After a scenic drive two hours south from Sydney, we arrive in the stunning south coast where rolling hills meet deserted beach and pristine ocean. We’re headed to Willowvale, just minutes from Gerringong and ten minutes from Berry. From the Princess Highway we take a turn right and head up a no-through road to Jerrymara.

We were excited by the photos from HomeAway where we found the property, but arriving here we’re impressed beyond our wildest expectations. Before us, beautifully manicured gardens stretch at far as the eye can see, trees sway in the gentle breeze flowing through the valley and two homes appear in view.



We first explore the homestead – timber and wrapped in lush green vine, it’s a recently renovated property, externally a cottage and internally a pristine home with polished floor boors and all of the mod-cons to make a weekend away a dream. After buzzing ourselves in with a code, we’re greeted by a welcome note and a take-home gift displayed on an oversized custom timber kitchen island – the first of many wonderful surprises from Kate, the home’s owner. The homestead is spacious, but not oversized. Sun flows throw the floor-to-ceiling windows and drenches the kitchen and lounge, the furnishings French provincial in style.


Oversized couches beckon us, but it’s the deck outside we go to first. The view is the stuff country-holiday-home-dreams are made of. Manicured hedges, a pool, a fire pit and a tennis court are all in sight. To our left, there’s a large dining table that would seat at least ten and outside there are three seated dining areas, offering plenty of alfresco choice. There are three bedrooms in the home, plenty to accommodate our friends who are due to arrive any minute, each room with its own en suite bathroom.


We make our way outside to the large deck that wraps the property and spot the ‘cottage’ to our right. We wander across the yard and buzz ourselves in. The cottage is light and spacious with two bedrooms, each with their own bathroom and a large lounge. Huge glass doors open out to veranda and seated area, for more of the same views.

Dogs are welcome here at Jerrymara and our chocolate Labrador is in heaven exploring the manicured grounds with our toddler. At 4:30pm a caterer arrives with a beautiful platter of fruit, cheeses and chocolate and Kate texts to tell us she’s organised fresh pizza bases from the local pizzeria so that we can enjoy the pizza oven outside.

We spend the next two days playing quoits and bocce, sipping wine and warming ourselves by the fire. We spend the day with the kids in the pool, on the sun loungers and on the tennis court. We cook together and eat inside the first night, we try the pizza oven the second and wish we had our own at home.



It’s no wonder Jerrymara took out the silver award for indulgence in the annual HomeAway Holiday Rental Awards, after two nights here we’re relaxed and reconnected, feeling like we’ve been away longer and making the promises to come back.
https://www.homeaway.com.au/holiday-rental/p9218358



