Situated on the headwaters of the Nepean and Georges Rivers, the Macarthur region takes in the 'Cowpastures', where cattle strayed from the fledgling colony of Sydney in search of tastier grass. The colonists soon followed, with John Macarthur receiving the first land grant at Camden in 1806. It was on the shale soils here that Macarthur and other gentleman farmers established Australia's wool, wheat and wine industries.

Going south, the road climbs out of the Macarthur basin onto the Southern Highlands where the Nattai and Wingecarribee Rivers rise. This is another important agricultural region, with areas of even richer basalt soils and magnificent gardens.

For many thousands of years and still today, the fertile landscapes of Macarthur and the Southern Highlands have been the homeland of the Dharawal, the Gundungurra and the XXX people.

Today, the major towns and smaller villages dotted across the region supply all modern services to a picturesque countryside dotted with historic villages, galleries and cafes. To the west lie the foothills of the Blue Mountains, protected from settlement in the early days by less productive soils and rugged country. More recently water supply catchments and conservation reserves have formalised the protection.

Get up close to the edge of world heritage wilderness at Warragamba Dam, Burragorang Lookout, Thirlmere Lakes, Wollondilly Lookout and Wombeyan Caves.

Discover native plants in the spacious picnic grounds of Mount Annan Botanic Garden. Indulge in fine food and wine and explore the many wine tasting opportunities offered by the region's diverse array of vineyards, explore the local villages and wander the gardens and galleries of the highlands. Visit the Rail Heritage Centre at Thirlmere – home of Australia's oldest and largest railway museum – a step back in time, to an era when everyone travelled by train.