Hillgate is a super-spacious, relaxed & stylish rural retreat in historic Berry set in a beautifully designed & maintained gardens surrounding an incredible heated mineral pool. Perfect for groups of friends, wedding guests, corporate retreats, yoga/cycling/winery/golf weekends or families holidaying together. The light-filled photogenic interiors, exteriors & surrounds have made Hillgate particularly popular with bridal groups. Five of our six bedrooms are flexible (King Beds can be arranged as two King Singles instead).
You will feel miles away from anywhere, while being at the heart of all the area has to offer. Hillgate is just a 5 minute drive or 10 minute bike to Berry village boutiques and restaurants. We are also only 15 mins to the beach.
The property boasts three beautifully appointed indoor living areas, so you'll never feel crowded at Hilllgate; there's plenty of room for everyone to relax & spread out. The generous light-filled lounge and separate living room both enjoy beautiful rural views across the expansive terrace. The 'Snug' is the third living area, above the dining room on the mezzanine.
Dining and kitchen share an enormous space with gorgeous views and soaring ceilings. Theres a huge 12-seat dining table plus barstool seating for seven at the kitchen counter. At the opposite end of the house you'll find a further seven seats in the cafe-style 'bistro' - perfect for cosy coffees &/or wine in the evenings.
The outdoor areas at Hillgate are really something special. Enjoy rural views from the huge terrace. Festoon lights adorn the covered pergola & theres plenty of dining & lounging options. The sparkling 15m mineral pool is is beautiful to look at as well as swim in, surrounded by beautiful, lovingly maintained gardens & lush green paddocks. Supplemental heating in the warmer months ensures a comfortable swimming temperature. Enjoy a picnic in the courtyard garden or toast marshmallows around the firepit under starry skies.
Store bikes, body boards, kayaks and other outdoor equipment in a custom-built enclosure adjacent to the house & out of the weather.
Hillgate is a pet free property, but you may encounter our local kangaroos, echidnas, wombats, kookaburras, parrots, frogs & friendly neighbour horses & cows. Lyrebird calls often fill the early evening hours (you may hear the neighbour's chickens, but more often than not, its the lyrebirds imitating them!).
All except one of the gracefully styled bedrooms on the ground floor feature their own exterior access with a private deck or patio. The bedroom on the first floor up enjoys soaring ceilings & elevated rural views. The bedrooms are setup as follows: Bedroom 1 (sleeps 3 people)- King OR two single beds, plus extra single bed Bedroom 2 (sleeps 2 people) - King OR two single beds Bedroom 3 (sleeps 2 people) - King OR two single beds Bedroom 4 (sleeps 2 people) - Queen bed Bedroom 5 (sleeps 2 people) - King OR two single beds Bedroom 6 (sleeps 2 people) - King OR two single beds (upstairs)
- There is a full laundry with a washing machine and dryer. We also have an additional large fridge to stock up in the butlers pantry. - If you need a space to work quietly, Hillgate has an office - so you won't need to zoom from your room! - Enjoy air conditioning in all bedrooms & living areas to keep you cool in summer & warm in winter. - Hotel quality bed linen and interior bath towels are provided, as well as flat-woven turkish pool towels. - Parking is available for up to 6 cars (please contact us if you need additional parking). - Hillgate provides complimentary NBN enabled WiFi (password will be provided). Both TVs in the property have Netflix with a guest account. Access additional streaming services like Stan, Apple & Amazon Prime with your own log-in details. - Hillgate has a motion-activated driveway camera & pool safety camera
BOOKING TERMS ******************** Check in after 2pm. Check out before 12pm (2pm usually possible at non-peak times)
Theres a minimum two night stay for all bookings, changing to three nights on long weekends, four nights at Easter & Spring/Autumn school holidays, and 7 night blocks during the Summer school holidays (mid December to end January)
There may be particular check-in or check-out dates we can't accommodate (due to cleaning schedules, especially around Christmas/New Years), and if you book these dates we will request you modify your booking.
