Picton
Picton is town in the Southern Highlands of New South Wales
Understand
If you're passing Picton - drop in and visit now! Sydney is sprawling to the south-west and west, and Picton is already at the edge of the commuter belt for Sydney. But the town centre of Picton is still charming, with a creek running through the town to the south, and a selection of shops along the main street, good coffee from a choice of cafes. It is the kind of village look that crafty tourist towns of Berry and Bowral try to capture, but it is here at the centre of a real local community in Picton. Get off the Hume Highway, and drop in to Picton for a coffee and a wander. If you miss it this time, next time you're passing it may just be another Sydney suburb with a strip mall on the outskirts.
Get in
By car
Picton is around 10km diversion from the Hume Highway heading south-west from Sydney. It is an easy day trip from Sydney, or a more scenic route out of Sydney along the Old Hume Highway and the Razorback Range.
The town centre is a little off the main road, so make sure you don't think the ugly service station and industrial areas is what passes for the centre.
By train
Southern Highlands Southern Highlands Trains stop at Picton every 2 hours outside of peak. Change at Campbelltown. Opal cards are valid, and services cannot be booked. NSW Trainlink booked services (to Canberra and Melbourne) pass through Picton without stopping.
By bus
Picton buslines operates some services to Campbelltown and to Camden. These services do not accept Opal, and are no longer part of the integrated Sydney transport ticketing. You must purchase a ticket from the driver.
By bike
Picton lies near the top of Old Razorback road, that is a classic cyclist challenge, that can still be mastered by an average cyclist. The trip from Campbelltown out to Picton is around 70km return. With a frequent train service to Campbelltown, good coffee in Picton, and a nice hill in between, this may be your ride!
Get around
You can reach the centre of the village, the bridges, and the pub without a car, and after a glass of Bock that may be sufficient. If your endeavours are more teetotal, you will need a car to see the surrounding countryside and lookouts.
See
- Victoria Bridge
Do
- Skydive. Sydney Skydivers operates exclusively from the nearby airport at Wilton (the turn off is a few hundred metres from the Picton exit off the Hume Highway (freeway)). Full licence training also available. There is a cafe with a decent coffee machine and toasted sandwiches at a reasonable price if you just want to watch. Or if your idea of lunch is a pack of corn chips with a tin of bean mix and cheese for around $8, they can help you with that too. Picnic tables if you'd rather bring your own. Entry is free, $275 for a tandem skydive. Discounts available for a second jump on the same day. Pick a time online, but usually it is okay to just drop in. [1]
Buy
Eat
Drink
- George IV Inn and Scharer's Little Brewery. Home of the Burragorang Bock. Nice country spot with a brewery attached. One of the pioneering microbrews in Australia. Geoffrey Scharer (who recently died) would try to convince you that his natural brews wouldn't give you a hangover, but his patrons wouldn't testify in support. The building itself is historic, dating back to colonial days.
Sleep
There are a selection of farmstays around the area.
There is accommodation at the George IV Inn and the other pubs in town.
Connect
Picton Post Office is on the main street, and open weekdays and Saturday mornings.
A few of the cafes along the main street also offer free Wi-Fi to their customers.
Go next
Explore the Southern Highlands, the rivers, Burragorang Lookout, and the Oaks.