Somebody always ends up being the organiser. Maybe it's you. You've got a reunion, a team offsite or a big birthday on the horizon, a spreadsheet of names that keeps growing, and a nagging question: where on earth do we take all these people?
Here's a suggestion. Head to Berrima, a small sandstone village in the Southern Highlands of New South Wales. It's close enough that nobody grumbles about the drive, big enough in character to keep a crowd busy for days, and small enough that you can wander between the sights on foot.
This large group travel guide to historic Berrima walks you through getting there, where everyone can sleep, what to see, where to eat and how to string it all into a relaxed long weekend.
Grab a cuppa. Let's plan this thing.
Why Historic Berrima suits a Large Group
Most group trips come unstuck for the same few reasons. People get scattered across different accommodation, half the group is stuck in cars, and every activity needs its own booking, its own parking and its own set of directions.
Berrima sidesteps a lot of that. The village is famous for its old Georgian buildings, and it's regarded as the best-preserved example of that style on the Australian mainland. Almost everything worth seeing sits within a short stroll of everything else.
You park once, and the whole gang drifts along together, stopping for photos, stopping for coffee, stopping because Uncle Terry has found another antique shop.
That gentle pace matters when your group spans eight-year-olds and eighty-year-olds. Nobody gets left behind, and nobody needs hiking boots.
Getting Here Without a Headache
The village sits about 125 km south-west of Sydney. Take the Hume Highway and you're looking at roughly an hour and a half behind the wheel, which is easy enough that you can plan a Friday afternoon arrival without anyone needing a day off.
Coming from Canberra? It's a little under two hours the other way, so Berrima makes a handy halfway point if your group is split between the two cities, or if relatives are travelling in from regional spots on either side.
A few practical thoughts for organisers:
Ask everyone to share lifts where they can. Fewer cars means less fuss at the other end, and the drive becomes part of the fun. If you've got a mix of Sydney and Canberra people, pick a time to arrive and let each camp work out its own departure.
Then send one clear message with the address and the arrival window, and pin it somewhere everyone can find it.
Where Everyone Sleeps: One Roof, One Group
Here's the part that often makes or breaks a group trip. Splitting twenty or thirty people across three motels and a couple of holiday rentals means the evenings fall apart. The fun happens in the shared spaces, over dinner, around the fire, in the dressing-gown-and-tea hour before bed.
At Berrima Retreat we've set things up so that doesn't happen. We can sleep up to 55 guests across 11 bedrooms in the main house, plus a further 4 bedrooms in the North Wing, and when you book, the whole place is yours alone. No other guests, no sharing the lounge with strangers, no timing your shower around a stranger's schedule.
What does that look like in real life? Picture a family reunion where the grandparents take rooms close to the common areas, the teenagers claim the far end, and the cousins who haven't seen each other in years end up swapping stories on the couches at midnight.
Or a team offsite where the leadership group can spread out a whiteboard in the morning, then have everyone relaxed together by evening.
If you'd like to treat your group, we can arrange a few extras. A private yoga session on a quiet morning goes down well with people who think they're "not yoga types" (they usually come around). On-site massage can be booked too, which tends to be a hit at the end of a busy day of walking.
Ask us early if you'd like either, so we can line things up for your dates. The simplest next step for this part of the plan: get in touch, check your dates and confirm numbers before you lock in anything else. Everything else on the itinerary can bend around the accommodation.
Start With a Wander Around the Village
If it's your group's first visit, spend a few hours simply walking the main street. You'll see why people fall for the place.
The Berrima Courthouse is a good anchor. Built in sandstone in 1838, it gives you a proper sense of what colonial life looked like, and the history of the building is more colourful than you might expect. Check ahead about tours and access for groups, because arrangements can change.
Nearby is the old Berrima Gaol, which has been part of the local story since the 1830s. Even if you only look from outside, it adds a bit of drama to the walk, and it's a good talking point for the history buffs in your group.
Then there's Harper's Mansion. The gardens are neat and gorgeous, but the real star is the hedge maze. Turn it into a game. Split into teams, pick a meeting point in the middle, and see who gets there first. It sounds silly until you watch a group of grown adults sprint around a hedge in the name of pride. It's also a lovely spot for the big group photo you'll want for the family album or the company newsletter.
A tip for the walk: build in breaks. A big group moves slowly, and you'll want time for toilet stops, ice-cream stops and the odd sit-down. Plan on a leisurely morning rather than a tight schedule.
Spotting a Platypus (Yes, Really)
This one surprises people. Platypuses live in the Wingecarribee River, and with a bit of patience you've got a good chance of seeing them, particularly around first light or as the day winds down.
The riverside walking track is gentle, so you don't need special gear or serious fitness. What you do need is quiet. Platypuses are shy, and a chatty group of twenty will send them off. Before you set out, have a quick chat about keeping voices low, and consider splitting into small clusters spaced along the bank.
Bring a thermos of tea if it's an early start, and keep your eyes on the ripples rather than the water straight ahead. Kids tend to love this, as long as someone has explained the quiet rule in advance. Turning it into a challenge ("who spots the first one?") works wonders.
