Things To Do

Everything you need to know about things to do in Berry, Kangaroo Valley and the surrounding area during your stay

The Drawing Rooms

The Drawing Rooms is the best spot to stay for the spectacular Drawing Room Rocks walk, and the perfect base to explore Berry, Kangaroo Valley or our local beaches. But if you fancy taking things really easy, it’s a wonderful spot to just sit and unwind on the deck, take a leisurely walk around the gardens or curl up with a movie from our DVD library.

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The Village

The village of Berry is truly unique in Australia, with a rail link to Sydney, gorgeous beaches, rolling green countryside, specialty stores, boutique restaurants and cafés, heritage buildings, and of course, friendly locals. We’ve put together a (non-exhaustive!) list of a few things you can do in Berry and the surrounding area. Feel free to drop us an email or ask us at check-in if you have any questions or would like further detail on anything at all.

The Berry village website is also a great source of ideas – it has wonderful detail on things to do, and events that are on throughout the year in our lovely village.

Restaurants & Pubs

We recommend advance booking at many of these restaurants (especially on weekends).

SOUTH on Albany

Tucked away in a side street of Berry, we are a small 20 seat restaurant passionate about sharing our love of this region with locals and visitors alike. Your hosts John and Sonia craft a set weekly seasonal menu that highlights the best of the South Coast with a contemporary, relaxed and honest vibe.

Queen St. Eatery & Wine Bar

The Post House (Thai Restaurant)

Indika The House of Tandoor (Dine In or Takeaway)

Bangalay Dining

Berry Thai

Berry Hotel

Cafés

The Garden

Social dining for breakfast, lunch and dinner, or relaxed afternoon grazing and cocktails. Homemade products, coffee beans from The Daily Grind and a delicious cocktail menu. Leafy, dog-friendly courtyard at the rear.

The Famous Berry Donut Van

The Hungry Monkey

Milkwood Bakery

The Rutledge Bar & Eats

Wineries

Silos Estate & Wileys Creek

Our supply partner here at The Drawing Rooms, with premium wines emphasising the unique characteristics of the Shoalhaven region. Cellar door, award-winning restaurant, art gallery and alpacas against a stunning backdrop, based on a former 1870s dairy farm with 100 year old grain silos.

Two Figs Winery

Crooked River Wines - Gerringong

Yarrawa Estate - Kangaroo Valley

Coolangatta Estate - Coolangatta

Mountain Ridge Wines - Coolangatta

Cambewarra Estate - Bangalee

Cupitt’s - Ulladulla

Bawley Vale Estate - Bawley Point

Walks, Wildlife & Beaches

The Drawing Room Rocks bushwalk

A breathtaking walk that’s physical enough to get up a sweat, but gentle enough to be done by all ages. Some people choose to run it (about 15 minutes uphill!), but it’s about a 45-60 minute walk up for most, allow about 30 minutes up there to enjoy the incredible views, then about 30-45 minutes on the way back down. The walk itself is less of a secret than it used to be, so parking there can be tricky on weekends - but a big advantage here is that the walk starts right at your front door!

Cambewarra Mountain Lookout

Gardens

There are numerous gardens on the NSW South Coast and in the Southern Highlands. Some are open every day of the year (e.g. The Shrubbery, or Red Cow Farm in spring, summer and autumn), while others are by appointment only, or on certain days of the week only - these dates frequently change, so we recommend double checking each garden before visiting.

Merribee (Numbaa, near Nowra)

Merribee’s garden spans seven acres of sensory splendour. Since purchasing the property in 2000, it’s been an evolving masterpiece for Lucy and Richard Marshall. They have slowly fashioned this plot into a licorice-all sorts of a garden with diverse plantings of trees, shrubs and herbaceous plants.

Wander through the formal garden rooms, including the Rose Garden, the hedged Potager Garden, the walled Snow Pear Garden, the Cottage Garden, Crepe Myrtle Walk, the Herb Garden, the Lavender Paddock, the Bunya Bunya Copse and finish up at the adjoining hedging, topiary and rose nursery.

Red Cow Farm (Sutton Forest)

Red Cow Farm is a unique cool climate garden set on 2.5 hectares in the picturesque rural village of Sutton Forest approximately 45 minutes drive from The Drawing Rooms. The simplicity of its presentation disguises a garden of sophisticated structure and ambitious schemes.

Retford Park (Bowral)

As you venture up the driveway, the grand Victorian Italianate homestead appears from a towering arboretum of a magnificent collection of evergreen and deciduous trees, some very rare and unique.

Surrounding the eastern side of the homestead is a patchwork of hedged gardens showcasing everything from a detailed knot garden, exquisite swimming pool and pavilion, sculptures demanding centre stage.

Harpers Mansion National Trust (Berrima)

Overlooking historic Berrima, Harper’s Mansion was built in 1834 by local publican James Harper and later owned by the Catholic Church. The house was restored by the National Trust from 1978 and is furnished in colonial style.

Harper’s Mansion is set in two acres of gardens made for strolling, full of cool climate heritage plants and featuring one of the largest hedge mazes in Australia.

The Shrubbery (Exeter)

Enchanting Southern Highlands open gardens, free to enter. A gathering place for ideas of personal outdoor sanctuaries to take root, grow and become reality. Open 10-4 every Friday, Saturday and Sunday.

Bundanon Trust (Illaroo, near Nowra)

The gardens surrounding the Homestead have been influenced by different owners over the years. The Boyds maintained an already established hedge-enclosed cottage garden which hosts a selection of bronze and marble sculptures. Walking through the grounds at Bundanon, along bush and river tracks, it is possible to witness many of the scenes of rocks, orchids, spotted gums and birds immortalised in Boyd's late paintings.

Adventure & Activity

Buena Vista Farm Tour (Gerringong)

A 2-hour guided tour of a picturesque family farm in Gerringong - Fiona and Adam will show you their dairy goats, chickens, ducks and pigs. Wander through their kitchen garden overlooking the sea, medicinal herb garden and coffee grove, all the while learning about organic and regenerative agricultural practices AND enjoy a tasting of their delicious cheese and other produce at the end. Highly recommended.

The Block

38km challenging mountain cycle route

Agars Lane Roll

14km leisurely, flat cycle route

Kangaroo Valley Safaris

Canoe and kayak trips

Kangaroo Valley Kayaks

Canoe and kayak trips

Kangaroo Valley Adventure Company

Bike hire, canoes and kayaks

Berry Yoga Shala at Willow Farm

Yoga and meditation classes

Man From Kangaroo Valley Trail Rides

Horse riding

Jervis Bay Wild

Whale and dolphin watching

Classes and Workshops

Flavours of the Valley - Kangaroo Valley

Hampden Deli Dining School

Buena Vista Cooking Workshops

Willowvale Road

Luxury candle and diffuser workshops hosted in a beautiful barn amongst the dairy farms of Gerringong, with afternoon tea provided. Perfect for groups - but be aware these workshops book out fast!

Far Meadow Table

Cooking workshops held in beautiful Far Meadow, just outside of Berry.