Exeter

Lifestyle & character

Life in Exeter revolves around the simple pleasures of Highlands living: log fires in winter, big skies, and gardens that put on a proper autumn show. The village has a small, local rhythm to it, with residents often heading to nearby Bundanoon or Moss Vale for cafes, produce and larger supermarkets, while keeping the everyday essentials close to home. It's a community that knows its neighbours, and that closeness is part of the appeal for people leaving busier suburbs behind.

The surrounding countryside is a big part of the drawcard too. Rolling farmland, established trees and the proximity to Morton National Park mean outdoor pursuits — walking, birdwatching, simply pottering in the garden — are woven into daily life rather than being a weekend add-on.

Getting around

Exeter's location just off the Illawarra Highway corridor makes it an easy drive to Bundanoon, Sutton Forest, Moss Vale and Bowral, all within about fifteen to twenty minutes. Sydney is a manageable, if unhurried, two-hour drive via the Hume Highway, while the Southern Highlands rail line through Bundanoon and Moss Vale gives locals a car-free option for reaching the city or heading further south to Wollongong and the coast.

There's no bustling public transport network within the village itself, so most residents rely on their own car for daily errands — one of the trade-offs for the space and quiet that Exeter offers.

Schools & families

Exeter Public School anchors the village for younger families, offering a genuine small-school environment where kids are known by name rather than number. Older students typically head to high schools in Bowral or Moss Vale, both a short drive away, giving families the benefit of a close-knit primary years experience without sacrificing access to bigger secondary options as children grow.

Parks & recreation

The drawcard here isn't a suburban park but the landscape itself. Exeter backs onto some of the Southern Highlands' best-loved natural attractions, with Morton National Park and the walking trails around Bundanoon — including the famous Erith Coal Mine and Fairy Bower tracks — within easy reach. Sutton Forest and the surrounding farmland add to the sense of open space, making the area popular with walkers, cyclists and anyone who wants a garden or acreage to call their own.

Housing & architecture

Housing in Exeter is overwhelmingly detached and land-based, reflecting its rural-residential character: current listings show 94% houses and just 6% land, with little in the way of units or townhouses. Expect a mix of classic Highlands weekenders, established homestead-style properties and newer builds set on generous blocks, many with the kind of established gardens and mature trees the region is known for.

The property market

Exeter's small size means the market here is intimate rather than high-volume, and it tends to attract buyers specifically chasing space, privacy and that Southern Highlands lifestyle rather than proximity to amenity. The dominance of houses on land — 94% of current listings, against 6% land only — underlines the suburb's rural-residential identity, with larger blocks and acreage-style living the norm rather than the exception.

Buyers drawn to Exeter are typically comparing it with neighbouring Bundanoon and Sutton Forest, and the appeal is similar across all three: a slower pace, a strong sense of place, and easy access to the wider Highlands towns for schools, shopping and the train line, without the density that comes with living in Bowral or Mittagong itself.