No promises, of course. Wildlife does what it likes. But even on a platypus-free morning, a walk by the water is a peaceful way to start the day.
Wine, Books and a Long Lunch
The Southern Highlands is known for its cooler-climate wines, and a group tasting is an easy way to spend an afternoon. Two names to look at are PepperGreen Estate and Bendooley Estate. Contact them early for group bookings, tell them your numbers, and ask about seating so you're not shuffled around.
Bendooley has a second drawcard: the Berkelouw Book Barn. If you've got readers in the family, they may vanish for an hour among the shelves of new and second-hand books, and a fireplace makes the whole thing cosier on a cold day. It's the sort of place where the non-drinkers and the wine fans can happily share the same outing, so nobody feels left out.
A few sensible things to arrange before you go. Nominate a driver, or book transport so everyone can enjoy a glass. Check that the venue can seat all of you together for lunch. And allow plenty of time, because a long group lunch tends to turn into an afternoon.
Feeding a Crowd: Where to Eat in the Village
Trying to find a table for 15, 30 or more is usually where trip planning gets tricky. Berrima's venues are used to groups, though, and a little advance notice goes a long way.
For something relaxed, the Surveyor General Inn is hard to beat. Dating back to 1834, it holds the title of the longest continuously licensed pub in the country. Think pub lunch, a cold beer, and a cosy fire when the weather turns. It's the kind of place where a big, noisy table feels right at home.
For breakfast or a coffee run, Gumnut Patisserie is the local favourite, with pastries and country pies that make a great quick bite before a busy day. Order ahead for a large group so you're not holding up the line.
If you'd like something a bit more refined, look at Eschalot and Josh's Café. Both lean towards local produce and a paddock-to-plate approach. They're popular, so book well in advance, and tell them about any dietary needs when you do.
A few tips for dining as a group:
Book early, and confirm a few days beforehand. Ask whether there's a set menu for groups, because it speeds things up. Collect dietary requirements in advance rather than at the table. And if the numbers are huge, consider splitting across two venues on one night, then swapping the next.
Some evenings, you may prefer to stay in and eat together at the retreat. After a full day out, nobody's keen on another restaurant, and a private dinner by the fire can be the best part of the trip.
A Relaxed Three-Day Itinerary Large Group Travel Guide to Historic Berrima
Here's one way to put it all together. Treat it as a starting point and shuffle things around to suit your crowd.
Day One: Arrive and Settle In
Aim to get here in the afternoon. Let people choose rooms, drop their bags, and explore the grounds at their own speed. Resist the urge to schedule anything. The first few hours are for catching up, putting the kettle on, and watching latecomers roll in.
When evening comes, wander into the village for dinner at the Surveyor General Inn. A casual meal and a few local brews make a friendly start, and the walk back helps everyone sleep.
Day Two: History, Hedges and Wine
Start with pastries and coffee from Gumnut Patisserie, then head to the Courthouse for a look at the village's colonial past. After that, make your way to Harper's Mansion for the hedge maze. Teams, rules and bragging rights are strongly encouraged.
In the afternoon, drive to Bendooley Estate. Settle in for a long lunch and a tasting, then let people browse the Book Barn at their own pace.
Back at the retreat, you've got options. A private group dinner keeps things cosy. If you'd arranged yoga or massage, this is a lovely time to slot them in, and they pair well with a quiet evening.
Day Three: River, Shops and a Slow Farewell
Rise early if you can manage it, and take a quiet walk along the Wingecarribee River in search of platypuses. Even sleepy teenagers tend to get drawn in once someone yells "there!"
Later in the morning, drift back into the village. There are boutique shops, jam and preserve stores, and vintage galleries to poke through. Give everyone an hour or two to wander in their own direction, and agree on a time and place to meet before the drive home. People will want souvenirs, and they'll want to take their time.
Pack the cars, take one final group photo, and head off with a boot full of jam and a head full of memories.
Little Things That Make a Big Difference
Some lessons that apply to nearly every group trip, wherever you go.
Share the plan early, and keep it flexible. Everyone likes to know what's coming, but nobody wants a military schedule. Aim for one anchor activity per day and leave the rest loose.
Free group trip planner. Download the free planner here, or use the quick version below and share it with the group before you leave.
Think about mixed ages and abilities. The village is flat and walkable, which helps, but plan seats and rest stops. Give older guests the option to skip a stretch without feeling left out.
Leave some downtime. The best group trips include hours where nothing is planned. Cards, long chats and quiet corners are what people remember.
Appoint helpers. If you're the organiser, you shouldn't also be the driver, the booker, the cook and the referee. Hand out a few jobs early.
And book the big-ticket items first: accommodation, then group meals, then tastings and tours.
Ready to Plan Your Large Group Getaway to Historic Berrima?
If this has you picturing your own group strolling through the village, laughing in a hedge maze or sharing a long table by the fire, the next step is simple. Get in touch with us at Berrima Retreat, tell us your dates and numbers, and we'll check availability for your group.
Once the accommodation is confirmed, the rest of the plan falls into place. We'd love to host you.
