several beautiful homesteads that welcome visitors year-round.
Riversdale, which was originally built as a coaching inn, now boasts a stunning flowering garden and art collection within the walls of the elegant 1830s building. The house is full of sketches and carvings from Emily Twynam, who lived in the property in the 19th century, and the gardens are often used for picnics and relaxing walks.
On the outskirts of Goulburn, Garroorigang is a historic home built in 1857, which now offers personal guided tours. With over 160 years of history including colonial and Victorian furnishings, there’s so much to love. The accommodation has also been transformed into a B&B, where guests can stay in a 150 year old poster bed and enjoy a cooked country breakfast.
Goulburn Historic Waterworks
As well as being the location of the popular Steampunk Victoriana Fair, Goulburn Historic Waterworks houses machinery built in the 1800s, responsible for the city’s first reticulated water supply. When visiting, you can enjoy a picnic on the banks of the nearby Wollondilly River and visit the Pumphouse Museum to learn more about the massive steam engines that used to operate.
Rocky Hill War Memorial and Museum
First opened in 1925, Rocky Hill War Memorial is a tribute to the men and women of Goulburn who served Australia during WWI. The museum houses a significant collection of objects from the mid-1800s to present day. While you’re there, be sure to take in the views over Goulburn from the top of the tower.
Adventure
Bungonia National Park
Just a 30 minute drive from Goulburn lies Bungonia National Park, an outdoor adventure playground known for caving, canyoning, rock climbing, abseiling and hiking.
There are a number of popular bushwalking options, including short paths to Adams Lookout and Bungonia Lookdown. For a longer walk, the Red Track weaves all the way down to the Bungonia Slot Canyon and takes a whole afternoon. With picnic areas and campgrounds dotted around the site, it’s easy to spend a whole weekend exploring and soaking up the sun.
Surrounding villages
Keen to see what else is on offer in the region surrounding Goulburn? There are several unique towns and villages just a short drive away. Taking around half an hour, the drive to Tarago takes passengers past Lake Bathurst and several WWII fuel tanks, while in town you can explore historic buildings dating back to the 1840s.
The drive to Crookwell takes about 45 minutes, with many visitors choosing to stop at Pejar Dam where trout anglers are known to try their luck. The dam also welcomes kayaks and canoes, and there are a few barbecues for public use on the banks.
Recreational fishing
Fishing is another popular outdoor activity in Goulburn, with several pristine waterways to choose from.
Both Marsden Weir and the Wollondilly River are known for Redfin and Trout, while Pejar Dam is popular with Bass fishers as well.
Loving the sound of these tours and events? Goulburn offers several unique accommodation options, from farm stays to pubs and more. Be sure to check out the bistros and bakeries in the city centre when visiting too!
To read about the best places to eat in Goulburn, click here.
