Top Towns for 2022: Where to eat, stay and play in Berry

No need to choose between beachside bliss or country charm. Berry offers the best of both worlds, which is why it came in at no. 25 on your list of Top 50 Aussie Towns.

Find the complete list of the Top 50 Aussie Towns here.

So, you’ve decided it’s time for a weekend getaway. You’re craving a coastal retreat for some sand and sun. Then again, you’ve been imagining a rural idyll with green pastures dotted with dairy farms and award-winning wineries.

The good news is it’s a win-win if you’re visiting Berry. The picturesque town of Berry, only a two-hour drive south of Sydney in the NSW Shoalhaven Region, is a popular escape for stylish city slickers.

It’s perfectly positioned between the pristine beaches of the South Coast (Seven Mile Beach is only 10 minutes away) and the fertile farmland that sweeps all the way to Kangaroo Valley.

There’s heritage charm in abundance along Berry’s tree-lined Queen Street and the quiet backstreets, chock-full of cutesy bakeries and cafes, boutique homeware stores and buzzy restaurants. Here’s how to make the most of a getaway to Berry.

Eating there

South On Albany

You’ll uncover one of the newest additions to Berry’s restaurant offerings tucked away on a side street. The relaxed and refined neighbourhood eatery is run by the talented duo John Evans and Sonia Greig, whose modern European cookery showcases South Coast produce with flair. Do secure a reservation, as the restaurant remains one of the hottest tickets in town.

Milkwood Bakery

You can get your French patisserie fix at this beloved bakery right next to the post office . The menu includes a range of breads, pastries, and pies with fancy fillers like beef bourguignon. Stock up on snacks for the drive.

The Berry Tea Shop

Berry has an air of Britishness about it – thanks to the leafy streets and buildings with plenty of character – but this English-style tearoom takes the cake. Tea connoisseurs will delight in its hand-blended loose-leaf teas, such as the deluxe take on the Australian billy tea. Spoil yourself with an afternoon of straight-from-the-oven scones dolloped with homemade raspberry jam and double cream.

The Famous Berry Donut Van

Take a hint from the word ‘famous’ adorning the simple van parked on Queen Street; it’s a local institution that’s been serving doughnuts to the Berry community for more than 55 years. Follow the irresistible scent of cinnamon wafting down the road tempting doughnut devotees.

Playing there

Shopping Spree

If you’re on the hunt for home decor worthy of a country manor, Berry has you sorted. There are brilliant browsing opportunities at AMARA Home – you might have noticed the vine-clad facade that sits prettily on Berry’s main drag.

Design lovers are drawn to Moss Nest ’s eclectic bric-a-brac and Few and Far , which stocks vintage homewares from around the globe. Further afield, the Berry Markets are held the first Sunday of every month (except February). Make time to browse the 200 stalls brimming with delicious food, regional produce, plants, arts and crafts.

Two Figs Winery

Two Figs , perched on top of a hill with views over the Shoalhaven River, is a boutique winery producing premium, handcrafted wines. Book the tasting experience at the beautifully renovated cellar door to sample a few drops along with a platter of cheeses. It’s pet-friendly, so bring along your furry plus one.

Jim Wild’s Oysters

This rustic shack on the river , about a half-hour’s drive from Berry, is a destination in its own right. Seafood enthusiasts will be smacking their lips for some of the best Sydney rocks served up at a family-owned oyster farm. Order a dozen of these briny beauties, freshly shucked right by the water.

Staying there

The Berry View Hotel

The Palm Springs-inspired retro motel revival trend has not bypassed Berry. The recent revamp of this mid-century drive-in motel retains the original 1950s architecture.

It’s a serious glow-up – a bright-white paint job with pops of orange and 13 uniquely styled rooms that are both nostalgic and equipped to cater to all our modern needs.

The orange and white Berry View Motel — The Berry View is a must-stay.

Cementing its title as ‘Berry’s coolest digs’, there’s an exciting expansion on the horizon, including an infinity pool and lounge scattered deck worthy of a Slim Aarons-esque pool party.

The Berry View has chic, light-filled rooms. — The Berry View’s chic, light-filled rooms.

The Homestead

This handsomely restored Federation-style farmhouse has #cottagecore written all over it, an amalgam of old-fashioned appeal and smartly appointed accommodation. The property is nestled amid the trees, within a five-minute stroll into the village.

There’s the swoon-worthy two-room suite – known as The Dairy – built on the site of the original dairy shed, and four light-filled studios. Those staying during winter are warmly welcomed by a fireplace lit upon arrival. Cue: cosying up with a good book.

Mt Hay Retreat

A secluded sanctuary set on a 145-hectare working farm with a pastoral backdrop that extends towards the sparkling Pacific Ocean. The collection of five sustainable, individually designed suites all offer privacy as a major perk.

Except, of course, from your wild neighbours – wombats, brush-tailed rock wallabies, echidnas and kookaburras. Soak up your surrounds in the Big Blue suite, sought-after for its sumptuous bathtub on the front deck.