Guest Access: Access to the property is via a private road. We ask you to drive with great care and consideration across neighbouring properties, and to please carpool your day trips once you are settled in. Guests may access the house & surrounding land, but not beyond the second set of farm gates.
Kids Policy: The overall number of guests includes both children and adults. Although Hillgate has been designed & furnished primarily with the comfort of adults in mind, families with children are welcome, as long as there are more adults than children in any guest group. Hillgate has not been baby-proofed.
Add dates for prices
Have a question?
AI iconBetaBeta
Get instant answers with AI powered search of property information and reviews.
Only kids aged 5+ can stay. Babies under 6mths OK.
default
Events
No events allowed
No student groups
default
Pets
No pets allowed
default
Smoking
Smoking is not permitted
Use the pool at your own risk. No running, diving or glassware in the pool area. Quiet hours are 9pm-9am.
Use water carefully (we rely on tanks). We have a septic system: don’t put oil down sinks or flush sanitary items. Only septic-safe cleaning products.
No parties of any kind (bucks, hens, schoolies, etc) or extra guests are permitted. Only the (maximum 13) booked overnight guests are allowed on site.
Important information
You need to know
Extra-person charges may apply and vary depending on property policy
Government-issued photo identification and a credit card, debit card or cash deposit may be required at check-in for incidental charges
Special requests are subject to availability upon check-in and may incur additional charges; special requests cannot be guaranteed
On-site parties or group events are strictly prohibited
Note from host: No student groups
Host has indicated that there is no carbon monoxide detector on the property, but there are gas appliances; consider bringing a portable detector with you on the trip
Host has indicated that there is a smoke detector on the property
Safety features at this property include a fire extinguisher, a first aid kit and a deadlock
Property Registration Number 2535, PID-STRA-1769
About the area
Broughton Vale
Located in Broughton Vale, this holiday home is in a rural area and near the beach. Meroogal and Kiama Lighthouse are local landmarks, and some of the area's activities can be experienced at Silos Estate Berry and Mountain Ridge Wines. Granties Maze and Natural Necessity are also worth visiting. Make sure you get close to the area's animals with activities such as game walks and birdwatching.
Barren Grounds Nature Reserve - 8 min drive - 6.9 km
Rodway Nature Reserve - 8 min drive - 7.7 km
Seven Mile Beach - 13 min drive - 11.9 km
Getting around
Berry Station - 6 min drive
Shellharbour, NSW (WOL) - 34 min drive
Restaurants
The Famous Berry Donut Van - 6 min drive
The Emporium Food Co. - 5 min drive
Berry General Store - 6 min drive
Berry Hotel - 5 min drive
Great Southern Hotel - 6 min drive
Frequently asked questions
Does HILLGATE ✦ Award-winning Berry Country Estate ✦ Gorgeous 15m Heated Pool have a pool?
Yes, this property has an outdoor pool. Pool types include heated pools.
How much does it cost to stay at HILLGATE ✦ Award-winning Berry Country Estate ✦ Gorgeous 15m Heated Pool?
As of 31 March 2026, prices found for a 1-night stay for 2 adults at HILLGATE ✦ Award-winning Berry Country Estate ✦ Gorgeous 15m Heated Pool on 26 April 2026 start from NZ$2,432, including taxes and fees. This price is based on the lowest nightly price found in the last 24 hours for stays in the next 30 days. Prices are subject to change. Choose your dates for more accurate prices.
Is HILLGATE ✦ Award-winning Berry Country Estate ✦ Gorgeous 15m Heated Pool pet-friendly?
No, pets are not allowed at this property.
How much is parking at HILLGATE ✦ Award-winning Berry Country Estate ✦ Gorgeous 15m Heated Pool?
On-site parking is available at the property.
What time is check-out at HILLGATE ✦ Award-winning Berry Country Estate ✦ Gorgeous 15m Heated Pool?
Checkout is at 2:00 PM.
Where is HILLGATE ✦ Award-winning Berry Country Estate ✦ Gorgeous 15m Heated Pool located?
