How to book the
BEST BERRY
ACCOMMODATION
Image: TopTourismTowns.com.au
Finding Your Perfect Berry Stay
You’ll love Berry! Winner of the best “Small Tourism Town” for three consecutive years (NSW Tourism Awards 2022, 2023, & 2024). There’s lots to explore and plenty of accommodation to choose from.
There’s no one ‘best’ place to stay … the perfect Berry accommodation depends on your guest group, budget & the vibe you’re after (in-town buzz vs out-of-town chill?).
Here’s what we’ve learned from our own experiences living, staying & providing accommodation in the Berry region.
BERRY IS IDEAL FOR…
For the best stay: Choose an accommodation type, then use our tips to assess available options.
For the best stay:
Choose an accommodation type, then use our tips to assess available options.
Berry Accommodation Types
Berry accommodation options (within 5kms of Berry Village) are mostly private Short-Term Rentals (STRs or ‘Airbnbs’), plus a handful of small hotels/motels & multi-dwelling (e.g. cabin & cottage) properties.
For an authentic local experience, its hard to beat a property run by a dedicated private owner with only that one place to manage.
(BTW, you won’t find any holiday parks within 10km of Berry, however Berry Showground has 48 sites available.)
Short-Term Rentals
(‘Airbnbs’)
So many options! Most are unhosted (get the place to yourself), others have an owner living on site – like a farmstay, or a private studio attached to a house.
Some allow multiple guests, like hotels, where bedrooms are booked individually, and living &/or outdoor areas shared.
Book directly with owners via property-specific websites (eg. Hillgate pictured above) or accommodation sites/apps like Airbnb & Stayz. Others are managed by agencies who take bookings on behalf of owners.
Multi-dwelling
Cabins & Cottages
A handful of options offer multiple cabins/suites on a property with shared outdoor areas & facilities. Some include a bookable event space.
The Homestead Adults only. 2 cottages, each with 2 separate guestrooms, plus a standalone suite. (Pictured above.)
Mount Hay Retreat Award-winning accommodation with 6 adults-only suites. Incredible views. Indoor pool.
Drawing Rooms of Berry 15 acres with 4 freestanding lodges hosting 2-5 guests each. Shared children’s play area.
Hotels, Inns &
Motels
There are four in Berry, all in the main street or a short walk away.
Berry View Motel – 31 ensuite rooms, family suites & a pool. (Pictured above)
Berry Hotel – historic building with 10 bedrooms sharing 3 bathrooms (no ensuites). On-site dining.
Berry Inn – ensuite rooms, plus a family suite & 2-Bedroom Apartment.
Berry Village Boutique Motel – 25 ensuite rooms, family rooms & plunge pool. On-site dining.
Short-Term Rentals
(‘Airbnbs’)
So many options! Most are unhosted (get the place to yourself), others have an owner living on site – like a farmstay, or a private studio attached to a house.
Some allow multiple guests, like hotels, where bedrooms are booked individually, and living &/or outdoor areas shared.
Book directly with owners via property-specific websites (eg. Hillgate pictured above) or accommodation sites/apps like Airbnb & Stayz. Others are managed by agencies who take bookings on behalf of owners.
Read our tips for finding & booking the best Airbnb for your Berry getaway.
Multi-dwelling
Cabins & Cottages
A handful of options offer multiple cabins/suites on a property with shared outdoor areas & facilities. Some include a bookable event space.
Hotels, Inns &
Motels
There’s four in Berry, all in the main street or a short walk away.
Booking Your Perfect Stay | Real Local Advice
Seen a place that looks AMAZING on Instagram? Don’t get out the credit card just yet….
Check the EXACT location on a map
You’ll be traveling to & from Berry village during your stay, for dining &/or shopping. How long is the drive from your accommodation? Use Google Street View to look around. Are you OK staying on a busy road with traffic noise or lots of foot traffic for nearby businesses? Less confident drivers may find some roads a bit stress-inducing & best avoided at night (e.g. Kangeroo Valley Rd up Berry Mountain).
If the address isn’t published, you can ask.
