Boobook Mountain Cottage (Berry Mountain)
Situated at Bellawongarah, New South Wales, we are 15 minutes from the historic village of Berry and 20 minutes from the picturesque Kangaroo Valley. By car we are just over two hours’ drive southwest from the Sydney airport and 50 minutes from Bowral and Moss Vale in the Southern Highlands. There is a train and shuttle bus service to Berry from the Sydney airport.
We are happy to collect guests from Berry for a 2pm check-in on the day of your arrival and drop you back to the train station at no charge. If you wish to explore the region, a car will be necessary.
Wake up to the dawn chorus from your fully self-contained cottage with forest views. Some of the birds you are likely to see or hear include Wonga Pigeon, Brown Cuckoo-Dove, Topknot Pigeon, Australian Logrunner, Bassian Thrush, Superb Lyrebird, White-throated and Red-browed Treecreeper, Green Catbird, Satin Bowerbird, Gang-gang Cockatoo, Yellow-tailed Black Cockatoo, Australian King Parrot, Crimson Rosella, Yellow-throated and Large-billed Scrubwren, Raptors. Summer migrants can include many of the Cuckoos, Crested Shrike-tit, Mistletoebird, Rose Robin, Rufous Fantail, Black-faced Monarch, and a variety of Honeyeaters. Southern Boobook, Powerful and Sooty Owl also visit the property at times with Boobook’s heard most of the year. Over the past 10 years we have recorded 110 bird species. We have protected the majority of the 62-hectare forest property with a Voluntary Conservation Agreement which lies within the Illawarra Great Eastern Range, an important corridor for flora and fauna. There are several great walking tracks through the private shaded forest and views to Rodway Nature Reserve (Broughton Head) from our top paddock. We have several birdbaths, a small new wetland, and a large forest dam where you can often view birds coming in for a drink. There is also a narrow creek within the short rainforest walk opposite the cottage. You may get lucky to spot a Logrunner, Green Catbird, Bassian Thrush, Yellow-throated Scrubwren, or Lyrebird in this part of the forest. Several Noisy Pittas have been heard in the rainforest, but they are rare visitors.
Wombats, Wallabies, Greater and Sugar Gliders, Ringtail and Brush-tailed Possums (Mountain and Common), and other small mammals/reptiles/frogs live on the property. SPOTLIGHTING tours can be arranged on the property. Greater Gliders are usually seen on a spotlighting tour. We are unable to offer unguided spotlighting on the property for your safety.
The cottage is bright, clean, well equipped for cooking and very comfortable with full amenities including wifi. All water is filtered rainwater. There is a combustion wood heater (wood supplied in cooler months), ceiling and floor fans, dishwasher, and combo washer/dryer. For more photos, information, all enquiries, and cottage bookings, please visit our Airbnb link at; https://www.airbnb.com.au/rooms/14657986
Bird tours on the property may be possible at short notice. Please contact the host. For bird guiding information off the property please refer to Birding Shoalhaven under Bird Guides for more information. All cottage guests will receive a 10% discount on a full day guided tour with Birding Shoalhaven and a complimentary 2 hour guided walk on the property.
Photos from past tours
