Why Berrima Retreat Is the Ideal Destination for Your Next Team Camp
Whether you’re planning a pre-season camp, a mid-season team-building weekend, an end-of-season trip, or accommodation for a representative squad, choosing the right venue can have a lasting impact on your club.
For AFL clubs, it’s about more than just finding enough beds. You need a place where players, coaches, support staff, and volunteers can stay together, build stronger relationships, recover properly, and prepare for what’s ahead.
At Berrima Retreat, we’ve created a venue designed specifically for groups. Located in the beautiful Southern Highlands of NSW, just 90 minutes from Sydney and Canberra, our exclusive-use property offers everything your team needs for a productive and memorable stay.
Why Team Camps Matter in AFL
Successful AFL clubs know that culture isn’t built during a two-hour training session.
The strongest clubs invest time away from their regular environment to develop:
- Leadership
- Communication
- Trust
- Team culture
- Player wellbeing
- Club identity
Whether you’re a junior club, senior club, representative side, women’s team, or masters team, spending uninterrupted time together helps players connect on a different level.
Without distractions, players naturally spend more time talking, learning from each other, and creating friendships that transfer onto the field.
Exclusive Use Means Your Club Has the Entire Property
One of the biggest challenges when booking accommodation for sporting groups is being spread across multiple motel rooms, cabins, or apartments.
Players often end up separated.
Coaches stay somewhere else.
Meetings become difficult.
Team culture suffers.
At Berrima Retreat, your club enjoys exclusive use of the entire property.
That means:
- No sharing facilities with strangers
- No interruptions from other guests
- Private team meetings
- Flexible schedules
- Your own space for recovery
- Complete privacy
The property becomes your team’s home for the duration of your stay.
Accommodation Designed for Groups
Berrima Retreat currently accommodates groups of 22–55 guests, making it ideal for many AFL clubs.
Our accommodation expansion is also underway, increasing capacity to approximately 80 guests in the near future.
This makes the venue suitable for:
- Junior representative squads
- Senior clubs
- Women’s teams
- Youth development programs
- Coaching staff
- Support personnel
- Volunteers
- Committee weekends
Everyone stays together under one roof.
A Location That Feels Like a Getaway
Located in historic Berrima in the Southern Highlands, the retreat offers a peaceful environment that allows players to focus on training, recovery and team culture.
Instead of busy city traffic and constant distractions, your players enjoy:
- Fresh country air
- Quiet surroundings
- Large open spaces
- Beautiful scenery
- Relaxed atmosphere
The slower pace helps players switch off mentally while still remaining focused on club objectives.
Perfect for Pre-Season Camps
Pre-season is one of the most important periods of any AFL season.
It’s where:
- New players integrate
- Fitness standards improve
- Leadership groups develop
- Team expectations are set
- Club values are reinforced
Berrima Retreat provides the ideal environment for:
- Morning training sessions
- Recovery activities
- Video reviews
- Strategy meetings
- Leadership workshops
- Goal setting sessions
- Nutrition education
- Team challenges
- Players can train throughout the day before returning to one shared venue where discussions naturally continue into the evening.
Hold Team Meetings in Our Events Room
Every successful camp needs somewhere for everyone to come together.
Our spacious events room comfortably seats up to 65 guests, making it ideal for:
- Team meetings
- Video analysis
- Game reviews
- Leadership presentations
- Coaching sessions
- Guest speakers
- Season launches
- Club planning days
Instead of squeezing into motel conference rooms, your entire group can meet together in one comfortable space.
A Brand-New Cinema Room Everyone Loves
One of the most popular spaces at Berrima Retreat is our newly renovated cinema room.
Features include:
- 85-inch screen
- Black-out walls
- Comfortable lounges
- Bean bags
- Surround sound
- Hundreds of DVDs
- Netflix
- Disney+
Perfect for:
- Match reviews
- AFL documentaries
- Recovery evenings
- Team movie nights
- Relaxing after training
It’s become one of the favourite rooms for visiting groups.
Plenty of Space for Recovery
Recovery is just as important as training.
Our property gives players room to unwind and recharge.
Recovery options include:
- Swimming pool
- Large lawns
- Quiet outdoor seating
- Firepit
- Relaxed country setting
- Walking around the property
Players often find that simply spending time outdoors away from their normal routine helps them return refreshed.
