If you've been to Berry - NSW South Coast lately, you might have noticed something a bit different about the old motel at the north end of Queen Street. The Berry View, that 1950s roadside stop where families once pulled up for a basic overnight stay, has had quite the makeover.
Gone are the dated furnishings and faded exteriors. In their place: bright orange doors that can be spotted from the other end of town, and an aesthetic that wouldn't look out of place in an architecture magazine. The boutique hotel has just finished its second round of renovations, adding 18 more rooms to the original 13, bringing the total to 31.
Aerial view of The Berry View
"We wanted to keep the nostalgic charm," says David Stubbs, who owns the place. And they have—the bones of the old motel are still there, but everything else has changed.
The design pulls from both Palm Springs (earthy tones, mid-century furniture) and the Amalfi Coast (that pool area with its terracotta tiles), creating something that feels both familiar and slightly surreal in rural Australia.
The technology has been updated, too. You can check in using smart locks without talking to anyone, though there are actual humans around if you need them.
It's a nod to modern convenience without losing the personal touch that makes staying in a small town worthwhile.
Walking through the property, you notice how the old motel layout has been preserved—you can still park right outside your room—but the rooms themselves tell a different story.
The location remains one of the hotel's best features. It's an easy 10-minute stroll into Berry proper, where you can still get those famous donuts from the van that's been there for decades. And the beach is less than 10 minutes away by car—close enough for a morning swim before breakfast.
Executive Suite
Berry itself seems to be going through something of a renaissance. The same team behind The Berry View has also taken over The Berry Hotel, a pub dating back to 1863. It's part of a broader shift in the area, where old buildings are finding new life without completely losing their character.
Freestanding bathtubs, ‘Leif’ bathing products, curved furnishings, and large windows framing views of the surrounding countryside suggest this isn't the budget accommodation of yesteryear.
For Sydneysiders looking for a weekend away without the hassle of a long drive, The Berry View offers something different from the standard coastal accommodation. It's still distinctly Australian—the landscape makes sure of that—but with design elements that feel transported from somewhere else entirely.
Most eye-catching is the new infinity pool, which looks out over farm paddocks rather than the Mediterranean Sea, though you might momentarily forget which continent you're on when sitting under one of the bright orange poolside umbrellas.
As you sit by that infinity pool, watching the light change over the farmland beyond, there's something uniquely satisfying about knowing you're experiencing a slice of coastal Australia that's been reimagined rather than replaced—orange doors, countryside views and all.
180 Queen St, Berry NSW 2535, Australia