You don’t need a farm stay to be in the countryside
You don’t have to stay on a huge farm well out of town for a private countryside experience. There are several multi-acre rural properties within 5km of Berry, surrounded by paddocks with idyllic views. Most aren’t working farms (with livestock or crops). Rural properties often have native wildlife visitors – wombats, kangaroos, echidnas & colourful parrots. Don’t worry if the location isn’t listed as ‘Berry’, some properties close to town have postal addresses of ‘Bundewallah’ or ‘Broughton Vale’. (Check the map!)
Be ready for village hustle & bustle!
Stay in Berry township if you love the convenience of walking to restaurants & shops. Keep in mind Berry isn’t a sleepy village… It’s positively buzzing with visitors on weekends & in school holidays. If you’re staying in town, check there’s enough parking for all guest vehicles. (Street parking can be tricky.) Staying a few blocks away from Queen St (the main street) will make parking easier.
Don’t pay too much: book direct
You’ll get the best rate by dealing directly with the accommodation owner/manager. For places that can’t be booked direct, try a local accommodation agency that manages several properties. If there’s no other option, book via an accommodation marketplace like Airbnb or Stayz (they’ll charge extra fees). If you find a place on Airbnb or Stayz that you like, ALWAYS Google it first to see if they have their own booking website.
Read genuine guest reviews
Find out what past guests have to stay about their experience, especially guests similar to you (e.g. families with teens or wedding guests). It’s a good sign if you find a review complimentary about the professional way an unexpected problem was solved. Negative reviews aren’t always a deal-breaker – check for a host response. Guests may have been unimpressed with facilities that have since been renovated, or simply unhappy with something outside of the property’s control (like bad weather – yes, it happens!).
Staying with kids or pets?
Some accommodation options in the area are specifically set up for families or pets, with childproofing, play equipment, a fenced area to run around, etc. Others allow children but are designed primarily for adults. Properties with expensive furnishings or beautiful gardens are more likely to suffer unintentional damage from young children & pets… and you’ll be on the hook for the repair, replacement or extra cleaning costs!
Check the floorplan
The number of guests a property allows isn’t necessarily an indication of how large it is. If you’re going to spend a lot of time there (rather than just using it as somewhere to sleep), are there enough indoor & outdoor living spaces? If you’re staying with a group, where will everyone be when not in bedrooms? How many people will be sharing a bathroom? (aim for 4 or fewer). Imagine what it will be like if it rains & you can’t use any of the outdoor space … will everyone be crowded into one living room?
Confirm Bed Configurations
Some properties have flexible bed options (e.g. kings that can be split into two singles). Be careful if using Airbnb to filter properties by the number of beds you need. (Properties listed as four beds may actually have eight… which won’t be apparent until you check descriptions.) Also, Airbnb allows the listed bed count to include sofa beds or trundles in living areas, so check descriptions carefully. A few properties have a bed count which includes 4-6 beds in a bunk room, great for kids but not adults.
Hosting extra guests? Always check first!
There are NSW government & Shoalhaven Council rules about hosting events at properties booked for the purpose of accommodation. Never assume you can invite extra guests during your stay, even if they’re not staying overnight.
Clarify your ‘deal-breaker’ inclusions
Good accommodation listings provide plenty of detailed information. If specific inclusions are important to you (but not clearly noted in the listing), avoid disappointment by finding out before booking. For example, is the kitchen sufficiently stocked to cook up a storm? Is there a/c in the bedrooms as well as the living areas? Is the pool heated?
Rural property considerations
If you’re booking a rural property out of town, ask about vehicle access, water supply & power. Is the road suitable for non-4WDs? Is there a causeway to drive through? Do parking areas become boggy in wet weather? In a blackout (not uncommon), will water taps still work? Is there an alternate power supply (battery or generator)?
Who to contact for problems?
No-one expects something to go wrong… but when it does, it can really ruin a stay if not promptly addressed. Ask before you book! Who can you call & what will be done if the a/c or TV stops working during your stay? Will the contact number you’re given be available 24hrs? Some owner-managed holiday rentals have the owner or a neighbour nearby who is happy to help & can usually provide faster & more flexible assistance.