Mt Hay Retreat on a green hill. — Mt Hay Retreat is a secluded sanctuary. (Image: Katie Rivers Photography)

Explore more of the NSW South Coast in our travel guide or find out which other towns made it into your Top 50.

The NSW South Coast hotspot is brimming with wildlife.

Jervis Bay is home to a diverse range of animals that will delight any nature enthusiast and spotting its playful residents is one of the most enjoyable things to do in the region. From swimming with whales and seals, to spotting dolphins and fairy penguins or snorkelling with turtles, here are eight of the best Jervis Bay wildlife encounters to be had on the NSW South Coast.

See dolphins on a scenic cruise

dolphins at Jervis Bay — Watch bottlenose dolphins splash and play on a scenic cruise. (Image: Dolphin Watch Cruises Jervis Bay)

Dolphin Watch Cruises was one of the first to offer dolphin and whale watching tours in Australia. It has also been taking visitors on tours to see Jervis Bay wildlife for more than three decades. There’s a high probability you will see the resident bottlenose dolphins surfing the waves created by the boat carving through the seas. And, with the aid of binoculars, you might even be able to spot a whale (between May and November) or sea eagles soaring overhead. It’s one of the best things to do in Jervis Bay.

Swim with whales (and then drink wine)

whale breaching at Point Perpendicular, Jervis Bay — See Jervis Bay’s most majestic creatures. (Image: Jervis Bay Wild)

Did someone say wine and whales? Genius. The Shoalhaven City Council’s Wine & Whales campaign suggests: a whale-watching cruise with Jervis Bay Wild or Dolphin Watch, a Swim with the Whales experience with Dive Jervis Bay and a visit to nearby vineyards such as Cupitt’s Estate and Centennial Vineyards. Top off your wine-soaked whale-watching weekender with a unique stay in Jervis Bay.

Swim with seals

the Woebegone Dive cruise in Jervis Bay — Woebegone Dive has a license to swim with both seals and whales in NSW waters. (Image: Supplied)

Cruise onboard Seascape with Woebegone Free Dive from Woollamia Boat Ramp to snorkel or free-dive with a colony of New Zealand and Australian fur seals. Woebegone is one of only a few operators with a license to swim with both seals and whales in NSW waters. And you can jump in the big blue and do just that during the migration season. Kudos to the eco-minded operator, which partners with Sea Shepherd, for organising monthly beach clean-ups, too.

Spot kangaroos at The Woods Farm

The Woods Farm of Jervis Bay from above — Commune with nature at The Woods Farm.

The emphasis around Jervis Bay is justifiably on its turquoise seas. But there’s also a chance to lose yourself in the surrounding forest and farmland. Families who stay at The Woods Farm of Jervis Bay are encouraged to feed the farm animals, which include a menagerie of cows, horses, and sheep. Give the tree-change a trial run by staying in a cute-as cottage or bell tent, collecting eggs for breakfast and watching Jervis Bay wildlife such as kangaroos hop by on cue.

Spot stingrays on the Husky Ferry

sunset over Currambene Creek Huskisson in Jervis Bay — Hop onboard the sunset cruise at Currambene Creek. (Image: Above Down Under by Kramer Photography)

Take a sunset cruise on Husky Ferry through the Jervis Bay Marine Reserve and it’s highly likely you’ll spy stingrays flying through the cerulean seas. The sunset cruise, which operates out of Huskisson and Myola, is touted by locals as one of the most underrated ways to see the area. Hop onboard the ferry as it makes its way up Currambene Creek in winter to see baby stingrays swimming with their mothers. It’s one of the best ways to encounter Jervis Bay wildlife.

Look for pelicans at Pelican Shores Cafe

Find a perch to sit and look out over St George’s Basin from Pelican Shores Cafe and you are bound to see the large water birds patrolling the shore in search of fish. Watch the pelicans wade into the water yawning open their bills to catch scraps of fish thrown their way by the local fisher folk. This form of feeding does not work at the cafe; form an orderly queue to arrange that seafood plate for two.

Find Fairy Penguins at Murrays Beach

an aerial view of Murrays Beach, Jervis Bay — Stroll down Murrays Beach to see several seabird species. (Image: Destination NSW)

From above, Jervis Bay Marine Park resembles a pretty turquoise necklace, with the sand stretching around the protected seas in a series of perfect crescents. One of the things that makes Jervis Bay so special is the fact it’s teeming with marine life. Secure front-row seats with Jervis Bay Wild to see nesting colonies of several different seabird species, such as the fairy penguin and sooty oystercatcher.

Head out on a kayak

friends kayaking in Jervis Bay — Go kayaking along the turquoise waters of Jervis Bay. (Image: Dee Kramer)

Jervis Bay Marine Park is a haven for marine life. Wait for a day when the skies are stretched tight like a blue tarpaulin before hiring a kayak from Jervis Bay Kayaks . Follow the birds skimming the surface of the water and head outside the marine park where you can appreciate the crystal-clear waterways and beaches. Catch glimpses of fish gliding beneath the water. You can fish here, too – just don’t forget to consult the zoning map for recreational fishing in Jervis Bay Marine Park before doing so.