Rolling green hills, endless sky and a doughnut van serving up hot cinnamon treats by the roadside. What’s not to love about Berry on the South Coast? Lynette Scalo takes a trip to the picturesque village.
For years, our family’s stops in Berry have been on our way further South to visit family near Ulladulla and Milton. But after moving to a new, larger home, we found ourselves in need of furniture, and remembered just how many times we’d said to each other, ‘We must stop and check out Berry’s antique stores’ as we drove right by. So this time, we vowed, Berry would be our destination and not just somewhere we loved to stop for a pub lunch and a quick half-hour browsing trinket stores in the sleepy main street.
Just two-and-a-half hours drive from Wahroonga, Berry is the perfect place for a short stopover, a day trip or a longer stay. A train from Central takes a similar time, and trains from Sydney run every 1-2 hours at peak times, and every 3-4 hours at other times. People pausing on their way elsewhere often enjoy a pub lunch at the Berry Hotel, which has a huge wraparound verandah where you can people-watch while getting through classic fare like burgers, steaks and fish & chips. For an even quicker stop, the Famous Berry Donut Van has been serving up deep-fried delights (from doughnuts to hotdogs to bagels) for an amazing 55 years.
After lunch, we chose to hit the antiques stores in search of the perfect dining table for our growing family. Broughton Antiques has been trading since 1985 and specialises in Victorian and Edwardian pieces, and It’s Berry Necessary and Moss Nest are also packed to the rafters with great gems. For something more eclectic, try Cuckoo Corner for all your cuckoo needs, or Bus Stop Furniture for sustainable pieces made from upcycled materials like… you guessed, it, bus stops! the originality of the goods keeps you interested as you peruse the huge 500sq warehouse while the kids run wild.
Five Antique Places to Visit in Berry
1. Cuckoo Corner
Best for: Cuckoo clocks, grandfather clocks, pocket watches, novelty clocks
2. Moss Nest
Best for: Beautiful and unique gifts, textiles and homewares
3. It’s Berry Necessary
Best for: Women, men’s and children’s fashion
4. Broughton Antiques
Best for: Victorian and Edwardian furniture
5. Bus Stop Furniture
Best for: Sustainable furniture, country and upcycled pieces
If you’re after more of a pick-and-mix, Berry also has regular outdoor markets, including a flea market (the next flea market date is here). But the outdoor selections aren’t limited to antiques and collectables, with fresh produce markets also on the rotating roster, plus Artists in Action days, jazz festivals, Volkswagen fan club shows, Celtic festivals and Rumi poetry events also scheduled throughout the months. Check the Berry town calendar for dates.
If, like us, you want to extend your stay, there is an option for everyone. A wide array of bed-and-breakfast, hotels and motels, caravanning and camping options are available (see here for more) but if you’re going to stay, why not really get into the spirit of things with a farm stay? Back 2 Earth is the ultimate in refreshing getaways, offering raw vegan cuisine, a float tank experience, massage therapy, psychotherapy, vegan workshops and cooking classes. And of course, loads of animals to pet, plus peaceful surrounds for bushwalking and exploring.
On this trip, we chose not to stay as the round trip was easily manageable in one day. But next time we will, and report back on the multitudes of other activities we didn’t get to this time, including horse riding, bushwalking, fishing and the famous sweet shop…..
Five Places to Stay in Berry
1. Willow Farm
Best for: Romantic getaway
Best for: Pet-Friendly
Best for: Big groups of twenty of more
Best for: Spa treatments and pampering
Best for: Closest to town
More travel…
- 5 must-sees for a magical daytrip to the Blue Mountains
- Day trip: Blue Mountains Botanic Gardens, Mount Tomah
- 10 terrific tips for travelling with tots
Share your story! What is your favourite day-trip destination?