Picture this. Your whole group arrives at once. Nobody is checking in at a front desk. Nobody is sharing a pool with strangers. That’s the short answer to what is included when you book Berrima Retreat exclusively, the entire property, just for your group.

Exclusive hire means one booking covers the whole house, every shared space, and all the grounds. No other guests. No mixed bookings. No compromises on privacy.

This guide walks through exactly what’s included, so you know what to expect before you book.

The Problem With Splitting Your Group Across Hotels

Anyone who has organised a big group trip knows the headache. You book three or four hotel rooms, then everyone scatters after dinner.

Sports teams lose the pre-game energy when players are spread across separate floors. Wedding parties miss out on those unplanned morning-after moments. Corporate groups struggle to keep momentum between sessions when the team disappears to different hotels each night.

School camps face a different problem again. Splitting students and staff across shared accommodation raises supervision and safety concerns. Family reunions run into the same issue, cousins in one hotel, grandparents in another, and the whole point of gathering gets lost.

Standard hotels also mean shared public spaces. Your group ends up mixing with other guests around the pool, in the lobby, and at breakfast. That’s the opposite of what most group organisers actually want.

Why Berrima Retreat Solves It

Exclusive hire removes all of that. When you book Berrima Retreat, your group gets the entire property. That includes the main house, all bedrooms, every shared living space, and the grounds.

Nobody else stays on-site during your booking. That’s the core of what is included when you book Berrima Retreat exclusively, full, uninterrupted use of the whole accommodation.

The property sleeps up to 55 guests across 11 bedrooms, and every guest gets their own bed. There’s no need to split your group between separate properties or squeeze people onto pull-out couches.

Berrima sits in the Southern Highlands, about 90 minutes from Sydney and around the same from Canberra. Far enough to feel like a proper escape. Close enough that nobody spends half the day travelling.

What’s Actually Included

Exclusive hire covers more than just bedrooms. Here’s what your group gets access to for the full duration of your stay.

The whole house and grounds. All 11 bedrooms and 8 bathrooms, plus the commercial kitchen, media and cinema room, and a dedicated office space for anyone who needs to work between sessions.

Outdoor and recreational spaces. The swimming pool, private dam with 8 kayaks, firepit, outdoor bar deck, and landscaped gardens are all part of the booking. So are the on-site bikes and trampolines.

The covered outdoor entertaining area. This open-sided shed has a wood-fired pizza oven, BBQ, pool table, and table tennis, all under cover so weather isn’t a dealbreaker.

Farm animals. Sheep and alpacas live on the property, and feeding activities are part of the experience — a nice touch for family reunions and school camps alike.

The Giant Kangaroo Jumper. A crowd favourite for kids and adults, and one of the more memorable additions to any group activities list.

Indoor and covered event space. The events room holds up to 65 guests indoors, while the covered outdoor area handles up to 150, or up to 300 if you use the lawn as well. Useful for weddings, presentations, or milestone celebrations.

Accessibility and comfort. An accessible bathroom and ducted air conditioning are included throughout, so the property works for a wide range of guests and seasons.

Things to Do During Your Stay

Once your group has settled in, there’s plenty to fill the days without ever leaving the property. Kayaking on the private dam is a favourite, whether for a quiet paddle or a friendly fishing competition.

The pool and firepit cover both ends of the day. Swim in the afternoon sun, then gather around the fire once it cools down.

Berrima village itself is worth a walk. It’s one of Australia’s best-preserved Georgian-era towns, with sandstone streets, local shops, and nearby wineries. The Visit NSW site has good detail on the wider Southern Highlands region if your group wants to plan a day trip beyond the property.

For corporate groups, the dedicated office space means work doesn’t have to stop entirely. For corporate retreats, that balance between structured sessions and genuine downtime tends to matter most.

Planning Tips for Your Exclusive Stay

A few things help groups get the most out of an exclusive-hire stay. Book early, particularly for peak wedding and school holiday periods, since the whole property is reserved as one unit.

Confirm your guest numbers early too. With 11 bedrooms sleeping up to 55, room allocation runs more smoothly when the final headcount is locked in ahead of arrival.

If your group includes children or older guests, mention this when enquiring. The team can flag which spaces suit different age groups, from the farm animal feeding to the media room.

Think about how you’ll use the shared spaces across your stay. Groups who plan a rough schedule, pool time, a pizza night, a kayak session, tend to get more out of the property than those who leave it entirely unplanned.

Frequently Asked Questions

• What does exclusive hire actually mean at Berrima Retreat?
  • It means your group has sole use of the entire property. No other bookings run alongside yours during your stay.
• How many guests can Berrima Retreat sleep?
  • The property sleeps up to 55 guests across 11 bedrooms and 8 bathrooms, with each guest having their own bed.
• Is catering included when you book exclusively?
  • The commercial kitchen is included as part of the property, giving your group full self-catering flexibility for the stay.
• Can we use the outdoor areas if it rains?
  • Yes. The covered outdoor entertaining area has a concrete floor and steel-frame roof, so the pizza oven, BBQ, and pool table stay usable in wet weather.
• Is Berrima Retreat suitable for weddings?
  • Yes. The events room holds up to 65 guests indoors, and covered outdoor space extends to 150, or 300 including the lawn.
• How far is Berrima Retreat from Sydney and Canberra?
  • It’s about 90 minutes from both cities, making it an easy weekend escape for group accommodation without a long drive.
• Do you need to bring your own kayaks or games equipment?
  • No. Kayaks, bikes, pool tables, and table tennis are already on-site as part of the exclusive-hire booking.

Ready to Book Your Exclusive Stay?

So, what is included when you book Berrima Retreat exclusively? The whole property, every room, every shared space, and the grounds, reserved just for your group.

No shared pool. No mixing with other guests. Just your people, together, for the whole stay.

Check availability at berrimaretreat.com.au, call 1300 76 13 76, or email bookings@berrimaretreat.com.au to enquire.