Team Bonding Happens Naturally
Some of the best moments during a camp happen outside formal activities.
Players connect while:
- Cooking together
- Sitting around the firepit
- Playing volleyball
- Kayaking
- Watching movies
- Sharing meals
- Playing table tennis
- Challenging each other at pool
These experiences build friendships that strengthen team culture long after the camp finishes.
Plenty of Activities Between Training Sessions
Keeping players entertained outside training is easy at Berrima Retreat.
Onsite activities include:
- Swimming pool
- Kayaking
- Volleyball
- Basketball hoop
- Table tennis
- Pool table
- Giant kangaroo jumping pillow
- Giant chess
- Outdoor recreation areas
- Firepit
- Farm animals
- Cinema room
The variety means every player finds something they enjoy.
Cater Your Camp Your Way
Every club has different budgets and preferences.
Some teams prefer to self-cater.
Others organise external catering.
Our commercial kitchen gives clubs flexibility, allowing you to prepare meals that suit your players and schedule.
Shared meals also become another opportunity for team bonding.
Suitable for Clubs of Every Level
Berrima Retreat welcomes AFL groups of all sizes and experience levels.
Our venue is ideal for:
- Community AFL clubs
- Junior football clubs
- Women’s football teams
- Representative teams
- Academy programs
- Development squads
- Masters football
- Coaching groups
- Umpiring associations
- Club committees
Whether your focus is performance, leadership, or simply rewarding players after the season, the venue can be tailored to suit your objectives.
Easy Access from Sydney and Canberra
Travelling long distances can reduce valuable time during a camp.
Located approximately 90 minutes from both Sydney and Canberra, Berrima Retreat is easily accessible for many AFL clubs across New South Wales and the ACT.
Your team spends less time travelling and more time together.
Why Staying Together Makes a Difference
Hotels often separate players across multiple floors.
Holiday parks divide groups into cabins.
Resorts have other guests sharing common spaces.
At Berrima Retreat, everyone stays together.
This creates more opportunities for:
- Team conversations
- Leadership development
- Club culture
- Mentoring younger players
- Building trust
- Creating lifelong memories
It’s one of the biggest reasons sporting groups continue choosing exclusive-use accommodation.
More Than Just Accommodation
When clubs stay at Berrima Retreat, they’re not simply booking somewhere to sleep.
They’re booking a private venue where players can:
- Learn
- Train
- Recover
- Relax
- Connect
- Celebrate
- Grow together
Whether you’re preparing for a premiership campaign or celebrating the end of another successful season, the environment you choose can make all the difference.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many guests can Berrima Retreat accommodate?
We currently accommodate groups of 22–55 guests, with accommodation expanding to approximately 80 guests in the near future.
Do we have exclusive use of the property?
Yes. Every booking receives exclusive use of the entire venue, meaning your club will not share facilities with any other guests.
Is the venue suitable for meetings?
Absolutely. Our events room seats up to 65 people, making it ideal for presentations, strategy sessions, leadership workshops and video reviews.
Can we self-cater?
Yes. Our commercial kitchen gives clubs the flexibility to prepare their own meals, or you can organise external catering if preferred.
Is there enough to do outside training?
Definitely. Players can enjoy the swimming pool, kayaking, volleyball, basketball, giant kangaroo jumping pillow, cinema room, games room, firepit and expansive outdoor areas.
How far is Berrima Retreat from Sydney?
Berrima Retreat is located in the Southern Highlands, approximately 90 minutes from Sydney and 90 minutes from Canberra.
Book Your Next AFL Team Camp at Berrima Retreat
If your AFL club is looking for a venue that offers privacy, exclusive use, comfortable group accommodation and plenty of space for team bonding, Berrima Retreat is ready to welcome your group.
Whether you’re organising a pre-season camp, leadership retreat, representative squad weekend or end-of-season celebration, our venue provides everything you need to bring your team together in one place.
Contact us today to discuss your group’s requirements, check availability, and start planning a team camp your players will remember long after the final siren.
Visit berrimaretreat.com.au to check availability for your club. Call 1300 76 13 76 or email bookings@berrimaretreat.com.au. Your Southern Highlands celebration is waiting.