Planning a family reunion is one of the most rewarding – and logistically challenging – things you can organise. Once you’ve settled on a date and wrangled everyone’s schedules, the single biggest decision you’ll face is where to stay.
The right family reunion accommodation sets the tone for the entire event. Get it right, and you’ll create memories that last a lifetime. Get it wrong, and you’ll spend half the weekend managing logistics instead of enjoying the people you love.
So, what type of accommodation is actually best for a family reunion? Let’s break it down.
Why Accommodation Sets the Tone for a Family Reunion
A family reunion isn’t just a place to sleep – it’s the stage on which your whole event plays out. Think about it: where will the kids run around? Where will the adults sit together after dinner? Where will you gather for a meal when there are 30 of you?
The accommodation you choose determines how much time your family actually spends together. It shapes the mood, the flow of the days, and how connected everyone feels by the time they head home.
The best family reunion venues offer space to gather, space to spread out, and enough privacy that your group can truly relax and be themselves – without worrying about disturbing other guests or sharing a pool with strangers.
Types of Accommodation to Consider
When it comes to large group accommodation for family reunions, there are a few common options:
Hotels are convenient and easy to book, but they scatter your family across different floors and rooms. Common areas are shared with the general public, and there’s rarely a space big enough for your whole group to eat, play, or relax together. For a family reunion, hotels often feel fragmented – everyone disappears to their room and the togetherness you were hoping for simply doesn’t happen.
Holiday cabins or caravan parks can work for smaller, more casual gatherings, but for larger families they present similar challenges. Multiple separate cabins mean your group is split up, and the outdoor spaces are usually shared with other guests. There’s no sense of having your own private space.
Airbnb homes are a step in the right direction – they offer more of a home-like feel – but most are designed for smaller groups of 8 to 12 people. For a genuine family reunion, you’ll often need significantly more capacity than a standard holiday house can offer.
Exclusive-use retreat venues are, overwhelmingly, the best option for family reunions. They offer everything a large group needs: ample sleeping capacity, shared communal spaces, private grounds, and the luxury of having the entire property to yourselves. No strangers, no noise complaints, no compromises.
Why an Exclusive-Use Retreat is the Best Option for Families
When you book an exclusive-use retreat, your family has the run of the place – and that changes everything.
Imagine waking up and heading downstairs to find the kids already in the pool while the grandparents sit on the verandah with a cup of tea. Lunch is served at a long table that fits everyone.
In the evening, the adults gather around the firepit while the teenagers take over the games room. Nobody has to negotiate with strangers. Nobody has to pack up and head back to separate cabins. It all happens in one beautiful, shared space.
That sense of ease and connection is only possible when your group has exclusive use of the venue. It’s the difference between staying near each other and truly being together.
An exclusive-use retreat also eliminates the logistical headaches of family reunions. A large commercial kitchen means you can self-cater meals for the whole group.
Multiple communal spaces mean there’s room for everyone – the quiet readers, the card players, the kids burning energy outside, and the family storytellers keeping everyone entertained around the dining table.
What to Look for in a Family Reunion Venue
Before you book, run through this checklist to make sure the venue is genuinely suited to a large family gathering:
- Sleeping capacity – Does it sleep your entire group comfortably, in real beds? Look for venues that offer a mix of king beds and single beds to accommodate couples, parents with children, and individuals.
- Communal spaces – Is there a dining area large enough for everyone to eat together? A lounge, media room, or outdoor entertaining area where the group can naturally gather?
- Kitchen facilities – A commercial or large self-catering kitchen is essential if you want to prepare group meals rather than eating out every night.
- Outdoor space – Private gardens, a pool, a firepit, or lawn space can make an enormous difference, especially if there are children in the group.
- Exclusive use – Confirm that no other groups will be sharing the property during your stay.
- Location – Is it easy for family members travelling from different directions to reach? Is it close to a town for shopping, dining, and day trips?
- Activities nearby – Wineries, national parks, historic villages, and scenic walks all add richness to a reunion weekend and give the group something to do together beyond the property itself.
Why Berrima Retreat is Perfect for Your Next Family Reunion
If you’re searching for large group accommodation in NSW, Berrima Retreat in the Southern Highlands ticks every single box.
Located just 90 minutes from Sydney and Canberra, Berrima Retreat is an exclusive-use private mansion set in the heart of the Southern Highlands – one of New South Wales’ most beautiful countryside regions. The property accommodates up to 55 guests overnight across 11 spacious bedrooms, with a mix of king beds and king single beds to suit couples, parents with young children, and groups of adults. With the addition of the adjoining cottage, the property can host over 100 guests for day events.
Most importantly, every booking is exclusive use – your family has the entire estate to themselves, with absolutely no sharing with strangers.
The Berrima Mansion is designed for exactly the kind of warm, relaxed togetherness that makes family reunions special. The facilities include:
- A pool and BBQ area perfect for long summer afternoons
- A large commercial kitchen for self-catered group meals
- A media room and spacious dining areas for evening gatherings
- A firepit for those classic end-of-night conversations under the stars
- A kids’ arena with a Kangaroo Jumper, trampoline, giant chess, sandpit, and bikes
- Indoor games including pool table, table tennis, and volleyball
Beyond the property itself, you’ll find yourselves staying in Berrima, voted the best small town in NSW – a beautifully preserved Georgian village dating back to the 1830s. Explore the historic Berrima Courthouse and Gaol, enjoy a long lunch at the iconic Surveyor General Inn, browse boutique shops and local produce stores, or venture out to the stunning Fitzroy Falls and Morton National Park.
The Southern Highlands is also home to some of Australia’s finest cool-climate wineries – including Centennial Vineyards, Bendooley Estate, and Artemis Wines – making it a dream destination for adults looking to enjoy a wine tour between family activities.
Whether your reunion spans a weekend or a long weekend, Berrima Retreat provides the space, the warmth, and the privacy to make it genuinely unforgettable.
Ready to Start Planning Your Family Reunion?
The best family reunions don’t happen by accident – they happen when the accommodation is right. When your family has space to breathe, space to gather, and a beautiful private setting to call home for a few days, the memories make themselves.
Berrima Retreat is available for exclusive group bookings throughout the year. Whether you’re planning a milestone birthday reunion, an annual family gathering, or a long-overdue catch-up, the team at Berrima Retreat would love to help you make it happen.
Visit www.berrimaretreat.com.au to request your free info pack, check availability, and start planning your family reunion today.