Young and Hilltops Area

Cherry capital

The nation’s first commercial cherry orchard was planted in Young in 1878 and it’s been the cherry capital of Australia ever since. In Spring the sea of pink and white cherry blossoms is simply stunning. The main cherry-picking season runs from late October to late January.

The area’s rich red soil is home to more than 20 stone fruit orchards and the Hilltops wine region. You’ll enjoy memorable food and wine experiences, from tasting cool climate reds at cellar doors to picking cherries at orchards, touring wineries and long lunches under the trees.

Valley Fresh Cherries & Stonefruits, Young

Gold rush heritage

The Young region has a fascinating history of colonial gold rushes and notorious bushrangers. Four your journey back in time, start at the Young Information Centre. Housed in a colonial railway station, you’ll find maps to heritage trails and walks, and information on local gourmet food shops and antique stores.

Visit the Lambing Flat Folk Museum, inside a former school building from 1883, for mining history and artefact’s from Young’s early days. The Boorowa Historical Museum hosts a special bushranger exhibition during Woolfest in October. Explore history at family-fun The Rustic Maze and Country Garden in nearby Monteagle.

Lambing Flat Chinese Tribute Garden, Young

Family fun & events

A fun events calendar includes flying kites at the colourful Harden Kite Festival and watching the Running of the Sheep spectacle at the Irish Woolfest in Boorowa. The three-day National Cherry Festival in Young includes a street parade and pie-eating contest.

Grove Estate Wines, Young

Getting there

Young and the Hilltops region is around four hours’ drive from Sydney and two hours from Canberra. It’s also a great stop on a Sydney to Melbourne road trip. The nearest airports are in Canberra, Wagga Wagga and Bathurst, all around two hours away. Accommodation includes pubs, motels, holiday cottages and farm stays.