Berry


Rolling green hills and the Cambewarra range provide a picturesque backdrop for the pretty village of Berry. Famous for its gardens, trees, arts and crafts, antiques and markets, Berry has become a very trendy destination for daytrippers and weekenders from the cities of Sydney and Wollongong.

Where is it?: South Coast. Berry is 142 km south of Sydney via the Princes Highway; 10 m above sea level.

Events: some regular events that draw locals and tourists alike to Berry include: country markets on the first Sunday of the month; the Berry Agricultural & Horticultural Show on the first weekend in February; the Musicale festival held throughout May and June; and the Garden Festival in October.

During the annual Berry Agricultural & Horticultural Show there is held the Annual Berry Showgirl Competition. This is an event where young women aged between 18 and 25 are judged on various attributes including personality, rural knowledge, presentation, communication and speaking skills, and local and international current affairs throughout a full day of judging. It is important to note that this event is not a beauty contest but rather a way of promoting and encouraging rural women.


One of the area's oldest settlements, Berry's and the Shoalhaven's rich history is reflected in this quaint town. Berry boasts some fine early architecture with various buildings, some beautifully restored, protected by their National Trust Classification in recognition of their significance to the heritage of the region.


Surrrounding area


Shoalhaven Coast wine growing region, stretching from Kiama to Durras on the South Coast, has flourished over the past 20 years. It is one of the few regions in Australia where visitors have the unique experience of meeting vignerons and wine makers at cellar doors. The region produces a wide range of varieties including Chardonnay, Verdelho, Sauvignon Blanc, Semillon, Chambourcin, Cabernet Sauvignon and Shiraz.

Coolangatta Historic Village runs between Coolangatta and Bomaderry. Many of the original buildings from the 'Coolangatta' estate remain, including the homestead with maid's quarters and laundry (one wing remains after a fire devastated the original building in 1946), a large mid-Victorian cottage, the stables and coachman's quarters (c.1823), the tinsmith's shop, two coach houses (one c.1832), a billiards room, the blacksmith's shop, convict cottage (c.1840) and estate office, the community hall (c.1840), the stables, the coachman's quarters, the cemetery and a monument to David Berry.


Kangaroo Valley (20 km west): located in one of the most beautiful valleys in Australia, this pretty village is surrounded by fast flowing streams, lush rainforest and rolling pasturelands midway between the Southern Highlands and the Shoalhaven coastal region. The township has a selection of country style shops including antique, craft and confectionery outlets, as well as a range of restaurants and cafes.




Shellharbour (40 km north) is a charming coastal township that has become a southern suburb of Wollongong. Shellharbour is framed between the Tasman Sea and the Illawarra Escarpment, with Lake Illawarra to the north and the Minnamurra River to the south.


Minnamurra Rainforest (39 km north) is located in Budderoo National Park near the village of Jamberoo, is a rare remnant of subtropical and warm temperate rainforests that were once extensive in the Illawarra region. Visitors regularly see first hand the fauna of the area such as the normally allusive Lyrebird, the Eastern Water Dragons, Swamp Wallabies and a host of bird species which make Minnamurra their home.


Nowra (17 km south west) is a major town which serves as the commercial centre for the Shoalhaven District's agricultural hinterland and coastal resorts. Nowra and Bomaderry together form the largest population centre on the NSW coast south of Wollongong. The region around Nowra is a farming community, sustaining a thriving dairy industry, but is also increasingly a retirement and leisure area for Canberra and Sydney.


Kiama: the seaside town of Kiama (25 km north east) is set against green rolling hills and a scenic coastline of golden beaches and rocky headlands. Long treasured as a holiday destination, Kiama has managed to maintain its charm as a casual, relaxing resort without falling the way of the highrise compromise which has spoilt other areas. Kiama's most famous feature is its 'blowhole' situated on Blowhole Point behind the point's lighthouse.

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