Beautiful Berrima is a great day trip from Sydney

The Best Things to do in Berrima NSW

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Berrima is a charming and well-preserved Georgian village located less than two hours south of Sydney, in the Southern Highlands NSW. Whether you are visit for a day or spending a relaxing weekend away from Sydney, here is my list of the best things to do in Berrima, NSW.

There is beautiful countryside around Berrima NSW
NSW Southern Highlands

The Best Things to do in Berrima NSW

First established in the 1830s and mostly built by convict labour, Historic Berrima is rich in heritage buildings:  the Berrima Gaol and Court Room and Berrima Church. Furthermore, there are plenty of well-preserved stone cottages, which give the place a rustic feel. Nestled on the Wingecarribee River, it’s a small historic town on the way to Canberra and a delightful destination for a day trip.

Thankfully, Berrima no longer has heavy traffic going through it. As a result, the place lends itself very well to casual wanderings. The mix of well-preserved and run-down buildings shows the history of the place as well as a contemporary lively atmosphere.

Discover some charming old shacks on your trip to Berrima from Sydney
Old shack in Berrima

Accommodation in Berrima NSW

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If you are looking to stay a weekend, you will find that Berrima accommodation is probably available in neighbouring towns, which are really not far away.

Look for Bowral accommodation or Mittagong accommodation, two small towns within a short distance from Berrima.

Driving to Berrima

Berrima Restaurants

Berrima does café culture very well. There is a range of cafes offering seasonal fare, tea, coffee and cakes. It’s an ideal setting for a catch up with friends. In the middle of town, the General Store is a reliable Berrima café.

The General Store and Café is a good place for lunch in Berrima, NSW
General Store – Berrima

Surveyor General Inn

The Surveyor General Inn is an elegant convict-built establishment in the centre of town. It is the oldest continuously licensed inn in Australia. It has been a pub and a hotel for 150 years. The building stayed in the Harper family, the original owners, for over a hundred years. Before the gaol was built, convicts were chained together in one of the cellars.

The Surveyor General Inn is the oldest continuously licensed pub in Australia
Surveyor General Inn – Berrima

The building went into decline in the 1960s but has been renovated by the current owners. The accommodation is still under renovation.

Lunch at the Surveyor General Inn

I chose to have lunch at the pub this time, for a change from the cafés. A simple burger with cider, with good quality ingredients…

Peppergreen Estate

Peppergreen Estate is a cellar door and lunch there is a little more expensive but you can taste some local wines.

Taste some local wines at Peppergreen Estate in Berrima
Peppergreen Cellar Door – Berrima

Stock Your Pantry

Berrima offers a great range of locally-run shops, with a good selection of gifts and homewares. I always make a stop at Mrs Oldbucks Pantry, where I find delicious jams and mustards…

Mrs Oldbucks in Berrima is a great store to buy locally made goods
Mrs Oldbucks – Berrima

There is also a range of teas and sweets.

Do your pantry shopping at Mrs Oldbucks in Berrima
Mrs Oldbucks – Berrima

Further down the street, the Little Hand Stirred Jam Shop also has a range of locally made products. Their ice-cream is the perfect treat in summer.

Enjoy a few treats at the Little Hand Stirred Jam Shop in Berrima
Little Hand Stirred Jam Shop – Berrima
The Little Hand Stirred Jam Shop is full of delicious locally made goods
The Little Hand Stirred Jam Shop in Berrima

A relative newcomer is Two Skinny Cooks – Larder Door, they sell a range of handmade products under their own brand: pates, soups, curries, casseroles, relishes and sauces. Furthermore, they stock quality Italian brands for fresh pasta and risotto mixes.

One of the many shops to visit in Berrima Sydney
The Brown Shutter

If your sweet tooth is that much more serious, don’t miss the Lolly Swagman.

This tour from Sydney will introduce you to the best of Southern Highlands food and wine.

Southern Highlands Restaurants

Berrima’s dedication to good food wouldn’t be complete without a fine dining option. If you are looking to indulge or celebrate a special occasion, head to Eschalot Restaurant. Set in a beautifully restored stone house, they serve delicious and stylish food.