Situated by the sea, this holiday home is 2.1 mi (3.3 km) from Berry Museum and 2.6 mi (4.1 km) from Berry Courthouse. Bundewallah Reserve and Barren Grounds Nature Reserve are also within 6 miles (10 km).
Reviews
10
Exceptional
Reviews are presented in chronological order, subject to a moderation process, and verified unless otherwise labelled.
We had a fantastic long weekend at this beautiful property. The property is ideally located a 4 minute drive from Berry however is set in beautiful grounds and you would think you were miles away, We loved the light filled rooms and spacious living and dining areas. Each of the bedrooms is beautifully appointed and furnished. We loved our extended family trip and would recommend the property to anyone looking for a beautiful property close to Berry.
David K.
Stayed 3 nights in Feb 2024
Response from VrboOwner on 13 February 2024
Thanks so much David for booking Hillgate, looking after the property during your stay, and taking the time to leave us a review! I hope we can welcome you back again sometime.
From the moment we arrived Hillgate was such a perfect place to relax and catch up with family. With plenty of rooms, bathrooms, lounge areas, huge dining table and plenty of seating for everyone, this property was worlds apart! Loved every moment there and wish we could have stayed longer. Thank you to the host for something nicer than the everyday stay!!! Ally
Greg S.
Stayed 2 nights in Mar 2021
Response from VrboOwner on 16 March 2021
Thanks so much Ally for staying at Hillgate, we're so glad you enjoyed the property & you're most welcome to return. Cheers, Cathie
Wonderful backdrop for a catch up with old friends
We are a group of friends who have been going away together annually since our children met in daycare (they are now teenagers). The house was perfect with flexible bed layouts and an amazing kitchen and dining area for those (like us) who love to cook and share meals together. Multiple living spaces allowed the adults and teens to have their own space. Close proximity to Berry was handy although you would think you were miles from any town due to the houses peaceful rural setting.
Rachel K.
Stayed 3 nights in Jun 2023
Response from VrboOwner on 15 June 2023
Thanks Rachel for choosing Hillgate for your annual getaway, & for looking after the property during your stay. I hope we can host you again sometime :)
Beautiful property, very clean & new. Love the internal deco, rooms are spacious, open plan kitchen (+ a kitchenette), 2 TV rooms, large outdoor BBQ area. Our teens love their TV den whilst the little ones running around outdoor. There’s also a fire pit where we toasted some marshmallows. Would be perfect if there’s a swimming pool on site. Also Cathie (owner) is pleasant to deal with and very prompt in her response. Texted us straight away when property is ready for early check in.
Sandhora K.
Stayed 2 nights in Jan 2021
Response from VrboOwner on 23 January 2021
Thanks so much Sandhora for being one of our first guests at Hillgate & for taking the time to leave a review! We're glad you enjoyed your stay and agree that a pool would be a fantastic addition (we're working on it!). You're most welcome to stay with us again anytime....
We went away for a girls weekend and we couldn't fault anything! The property was just as beautiful if not more beautiful then the photos, everything was clean and functional. Was also nice to be in a big group and not feel on top of each other especially with 1 day of rain. The owner and on-site property manager were both lovely and nothing was a problem. Would defiantly recommend this property and we will be staying there again!
Sharon R.
Response from VrboOwner on 8 February 2021
Thanks so much Sharon for choosing Hillgate for your girls weekend & taking the time to write us such a kind review. We were amazed how clean you left the property after your stay - thankyou so much, we are very grateful. You are of course welcome to stay again anytime!
This is one amazing property!
Brand spanking new, stylish guesthouse that was perfect for a chilled weekend with some friends. It has been well furnished for entertaining, with plenty of homely touches and provisions that made for an enjoyable weekend.
The setting is amazing, surrounded by the beautiful berry country hill views and has ample outdoor space for entertaining.
Highly recommend a stay here for a classy weekend away!
Paul E.
Response from VrboOwner on 1 February 2021
Thanks so much Paul for taking the time to leave a review, it is so appreciated. Really glad you & your friends enjoyed your weekend in Hillgate. Thanks for looking after the house during your stay & leaving everything so tidy. You're most welcome back anytime.