In under three hours, you can leave Canberra and be on top of Mt Hay looking out at the seemingly never-ending green hills. Just minutes from the town of Berry, Mt Hay Retreat offers its guests luxury accommodation nestled in a breathtaking landscape.
Hosting two guests aged over 18 per suite, Mt Hay Retreat is the definitive romantic getaway. Spanning more than 360 acres, most of which has been left as bush and native pasture, the retreat was built on only an already cleared area to minimise environmental impact and protect the future of the property.
Each of the four suites has been designed with the peace and privacy of the guests in mind, all fitted with a king bed and spacious living areas. The floor-to-ceiling glass and private outside deck ensure you don’t miss any of the mesmerising views while the outdoor tub provides the ultimate in relaxation.
When the Houghton family purchased the land in 1987 all that stood on the grounds was a disheveled fibro house from the ‘60s and a few sheds including ‘The Bales’, a relic from the property’s days as a two-can dairy.
It was originally an escape from the bustle of Sydney for the family with 5 growing children to spend time in nature and chasing cattle. Working with a renowned Sydney-based architect, the family did a knockdown to rebuild their dream escape and pool with work being completed in 2008.
Once the house was done, the family could focus on phase two of the dream, building a retreat on the property that would provide some income for the property to remain untouched and undeveloped. After four years of working with the council and architect and then an 18-month building process, Mt Hay Retreat first welcomed guests in 2016.
Anthony, one of the original 5 Houghton children, and his partner Louise run the stunning Mt Hay Retreat with a little help from resident dogs Dougal and Griffy.
Visitors are welcome to wander the paths on the grounds with a map provided in each suite that guides you to the dams, gardens and cloud swing. Lined with fruit trees, plants and the occasional sculpture, the walk offers something to see with every step.
Over many years, the gardens have been created by Christine, Anthony’s mother, to entice native birds and wildlife to the area. Along with the expansive gardens across the property, each suite has its own private garden, lovingly maintained by Christine and Louise.
As the land is maintained with native and natural elements, it is a haven for wildlife. During your stay, you might see a flock of different birds including the wedge-tailed eagle, kookaburra, tawny frog mouth, lyre birds, and more. Lizards are almost guaranteed in the warmer months while brush-tailed rock wallabies, kangaroos and wombats are often spotted.
CW’s Jessica Cordwell and guest spent two nights in the luxury suite. Down a fruit tree-lined path we were welcomed by a spacious loungeroom with the backdrop looking down the mountain. The king bed was adorned with soft linens, towels like clouds and pillow options. The kitchenette has tea and coffee facilities, a toaster, a microwave and in the fridge we found metal water bottles to take home, a cheeseboard and chocolate-coated strawberries.
Our first night ended watching the sunset from the on-deck bath filled with salts from our hosts and chocolate-coated strawberries, pure bliss.
Where we ate
Inside each suite is a folder full of information and suggestions which we used to help guide us to our dinner destination for the first night. Driving the short distance back to town, we made our way to Berry Thai, behind an almost hidden door is a quaint and pleasantly decorated restaurant.
We decided on the satay chicken skewers with peanut sauce and salt and pepper squid as entrees, both were delicious with house-made sauce. For mains, we chose the yellow curry which was fragrant and rich with flavour and the BBQ Pork Chops spiced to perfection.
Berry Thai, 6/97 Queen Street, Berry, NSW 2535
P: (02) 4425 1006
Turning to the suggestion folder again for breakfast, we booked in at Mountain Ridge Wines. A quick drive to Coolangatta, the winery offered beautiful views of the vineyard and surrounds as we dined. Friendly staff were quick to see to our needs and offer suggestions on what to order or to see while we were in town.
I chose the trout croquette with avocado, wilted spinach and asparagus topped with a lemon Dijon dressing and pomegranate and a mimosa. The textures, flavours and tart kick were flawless. My companion chose the big breakfast and was just as impressed with their choice. An excellent breakfast for the price you would pay at any local café- highly recommended.
Mountain Ridge Wines, 11 Coolangatta Road, Coolangatta, NSW 2535
P: (02) 4448 5825
Late lunch was a picnic on the grounds with the optional extra cheese platter, sourced from local ingredients. Asking our host for a picnic, we set up in the afternoon sun and enjoyed an assortment of cheese, fruit, nuts and crackers.
Louise told us about a local car service that could be booked to take us to and from town for our dinner reservation at Queen St. Eatery. The chic French-inspired restaurant oozes minimalist elegance with a prefix three-course dinner menu for $99 per person.
After ordering wine and bespoke beer, we chose the scallop gratiné and beef carpaccio with enoki mushrooms and capers for entrées. Both were delightful, not overpowering and delicate in flavour.
For mains, we both ordered tenderloin steak with café de Paris butter and frites allumettes accompanied by a large leaf salad vinaigrette. I ordered mine rare while my companion asked for medium rare, both were cooked as requested, rich and succulent.
Dessert choices were crème brûlée, coconut panna cotta, tirmisu and fromage with pear and sourdough shards. We both opted for the crème brûlée which was creamy and indulgent.
Queen St. Eatery, 1/65 Queen Street, Berry NSW
You can’t go to Berry without a visit to the Berry Donut Van. Coming up to 50 years of operation this year, you can see why people keep coming by for fresh cinnamon (or Nutella) donuts. Warm, sweet and delicious- 10/10.
What we did
Leaving the blinds to our incredible view open, we woke to a stunning sunrise. After the sun came out, we ventured out to the grounds, heading straight for the wharf to say hello to the koi. The colourful fish are always eager for feed and there is plenty to share, Louise and Anthony leave a large supply for guests to throw in.
Saying goodbye to the koi we headed up the path to explore more of the grounds and were soon greeted by goats and ducks, two of the goats came close enough for a pet while the ducks kept their distance. Still a working farm, Louise and Anthony tend to cattle on the property which can occasionally be heard while roaming the grounds.
Within 15 minutes, your escape to the country turns to seaside paradise as you drive to one of the neighbouring beach towns, we chose to visit Gerroa. The picturesque beachside with clear water offered a place to relax but we were keen to get back to the retreat and make the most of our time there.
Once back at Mt Hay, we packed a picnic and headed to the cloud swing, taking in the views from a different angle with the breeze guiding you is an unforgettable experience. Heating up in the sun, it was time to take a dip in the 33m indoor heated pool and spa, followed by a quick game on the giant chess board before getting ready for dinner.
After farewelling our hosts and thanking them for a truly relaxing experience, we stopped in Berry for a spot of shopping and there are plenty of bespoke and local stores to choose from. In town, you have options for more local produce including chocolates, tea, meats and cheeses while boutiques sell clothing, homewares and pet supplies.
Just down the road is The Treat Factory, a must-visit with locally sourced sweets (and savoury options) in abundance. Be sure to pop in next door to The Dairy Bar where all gelato, milkshakes and sundaes are made from South Coast Dairy products.
Located 15 minutes from the famous 7 Mile Beach National Park and 20 minutes from Gerrigong and Kiama, close to Kangaroo Vallery and an abundance of wineries, there are many options to fill your day. Alternatively, you could spend your entire time at the retreat relaxing in one of the many idyllic locations, perhaps treating yourself to the in-house massage service.
To enquire about accommodation at Mt Hay Retreat, email [email protected]
Jessica Cordwell stayed in the Luxury Suite as a guest of Mt Hay Retreat.