Colonial architecture to see on your trip from Sydney to Berrima
Eschalot Restaurant

The Gumnut Patisserie is well known is the Southern Highlands for its fine cakes and indulged on my last trip.

Have a delicious cake at the Gumnut Patisserie in Berrima
Gumnut Patisserie – Berrima

The patisserie is located near the old post office and has a few tables outside.

You can sit outside the Gumnut Patisserie to enjoy your coffee and cake
Gumnut Patisserie – Berrima

A little further out of town, towards Bowral NSW, Berkelouw Books have a bookstore that doubles as a restaurant… Imagine dining on hearty food amongst bookshelves, in a large room warmed up by an open fire… That was a pleasant experience on my last trip…

Bendooley Estate has a good restaurant and a great bookstore
Bendooley Estate – NSW Southern Highlands

Bendooley Estate, a Southern Highland winery, runs the restaurant in the Berkelouw Book Barn and the food is really good.

Visit the Galleries

A casual walk around Berrima will undoubtedly take you to some galleries. At the Bell Gallery, you can experience (and purchase) local artwork. The Berrima Village Pottery is also worth a visit. I found a great antique store on my last visit.

Berrima is a great place to look for antiques
Antiques in Berrima

In case you are visiting in spring, don’t miss the Bowral Tulip Festival.

There are plenty of things to buy in Berrima's antique stores
Antiques in Berrima

Historic Berrima

In the early years of its establishment, Berrima enjoyed a certain development and prosperity, being on the Old Hume Hwy. There are a few historical buildings worth seeing.

Berrima Courthouse

This imposing sandstone building was designed by colonial architect Lewis Mortimer and completed in 1838. Central to the life of Berrima for many years, tours are available and there is a sound and light show.

If you visit at the right time, you can see the sound and light show at the Berrima Courthouse
Berrima Courthouse

Berrima housed a German detention camp during WWI.

Berrima Courthouse is one of the most important historic buildings in the area
Berrima Courthouse

If you are staying for a weekend, I recommend visiting Berry and Kangaroo Valley, two small towns within an hour’s drive. Further down the NSW Coast, Jervis Bay and Batemans Bay are fantastic for a beach holiday. If you are visiting the coast, don’t miss Kiama!

Best Sydney Day Trips

Sydney Weekend Getaways

Day Trip to Berry NSW

For more wine and food destinations in New South Wales, have a look at Orange and Mudgee.

If you have suggestions of things to do around Berrima, I would love to hear them, please leave me a comment!

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Here is a list of the best things to do in Berrima NSW
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Visit Berrima for the weekend in the NSW Southern Highlands

12 thoughts on “The Best Things to do in Berrima NSW”

  1. I love these quaint villages,never heard of Berrima but it looks amazing ..I wish to visit sometime.thanks for letting me know

  2. We’ll have to try and swing through Berrima as we travel south, what a gorgeous little town. I’ll admit, I love to treat myself to lovely, homemade pantry items as well. The good feeling lasts each time you open that honey pot to add to your morning toast – well worth the purchase! The ‘Brown Shutter’ looks like an interesting stroll.

  3. Berrima looks really enchanting. What seems to be really appealing is the fact that the place perfectly blends its heritage with the contemporary lifestyle. I would love to visit the Galleries. The place seems to be perfect for a day trip from Sydney.

  4. This is an area of Australia I have never visited. It looks like a great mix of countryside and rich heritage, with some great places to eat as well. If I ever make it back to Sydney I will be sure to make a side trip here.

  5. Even though we travelled NSW ‘in-depth’, I’d never heard Berrima! Looks like we missed out. I love walking around little villages like this that aren’t really busy with other tourists.

    1. Hi Leah, Berrima does get busy on the weekends but it’s ok if you get there later in the week. Thankfully, it’s never too crowded either, it’s mostly people from Sydney.

  6. Tania Muthusamy

    I haven’t been to Berrima in a very long time. I would love to visit again and check out the cafe culture and shop for local produce which I always love to support in country towns. I didn’t know there was a tulip festival there in Spring. Will have to try and get there for short stay soon.

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