We went on a couple’s retreat in the heart of Berry - no kids allowed

Inside a weekend stay at one of the top houses in Australia on Stayz. 

They say it takes a whole week to fully unwind on holidays, but clearly “they” have never been to Sinclairs of Berry, the charming farm-style stay right in the heart of the Berry.

With just a two-night stay at the gorgeous property, my partner and I, along with six other couples, were left feeling rejuvenated and refreshed (which may also have something to do with the fact we left the kids at home!)

Want to join the family? Sign up to our Kidspot newsletter for more stories like this. 

Image: Supplied

RELATED: 8 reasons why Samoa should be your next family holiday

The farm-style stay with the convenience of being close to town

Spread over two grassy acres and boasting views of the lush Berry countryside, the property feels worlds away but is just a two-hour drive from Sydney. It also feels far away from the town itself despite being tucked just 50 metres around the corner of the main street.

And that is the beauty of a place like this, the ability to transport you to a secluded farm, while still having the convenience of being so close to town - which you’ll definitely appreciate on the morning coffee run!

Image: Supplied

The thoughtful and welcoming touches made us feel at home

The property, which won Silver in the Stayz Holiday Home Of The Year Awards, was full of thoughtful touches from the moment we arrived, so it was easy to see why it won such a prestigious title. 

The first of many gestures was that the host, Caroline, was waiting at the property to welcome us. She took us through all of the rooms, giving us helpful information along the way and anecdotes about how she renovated it from a run-down barn.

She also left thoughtful things that would make our stay that much more memorable and special. Every need (or at least, hedonistic want) had been anticipated. 

Planning to make a big fry-up for brekkie? A basket full of eggs from Caroline’s farm was waiting for us on the kitchen island, alongside some artisan sourdough from a local bakery. Ready for some afternoon tea? Have a slice of the gorgeous, homemade lemon drizzle cake. Cooking meats on the firepit? There was a bunch of freshly picked herbs ready to go. You want to have a dinner party? The table has already been set like something out of a Country Living Magazine. 

You get the picture.

She’d even collected dedicated marshmallow sticks for roasting!

Image: Supplied

The eight-bedroom property, complete with a huge open-plan kitchen

Now we’ve covered the small touches, let’s chat about the big things - like the property itself.

It’s MASSIVE. We’re talking eight bedrooms all with their own ensuites, a huge open-plan kitchen, living and dining spaces, a pool and a free-standing studio.

The fully-equipped gourmet kitchen really was the heart of the home. It quickly became a hub during our stay, as we whipped up brunches and dinners on the marble island as the group gathered around chatting and drinking wine as we prepped.

Moving past the lounge room, which was fitted with large, linen couches and a fireplace, you walk past some of the beautifully appointed bedrooms, through French doors and onto the wooden verandah that overlooks the pool, courtyard and sprawling paddock.

You’d be forgiven for thinking you were somewhere in Provence, with all the hedges and fruit trees and the beautifully manicured gardens.

My partner and I stayed in the studio in the garden, which had it’s own private deck overlooking these same views, and it was perfect for a little privacy from the main house.

There was also a pebbled courtyard, nestled into the side of the house with an impressive firepit.

The thing we loved the most about the home was just how many different areas there were to hang out in.

Clearly, it’s made for entertaining and large groups. Caroline tells us that she often gets three generations of family staying here, and looking around the house, it’s clear that there are lots of facilities that cater to kids.

There’s a room full of bunk beds and its own TV, a rumpus room for kicking back and watching movies, games like Finska and lots of outdoor space to explore, like the beautiful Broughton Mill Creek at the edge of the paddock.

Image: Supplied

It fuses luxury with rustic country charm 

The house itself is beautiful and full of character and manages to strike the balance between luxury and rustic, country charm.

On first glance, you might think that it’s a pristine, white home, and well… it is.

But it’s not one of those holiday rentals where you’re scared to touch or do anything in it in fear of messing it up. Somehow, someone much smarter and with better design skills (ahem, Caroline) mastered the balance between refined interiors and laid-back comfort.

Image: Supplied

Our couples retreat itinerary involved relaxing and then more relaxing

Without the kids in tow, we could leave the shrieking, chasing, tantrums and the cries of ‘But she started it!’ at home.

This meant we were free to actually relax, sleep in, have slow, lazy mornings and do a lot of nothing… exactly what we all needed.

Image: Supplied

DAY 1

We managed to escape work on the Friday and arrive mid-morning which meant we could make full use of the sunny day we were blessed with (they are few and far between in Berry, more on that later.)

We spent the day in and out of the pool, reading on the sunbeds and exploring the home. One of our friends made it their mission to sit and read on every chair in the house, and there were A LOT.

After a hard days work of ‘playing house’, our attention turned to our stomachs, so we wandered into town and made a bee-line for the famous Milkwood Bakery.

We bought some fancy sausage rolls, then wandered around all the boutique, antique and designer shops.

We then went to the boujee-iest butcher shop, Mountain Side Meats, to pick up things for dinner and that night, we took the firepit for a spin and cooked up a hearty feast. We then stayed up playing games until the early hours of the morning.

Image: Supplied

DAY 2

After an indulgent sleep-in, the girls got up and did a pilates class in the living room while the boys cooked up a storm. We had a buffet-style brunch and then got to discussing our plans for the day, but they were soon decided for us when it started raining.

Berry’s weather is tumultuous and it can turn at any time, but we didn’t mind as it just meant that we could make good use of the house and indoor activities.

After more games and copious amounts of English Breakfast, the rain started to ease up and a few of us headed back into town to try the Berry Donut Van and their freshly made, piping-hot cinnamon doughnuts.

That night, we ordered pizza from the local pizzeria, Quattro Pizzeria. The staff were so friendly, they even offered to help us carry all the pizzas home in the rain - another perk of the house being so close to town!

We finished the night cuddled up on the couch in the TV room, doing face masks and watching thrillers while the rain continued into the night. So cosy.

Image: Supplied

DAY 3

On our final morning, the rain had cleared and we headed for our final brunch at The Hungry Monkey which is right over the road from the house.

A much-welcomed late checkout extended our stay to 4 pm, so we stole a few more hours by the fire, snuck in a nap, and then said goodbye to the beautiful property we called home for the weekend.

Maybe next time we might just bring the kids. 

Prices start from $2,500 a night. The writer was a guest of Stayz.

Image: Supplied

Originally published as We went on a couple’s retreat in the heart of Berry - no kids allowed