Beautiful Berry: Where there’s always lots to do…
…and that’s without leaving town to head to Kiama and the Shoalhaven Coast, just a lazy 10 minute drive away! Berry truly is the most perfect combo of relaxed, country life meets the coast with its long stretches of pristine beach.
Now, as well as Linnaeus Farm and Far Meadow Cottage, you can stay with us right in the heart of Berry, with Maple on Edward and Maple on Albert open for bookings. They’re the newest additions to the Linnaeus Collection of luxury boutique accommodation and the perfect home-away-from-home for families, groups of friends or even special event celebrations. Each of these 4 bedroom /4.5 bathroom modern farmhouses are just a two minute walk from Berry’s vibrant high street where you’ll find a raft of eclectic boutiques, sophisticated homewares stores, restaurants, cafes, coffee spots, bakeries and so much more.
But there’s more to Berry than just the high street whether its art classes with leading Australian artists, book launches, motoring heritage days, wine tours, markets or annual festivals. Here are just some our favourites:
Berry Farmers Market is held every Thursday at the Cow Sheds in the Berry Showground.
These markets are the real deal where you’ll shop directly with the producers of the freshest fruit, veges, meat and seafood. There are baked goodies too of course, and why not fill your basket with some scrummy ready-made meals to take back to your accom. You’re on holiday after all!
Berry Markets is held the first Sunday of every month
With more than 200 stalls, there’s something for everyone. From unique, hand-crafted arts and crafts, collectibles, books and plants, to stalls with lots of freshly harvested locally grown produce. Then there are the food and coffee stalls, inviting you to sit down and take a minute to soak up the buzzy atmosphere.
Big Country Festival - May 6 (date to be confirmed).
It’s when country music and the culture that’s grown up around it comes to the country! Catch Lee Kernaghan, Adam Brand, Steve Forde, The McClymonts, Shannon Noll, Adam Harvey, The Wolfe Brothers, Travis Collins, LANCO (USA), Kaylee Bell (NZ), Amber Lawrence, James Johnston, Melanie Dyer and more.
Banquet in Berry – A Celebration of our Region - May 26.
As part of the Shoalhaven Autumn Celebration of Food, The Garden Berry, cafe/restaurant and bar, will host a relaxed 5-course banquet dinner with the menu specially designed to showcase and celebrate the produce and producers of the region. Historic Coolangatta Estate Winery, just one of many award-winning wineries in the area, will offer three paired wines to complement the menu. Eat. Taste. Drink. Chill.
Winter Wine Festival - 10-11th June Long Weekend at Crooked River Winery in Gerringong.
Now in its 25th year this most loved music and wine festival promises to be bigger and better than ever. Heads up. Get in early for your tix! Entertainment will be headlined by the iconic Aussie Band, The Cat Empire alongside Sons of the East, ARIA award winner Matt Corby, The Dreggs, Steph Strings, Maia Toakley, Satin Calli and more.
OpenField - June 22-25
A new contemporary arts festival to be held across four days. It plans to transform Berry into an immersive artistic wonderland, showcasing conceptual art in and around the town in unique non-museum venues, including halls, community spaces and natural reserves. It will feature a stellar program of local and visiting artists across disciplines of visual art, performance, video, installation and more. Local and visiting musicians and DJs will be presented across two nights as well as a cinema event, workshops, artist talks and panel discussions.
We love that there’s always plenty of choice of things to do if you head to Berry but one of the things we love most about the Shoalhaven is the joy in watching and feeling the change of season. Right now the area is still awash with the rich patina of Autumn and its bright orange, red and golden hues. After blue-sky days which are a little shorter, the nights are a little crisper and it won’t be long before Winter is knocking at the door. But we’ve got you covered there too.
If you're at Linnaeus Farm, it’s time to take up a seat on the stately sandstone-block seating surrounding the brand new firepit with its attached cooking grill. We’d opt to take a glass of red as recommended by Justin Lill Wines & The Berry Bottle Shop too. We might add a pungent triangle of cheese and some Berry-baked bread plus a big bag of marshmallows for later with the intention of spending a few hours soaking up the calm of the surroundings and the brilliant night sky. Maybe we’d follow that up with a cuppa in the heated timber lakehouse, an infrared sauna in Jamie’s Barn then a long soak in the bath before snuggling up in one of our 5 star, hotel-quality beds.
If we were at Far Meadow Cottage, the options are just as many: fire pit, Argentinian BBQ, wood-fired pizza oven and inside, a big, open wood fire, deep bath and our signature, luxury beds. Plus of course lots of board games for young and old alike.
And at our brand new properties, Maple on Edward and Maple on Albert? Outside you’ll find firepits as well as covered outdoor entertaining areas, and inside, big, broad open fireplaces are the centrepiece of the sumptuous living areas. And of course there are deep baths, and those 5 Star beds too.
Autumn/Winter is looking pretty good to us down Berry way. Why not come join us for a few days or longer. You can expect the extraordinary and that’s a promise!