Airbnb vs. B&B
A B&B is a Bed-And-Breakfast, a registered business serving breakfast in addition to providing accommodation. Traditionally, these are small hosted guesthouses where guests stay on-site with the owners (and often other guests). Living areas are typically shared. Only a few accommodation properties today are true B&Bs … nearly all are Airbnbs – privately owned ‘self-catered’ hosted/unhosted STRs that don’t serve breakfast (although some hosts provide breakfast staples like bread & milk).
Just to confuse things: hotels, motels, inns, cabins/cottage businesses & property developers also list their accommodation on the Airbnb website, but that doesn’t make them ‘Airbnbs’. Most people consider ‘an Airbnb’ to mean the home of a private owner (not a company or business-owned property).
Airbnb vs. B&B
A B&B is a Bed-And-Breakfast, a registered business serving breakfast in addition to providing accommodation. Traditionally, these are small hosted guesthouses where guests stay on-site with the owners (and often other guests). Living areas are typically shared. Only a few accommodation properties today are true B&Bs … nearly all are Airbnbs – privately owned ‘self catered’ hosted/unhosted STRs that don’t serve breakfast (although some hosts provide breakfast staples like bread & milk).
Just to confuse things: hotels, motels, inns, cabins/cottage businesses & property developers also list their accommodation on the Airbnb website, but that doesn’t make them ‘Airbnbs’. Most people consider ‘an Airbnb’ to mean the home of a private owner (not a company or business-owned property).
Recommended Places To Stay
Here’s a few local Berry accommodation favourites, based on the size of your guest group.
Villa Starbright
Private oasis opposite Berry showground. Situated within a pretty garden with private access.
Comfortable king bed and light-filled interiors.
1-2 Guests
Hazel House
Charming historical 1896 home & adjacent poolside barn with four ensuite bedrooms.
Located in Berry Village, a short stroll from bustling Queen Street.
3-7 Guests
Hillgate
Beautifully styled, spacious barn-style home with six bedrooms on three acres of park-like grounds. Flexible bed configurations (kings or singles).
Winner of LuxLife Magazine ‘Best Rural Group-Friendly Accommodation (NSW)’ 2022
8-13 Guests
Bundara Farm
Three beautifully appointed guesthouses, sleeping up to 28 guests in total across the 15-acre property.
Also hosting intimate gatherings of up to 30 people.
14+ Guests
1-2 Guests
Villa Starbright
Private one bedroom oasis opposite Berry showground. Situated within a pretty garden with private access.
Comfortable king bed and light-filled interiors.
3-7 Guests
Hazel House
Charming historical 1896 home & adjacent poolside barn with four ensuite bedrooms.
Located in Berry Village, a short stroll from bustling Queen Street.
8-13 Guests
Hillgate
Beautifully styled, spacious barn-style home with six bedrooms on three acres of park-like grounds. Flexible bed configurations (kings or singles).
Winner of LuxLife Magazine ‘Best Rural Group-Friendly Accommodation (NSW)’ 2022
14+ Guests
Bundara Farm
Three beautifully appointed guesthouses, sleeping up to 28 guests in total across the 15-acre property
Also hosting intimate gatherings of up to 30 people.
Need more budget-friendly options? Somewhere that caters to pets? There’s plenty more to choose from…
See ALL Berry Accommodation Listings (on Airbnb)
AirBnb is great for research – pretty much every Berry accommodation option will have a listing. Once you’ve found a property that ‘ticks all the boxes’, Google it before booking to see whether it can be booked directly with the owner or via an agency.
See ALL Berry Listings
(on Airbnb)
AirBnb is great for research – pretty much every Berry accommodation option will have a listing. Once you’ve found a place that ‘ticks all the boxes’, Google it before booking to see whether it can be booked directly with the owner or an agency.
ACCOMMODATION AGENCIES with Berry listings
Agencies are helpful if you’d rather not spend time researching accommodation options.
Tell them what you’re after (dates, guest numbers, pets/kids, in/out of town location, budget, etc) & they’ll suggest properties under management that suit.
If you can’t book directly with an owner, an accommodation agency is the next best bet.
Be sure to book directly with the agency, not via one of their managed listings on Airbnb or Stayz.
