Top 10 things to do in Braidwood, New South Wales.

The little town of Braidwood, home to just over 1,700 people, has built on its historic roots to become a home for contemporary Australian artists, a mecca for cold climate food lovers and a destination for quality vintage clothing and furniture. Here’s everything you need to get the most out of this incredible town.

Art at its heart.

A magnet for artists for over 50 years, Braidwood has contemporary artists nestled in sheds and studios in town and in the surrounding hills – you’re bound to see artists around town, here’s just a few.

John R. Walker: best known for his landscape paintings which have a carefully spare yet complex and contemplative nature. Multiple Wynne finalist and Archibald finalist.

Dean Cross: works primarily across installation, sculpture and painting. His work is held by major institutions including The Art Gallery of South Australia, National Gallery of Victoria and The Powerhouse Museum, Sydney.

Kate Stevens: attracted to the landscape around Braidwood, which provides nourishment and inspiration for Kate. Twice winner of the Portia Geach Memorial Award and the Inaugural Evelyn Chapman Art Award.

Ray Monde: a contemporary paper artist, recently shortlisted for the National Still Life Award, Blake Prize, National Works on Paper and the Doug Moran Portrait Prize.

Special mention to Alison Alder, Kate Carruthers, Julian Laffan, Lea Durie and Lizzie Hall.

Art Tours at Mona Farm: tour this luxury estate with award winning gardens and an impressive contemporary Australian art collection including Isaac Julian, Dale Frank, Janet Laurence, Marion Borghelt, Adam Cullen, Ben Quilty, Gregory Hodge and Guy Maestri.

Braidwood Regional Arts Group: An artist-run-initiative, BRAG is hub for local artists, running four exhibitions a year. Watch their Instagram or website for their popular opening night and art exhibitions.

The Queanbeyan- Palerang Arts trail, every October long weekend, is a rare chance to peek inside artist studios.

Best coffee in Braidwood.

When I first moved to Braidwood in 2007, the only cafe in town was the Royal, a traditional milk bar. Now there’s so many, here are three of my favourites.

Casanovas for amazing coffee, superb breakfasts, brunches and astounding baked goods.

Deadwood is like stepping into the pages of Architectural Digest with fabulous coffee, incredible home-baked cakes and jaffles.

Albion Cafe has been serving Braidwood great coffee, seasonal breakfasts and lunches for 10 years.

Great eating in Braidwood.

The food scene in Braidwood has exploded lately. Innovative food and country staples.

Smokey Horse: this lively Himalayan diner serves up craft beer, astounding food and occasional live gigs.

Casanovas: opens Friday nights for incredible bougey pizzas and wine.

Vanilla Braidwood: in a beautiful garden behind wrought iron gates, tuck into food inspired from around the world from Asian and Arabic inspired cuisine to hearty soups and corned beef sandwiches.

Java: serving lunch time Javanese food on the main street.

Braidwood Hotel: still called the Commercial by locals, it’s the fancier pub in town with roaring open fires and pub lunches and dinners.

Royal Mail Hotel: exactly what you’d expect this place to be, a country pub serving country meals and cold beers.

Local produce grown in Braidwood.

Braidwood’s cool climate gives local growers incredible opportunities to grow quality produce rarely found anywhere else in Australia.

Terra Preta Truffles: When it’s truffle season, all the cafes in town have specials made with the local black gold: black truffles. Famous chef Antonio Carluccio called them some of the best in the world. Follow Terra Preta to join in on the hunt.

Braidwood Food Company: Get your hands on award-winning pasta and flat bread using native ingredients at this local store. You can even see the pasta being made on the premises.

Braidwood Arts & General: former owners of Milkhaus Milton, this is a beautifully busy little store, selling fresh produce, staple groceries, as well as locally made preserves, art supplies and more.

Braidwood Butchery: a high-quality butcher with produce from local farmers. Everything is handmade on the premises including cured and smoked meats.

Special mention to Oscar’s Doughnuts: the most imaginative doughnuts for a delicious treat.

Fabulous vintage and prairie dresses.

Born Vintage: this is not your usual second-hand-vintage store. It’s the most amazing cornucopia of super cool furnishings, vintage clothing and tchotchkes. The owner, Julia, carefully curates everything in the store, plus there’s rare vinyl upstairs. You won’t leave empty handed.

Saloon: Saloon Design House is the creative collaboration of Dena Pharaoh-Pezzano and Jane Magnus using iconic Liberty of London prints and luxurious fabrics from around the world and Australia, creating one-of-a-kind pieces imbued with authenticity and passion.

Getting out into the countryside to swim, hike and cycle.

You can see the beautiful rolling hills surrounding Braidwood from the main street so you have to get out of town to experience it.

Walk to the foot of Mount Gillamatong: At over 900 metres above sea level and far from other mountains in the Great Diving Range, Gillamatong dominates Braidwood and the surrounding farms. While the summit is private land, you can get views of town from the end of Gillamatong Lane. I recommend heading down Wallace Street, through the granite boulders, past the Old Cemetery, up Gillamatong Lane before walking back to town via the public path along Flood Creek and Braidwood Common.

Swim at Bombay Swimming Hole: a favourite for Braidwood locals looking to cool off without having to slug it to the coast. Fancy a nude swim? The unofficial clothing-optional spot is at the end of Jinglemoney Road, where Iron Corroboree blacksmiths strip off and dive in to cool off.

With huge granite rocks and sandy alcoves, it’s the perfect place to swim in the sunshine. It’s a place loved by locals and largely forgotten by outsiders since it was featured in the 1987 film, The Year My Voice Broke. 

Cycling the back roads of Braidwood: There’s amazing routes to ride around Braidwood, particularly if you plan to stop at the pubs along the way like the newly opened Captains Flat Hotel, Majors Creek pub and Araluen Valley Hotel.

Lots more to do in Braidwood.

While the main street may look deserted at night time, there’s often live music in Smokey Horse and Majors Creek Pub, plus art openings and classes at Braidwood Regional Arts Group, film nights in the National Theatre.

Plus there’s loads of jewellers and metal workers in town to visit; Ferro Forma, William Verdon Manufacturing Jeweller, V&M, Zoe Brand and two fabulous ceramic studios who open their studios regularly: Mud Dept and Braidwood Clay Works.

If I’ve forgotten something – or someone – let me know in the comments!