Berry, NSW: Why Aussies are fleeing the city for the ‘perfect balance’ of this quaint village

When it comes to choosing a spot for a long weekend, normally it’s a coin flip for country or coast. But this slice offers both in spades.

When it comes to the ultimate weekend away, if you can land a spot that’s half country, half coast, you’ve found a clear winner.

It’s no secret that the bustling town of Berry in the Shoalhaven region on the south coast of NSW is a long-weekender’s mecca.

Surrounded by rolling green hills dotted with dairy cows, ample cafes and restaurants and enough boutique shopfronts to give your credit card a stellar workout — a recent trip staying on the outskirts of the village reminded me why the region is such a family favourite.

Berry remains a booming destination in NSW for both domestic and international visitation.

And one of the best parts about Berry, while surrounded by rolling countryside the township is just minutes from stunning beaches.

Just four minutes’ drive from Queen Street in the heart of town, and less than 15 minutes from the coast sits Broughton Vale — a hidden corner of the region perfect to set and forget for a weekend or more.

The five-acre property I checked into on whisper-quiet Bong Bong Road was aptly named Tranquility, and for 72 hours on one of the first weekends of spring, that was exactly what it delivered.

Upon arrival down the hidden entry, the driveway meandered just a few metres before opening up onto a vine covered three-bedroom home flanked by a full-size tennis court, green spaces and mulberry trees.

Tranquillity Berry is the perfect balance of country meets coastal.

The home is covered in white wisteria.

The wraparound balcony overlooking the grounds of the property served as the perfect setting for a lazy long lunch, after gathering supplies from town, such as freshly-baked bread or a pie from Milkwood Bakery or some sweet treats from the famous Berry Donut Van.

Within moments of arriving, Tranquillity stood out as country comfort at its best — with a warm and inviting layout throughout the entire home.

The trend indicates more and more holiday home bookings are attracting guests who don’t want to leave the property at all.

The pebbled path meandered through the trees from the home to the full-size tennis court.

And while not overly modern, the home oozes the simple pleasures from my childhood — log fireplaces, plenty of board and lawn games, and enough books to keep busy all weekend.

It has a fully kitted kitchen that extends to the balcony through picture-perfect French doors, but the most inviting feature of the combined living and dining would have to be the open fireplace that sits in the centre of the room.

The home itself isn’t modern or fitted with the most up-to-date amenities — but the interior’s overall warmth and picture-book, country cottage appeal favour what Aussie travellers are looking for in a home as spring dips into summer.

Chasing a cinematic experience for the cooler nights best spent at home, I packed a pair of the Sonos Era 100’s which set the scene for the ultimate movie theatre experience with big, open sound and crisp detail. They are subtle too, so can be hidden away and easily moved around the room.

Compact and easy to travel with (and simple to set up, even for the not-so-tech-savvy) the Era speakers quickly created a surround-sound experience in an instant — a perfect addition for those cosy movie nights by Tranquility’s open fire place.

Tranquillity Berry has a cosy nook to curl up and relax at every turn.

And if you do want to stretch your legs, there’s plenty of nearby walks and even a tennis court on the property.

And it’s that “simplicity” Booking.com’s recent Holiday Homes Outlook suggests will be a trend holiday-makers will jump on throughout 2024 and in to next year.

While the research, which delves into what Aussies want when it comes to a holiday home, tips the classic Aussie beach house as the most appealing holiday home for travellers, and country cottages come in at a close second within the survey of 1000 participants.

According to the survey, a steady increase of travellers are now selecting a property based on the interior of the home rather than what the outside looks like, with “cosy and inviting” topping the trend for the most appealing aspect, followed by “natural and organic elements” and finally “minimalist design”.

The home has three bedrooms and also a garden suite with ensuite.

Tranquillity Berry caters for large groups, and is the perfect place for a family getaway.

Speaking to news.com.au, Booking.com regional manager Oceania, Todd Lacey, said understanding the moving trends of what Aussies want from a holiday home plays an “important role within Australia’s tourism landscape”.

“Berry encapsulates a quintessential Aussie escape - it’s both coast and country, and an easy two hours drive from both Sydney and Canberra,” he said, adding the region typically caters for the trends highlighted within this years Holiday Home Outlook Report.

“These findings present an opportunity for owners to learn more about why Aussies book homes, and what’s popular for their next holiday. Booking.com’s overarching aim is to provide customers with the widest choice and diversity of great stays all in one place. Of the 29 million total reported listings on Booking.com, we are proud that more than 7.8 million listings are homes.”

Seven Mile Beach, in Gerroa, is just a stone’s throw from the township of Berry.

NSW in particular has seen a real boom in intrastate visitation in 2024, with total visitor expenditure reaching a new high of $52.9 billion.

Tourism Research Australia (TRA) data for the year ending June 2024 shows the state recorded the largest increase nationally for international visitors, nights and expenditure.

Both international visitor nights and expenditure have exceeded pre-pandemic levels, with spending soaring to a record $12.2 billion during the period.

NSW was Australia’s top destination for international visitors, visitor nights and expenditure during the period, with regional NSW — such as destinations like Berry — coming in as the most popular destination across regional Australia with 65.4 million international and domestic visitors.

Three tops stops while in Berry

Berry Donut Van

An absolute icon when visiting Berry, no trip is complete without a stop at the Berry Donut Van.

While there’s a few adventurous treats on the menu, you cannot go past a box of hot cinnamon doughnuts. You’ll be coming back each day you’re in town!

Donut Van in Berry is iconic.

The Famous Berry Donut Van always attracts a crowd.

Werri Beach, Gerroa

A short but scenic 15-minute drive from Berry, Werri Beach is the perfect spot to catch some salt and sand while in the Shoalhaven region.

The waves are relatively calm, and there’s a stunning 5km walk that starts at Werri Gully and follows the coastline to Kiama.

Werri Beach is a scenic 15-minute drive from Berry. Picture: Instagram/elinamrjn

Werri Beach and surrounds is the perfect place to visit. Picture: Instagram/jessonhertravels

If you’ve got little ones, there’s some rockpools and “Ourie pool” for a calm dip at the southern end of the beach — as well as an incredible whale watching platform on the headland near Tasman Drive.

The Berry General Store

Sitting just off the main drag of Berry is the relatively new locals hub, The Berry General Store.

The breakfast menu at The Berry General Store is a standout.

The Berry General Store is a great spot for a coffee or something a little more, and just off the main street of town.

Serving great coffee in a sunny corner of town there’s a definite locals feel about this spot.

Come for a drink, the paper or stay for brunch — it’s within walking distance of Queen Street so makes a perfect stop outside the hustle and bustle to grab your breath (especially on a weekend).

This journalist travelled to Berry as a guest of Booking.com