Spring has sprung! It's time to get some fresh air into your lungs after the long winter and wake up and smell the roses, literally. And there's no better place to enjoy the spring flora than at the
Berry Gardens Festival from 15th to 18th October, 2009.
Known as the 'Town of Trees', charming Berry is about 2 hours drive south from Sydney on the Princes Highway. Named after
Alexander Berry, the first white settler in the Shoalhaven area, Berry is the entry point to the beautiful Shoalhaven area of the South Coast. A quaint little town, full of antiques, arts and crafts and markets, it's the perfect place for a relaxing break, away from busy city life.
This time every year, Berry proudly opens its wonderful gardens for admiration. Whether you have green fingers or not, you are sure to enjoy the magnificent and peaceful gardens, set in the rolling lush countryside surrounding Berry, with the Cambewarra Ranges as a backdrop. You can let your eyes wander over everything from Japanese Maples to a colourful array of roses, camellias, fruit trees and so much more, and enjoy refreshments at 2 of the gardens.
It's worth checking out the history of Berry while there. The National Bank (1889) and the
Court House (1891) are both architectural examples of the Victorian Classical Revival. The former English, Scottish and Australian Chartered Bank (1886) at 135 Queen Street is thought to be the only surviving building designed by William Wardell and is now a local
history museum (open Saturdays, Sundays and school holidays).
There's plenty of
accommodation to choose from in the area and you'll be well fed at the various
restaurants and cafes.
Here's a taster of what to expect in the area.
Kangaroo Valley
Kiama Blowhole
Coolangatta Estate and Winery
A $15 ticket (available at any of the gardens) will allow you entry to all 8 gardens over the 4 day period. Parking won't be a problem, available near all the gardens. No pets allowed for obvious reasons.
