The Best Things to Do in Berry on a Short Break

This tranquil farmstay on the South Coast is a welcoming base for the whole family to explore the region.

Four kilometres south-east of Berry, an ornate rustic sign marks the entrance to the peaceful country haven of Moraea Farm. The five-bedroom property has all the hallmarks of a farmstay, right down to resident Highland cows Stan and John, but it also has the luxuries you’d expect from a top-level hotel, such as king-sized beds with French linens and a sleek pool (set to a soothing 26°C) with paddock views and sun lounges to stretch out on. It’s the ideal combination for a multigenerational getaway.

Seek out greener pastures

Moraea is just a two-hour drive south of Sydney but a world away from the city buzz. Surrounded by the hills of the Berry region, you can hear the crickets along with magpie song throughout the day and endless stars are a nightly reminder you’re in the country. Three generous bedrooms in the modern farmhouse each have their own colour palette, from striking blue to calming sage, as well as an ensuite – one with a deep bath, another with a private verandah – and a kitchenette to brew a cup of local tea. An attached studio has an additional two bedrooms and ensuites, plus a full kitchen and dining space with its own entry.

Indulge in delicious home-style food

A painting by local artist Alexandra Blunn overlooks the large main kitchen where your family’s head chef can whip up meals on the eight-burner Smeg cooker. Outside is a pizza kiln – pre-order a DIY pizza kit up to a week before your visit – and a barbecue, with a generous rustic timber table to seat the entire tribe. On cooler nights, relocate around the firepit for post-dinner drinks or s’mores with the kids – BYO marshmallows from The Treat Factory, which is nearby. If your cook needs a break, try The Garden café in town, where breakfast, lunch, coffee and cakes are made with locally sourced ingredients and served daily. Or grab a table at the Great Southern Hotel for traditional pub fare and warm hospitality.

Live the farm life

There’s no mistaking that Moraea is a working farm. It has a vegetable, herb and spice garden, which is available to guests, as well as five sheep, two goats, 10 hens and those bovine brothers. Collect eggs for breakfast in the morning then see the other animals up close during a farm tour pre-arranged with owner Peter Yannopoulos. Alongside his wife, Nadia Raicevich, he runs this property and the six other holiday homes in and around Berry that make up the Linnaeus Collection.

Discover diverse natural beauty (and dessert)

Fresh cinnamon classic from the Berry Donut Van

More active family members can drive for about 10 minutes out of town to the Barren Grounds Nature Reserve, where a dirt road leads to a two-hour round-trip hike to Drawing Room Rocks lookout. The walk is challenging but worth it for the views across the grassy landscape of the Shoalhaven and out to the Pacific. For a slower pace, drive for less than 30 minutes north to enjoy the marvel of the Kiama Blowhole. Or carve out half an hour for the Berry Historical Walking Trail then reward yourself with a fresh cinnamon classic from the Berry Donut Van on Queen Street. The youngest of your crew can run off the sugar at the Boongaree Rotary Nature Play Park, which is a mere 600 metres down the road.