Berry is a lovely little rural town only 2 hours south of Sydney. Set in a beautiful bucolic setting, surrounded by rolling green hills, its proximity and easy access makes an ideal choice for a day trip from Sydney or a relaxing weekend. Berry is blessed with a mix of rustic, small-town feel, a busy café life and great shopping. If you need convincing, here are the best things to do in Berry NSW on a day trip or a weekend away from Sydney.
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The Best Things to do in Berry NSW on a Day Trip or a Weekend
Sydney to Berry is a two-hour drive south of Sydney, in the NSW Southern Highlands. It’s a pleasant drive through the Royal National Park, Wollongong and Kiama. Berry is nestled in a rich dairy country, a heritage town dedicated to good food and wine, surrounded by pastoral green hills. Driving through the hills, you wouldn’t think the coast is so close.
Accommodation in Berry
Southern Highlands accommodation is plentiful. As Berry is so close to the coast, you can find places to stay all the way to Kiama. For a relaxing weekend, I tend to favour a little cottage in the green hills…
If you are looking for Berry accommodation, you may come across options in Kangaroo Valley, which is just over the mountain.
Restaurants in Berry
Berry has a sophisticated cafe culture and a range of good restaurants. A number of the cafés and Berry restaurants are located on the main street, which used to get heavy road traffic so I preferred the places in the back streets.
On our last visit, we discovered the Figbird Cafe, in a quiet back street. It was quiet, not too busy, and the food was lovely. Now that the traffic has been diverted from the heart of Berry, it’s a lot more pleasant.
I chose to eat at Salmon & Co Eatery on my visit, as I hadn’t seen this place before. I had a well-prepared chicken burger and really liked the atmosphere, a little reminiscent of an old wares store.
Shop for Homewares and Gifts
Berry offers a great range of gift and homeware stores. Indeed, there are other shops, but the great range of home-related items available in Berry is very attractive.
The Shady Fig is a florist with a lovely earthy and organic style. You can find some lovely eclectic items for your home decor.
Haven & Space is a furniture store, with a great selection of baskets, large or small as well as tableware, furniture and much more.
Berry has the most prolific toy shop: the Goldfish Toy Shop is worth a wander, even you are not in the market for toys.
Visit the Art Galleries
Berry has a healthy art and craft scene and artists offer their wares. You can shop for handmade fashion, textile and various design objects. The Precinct Galleries is a must-see.
Also keep an eye out for the regular markets in the Southern Highlands.
On my last visit to Berry, I discovered a few new places, including This Old House, perfect for homewares. It also has a range of handmade workshops if you are feeling creative.
Wander the Streets Eating Naughty Food
Berry has a lovely small town feel and it’s worth going for a wander. On your wanders, you will certainly walk past the Ice Creamery and the Famous Berry Donut Van. Go for it, and you can walk it off!
There is a bit of a queue at the Donut Van, it’s true that they are a delicious treat.
And if you are looking for an afternoon drink, it’s impossible to miss the Berry pub.
Southern Highlands Wineries
Indeed, a visit to Berry wouldn’t be complete without a wine tasting. There are several wineries nearby and they offer the perfect setting to relax. We actually discovered Silos Estate years ago when attending a friend’s wedding and it’s one of the nicest Southern Highlands wedding venues.
Discover the Beaches
Berry is only a short drive from the NSW South Coast and the difference in scenery is quite dramatic. There is a choice of beaches where you can relax and enjoy the surf: Seven Mile Beach, Shoalhaven Heads, Werri Beach and Walkers Beach.
Jervis Bay is only an hour’s drive from Berry and I highly recommend a visit to enjoy the pristine beaches. If you have more time, you can drive further down the coast to Mollymook and Batemans Bay.
Beyond Berry
For a great NSW road trip, why not make your way to Berrima, via Fitzroy Falls and Moss Vale.
My other recommendations for day trips around New South Wales are Bouddi National Park, The Basin, Barrenjoey Headland and the Blue Mountains.
If you have more time and want to make a weekend of it, why not try Mudgee or Orange, these places are great for a food and wine weekend!
Related Posts
Best Things to do in Kiama NSW
Best Sydney Day Trips
Day Trip to Kangaroo Valley NSW
Do you have experiences in Berry you would like to share? Please give me tips for my next trip in the comments below!
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We used to stop here a lot when we visited Jervis Bay regularly, I do miss my cakes and pies from the excellent Sourdough Bakery!!
Hi Seana, I really like the ice cream shop in Berry… And there are some really nice homewares shops!
What a lovely place to explore! I’m enticed by the shopping options. I love the colours in Goldfish Toy Shop, even though I have no need for toys.
The Goldfish toy shop is the best, I think we all need to visit in order to remember what childhood is like!
Berry looks like a cute town and nice diversion from busy Sydney. This east coast of NSW is one area of Australia that I have not driven through yet.
Berry is perfect for a day trip or even a weekend. I always stop there when I drive down the South Coast.
I always make it a point to pick up something unique and arty from places we visit. Somehow, I manage to find cute stuff in small home decor stores. Shady Fig is just the kind of shop I would step into.
Hi Punita, Berry is great for shopping, there are some really good homewares stores. It’s a great way to support the economy of small towns in New South Wales too!
What a lovely little town, I just fell in love with these small Aussie towns with the old architecture and local vibe. It looks like a lovely escape from bustling Sydney. It seems like there’s a lot to do here too.
There are many small towns in New South Wales worth visiting. Berry has a really cool vibe, even if it gets very busy on weekends… I can’t wait to explore more!
The restaurants and shops in Berry are really cute! They are the kind of places that I like to visit during my trips. And I’m sure my son will ask to stop at the donut place. Who don’t like good donuts, right?
The donut are pretty good I have to say! There is always a big queue in front of that van!
Berry is a great place to visit. And you visited 2 of my favourite places – Haven & Space and the Figbird Cafe and Deli.
Those two places are really good. I love the homewares shops in Berry and there are some good cafes too!
You should edit this as that is not South on Albany. I should know as I’m the owner and chef
Apologies, I had you confused with Salmon & Co, I’ll have to try your place next time!