Perched high above the prosperous little country town of Berry, NSW about 2 hours south of Sydney is Mount Hay Luxury Retreat. Peering down at the Shoalhaven region all the way to the sea, Mount Hay is the perfect escape from… well, everything!

We love living in the city, but sometimes a few days away in the open air and rolling hills of the New South Wales countryside is such a relief. We come back home feeling refreshed and relaxed like we’ve been on holiday for a month.

During the winter, when we’re more inclined to stay in and bunker down, getting away is even more important. But finding somewhere that offers that perfect mix of homeliness and luxury is often hard.

But we’ve found just the place.

Winter escape – Mount Hay Retreat, NSW

Mount Hay Retreat, a beautiful 5-suite development on the top of Mount Hay, is the perfect place for a romantic getaway.

We’ve made a quick walkthrough video of Mount Hay Retreat:

Click this link to view the video.

The suites

Graced with superlative views east over rolling hills down to the coast, the 5 suites show the best that the south coast has to offer.

Inside each suite you have a sunken lounge, dining and kitchen area that flows out to the private veranda. On the veranda is an enormous bath, where you can both relax and soak in the suds and the view at the same time.

The bed – an enormous king – sits a few steps above the lounge, so that you can see out through the elegantly retractable and equally enormous glass doors to the expansive vistas beyond.

Behind the bedroom, the lavish bathroom offers a large wet-room style rain shower and bespoke stone sink. And even here you feel the outside coming in with floor-to-ceiling windows onto a little atrium garden.

The divine is in the details

Every detail has been tailored to guests’ comfort, convenience, privacy and romance. You can see this with details like there are no hinged doors in the suites – they’re all hidden sliding doors. This stops any noise from slamming that could impact other guests.

The bed also comes with two types of pillow – a firm and a medium one depending on your preference.

We also love that there are USB and powerpoints built into the bedhead, and the thick fluffy Sheridan bath towels they provide are so big you get an arm workout just drying yourself.

The fridge in the kitchen has a little bottle of milk (rather than those ratty single-serve milk pots you often find even in high-end hotels) and re-usable water flasks. There’s even a Nespresso machine with a selection of different coffee pods for you to enjoy.

It’s touches like these that make such a difference.

When it comes to shutting the world out though, the remote-controlled blinds cover the wall of windows perfectly to create a very private romantic retreat just for you and your loved one.

Our suite was one of those places that we couldn’t help but feel relaxed the moment we stepped through the door.

The facilities

If you do decide to venture from your beautiful suite and the complimentary cheese plate owners lovely Louise and Anthony bring you, there’s more to see around the property.

The pool and spa

Probably the most impressive element outside your suite is the pool room. The heated indoor 33-metre pool and luxurious jacuzzi spa present a very attractive excursion.

For something more cerebral, there’s a giant chess set just outside, or if you want something more energetic, the walk around the grounds offers yet more beautiful views of this somewhat unsung part of NSW.

The grounds

The surrounding land at Mount Hay Retreat is perfect for a quiet stroll. The well-maintained gardens, the lake with its roofed wharf is a great picnic spot, and the incredible swing deserve your attention.

The swing – made from telegraph poles – really gives you the feeling of flying off the top of Mount Hay.

The ‘locals’

At the top of the hill is the chicken coop and the goats’ paddock. Ask Louise or Anthony if you can pay visit; the goats are incredibly friendly, and if you’re lucky, you might catch sight of a cute new arrival.

The town and where to eat

Not far back down the mountain is the beautiful town of Berry. Surely home to more cafés and bakeries per square metre (over 20 at last count) than anywhere else in the country, Berry is the place to come if you’re feeling peckish or in need of a really good coffee.

Take a drive down to town, park up and wander the pretty main street, pop into the Berry Hotel for a beer, score a doughnut at the Famous Berry Donut Van or indulge in an awesome pie at Milkwood Bakery.

Further east – right on the beach – you’re spoilt for choice in the towns of Gerroa and Shoalhaven Heads. These two prominent seaside towns are bookends to the stunning Seven Mile Beach National Park.

Louise and Anthony have created a magical place to come and relax here at Mount Hay Retreat. With this level of luxury and privacy at your disposal, romance is the only way things can go.

Mount Hay Luxury Retreat

This is a child-free and pet-free zone and smoking is prohibited. Check in is after 3pm

60 Mt Hay Private Rd,
Berry
NSW 2535

We love an escape to the country. if you do too, here are some more reviews and stories you might like to see:

– 9 easy Sydney weekend getaways

– Our Essential Guide to Port Stephens, NSW

– 48 hours in Orange, NSW

– Where to stay and what to do in Scone, NSW

And here’s a link to our full library of stories on New South Wales.

Have you been to the New South Wales Shoalhaven and Southern Highlands region? What’s your recommendation for relaxation and romance? Tell us in the comments.

We stayed as guests of Mt Hay Retreat. We’d like to thank Louise and Anthony very much for their kind hospitality.