Erin O'Dwyer sets her surf-mad bloke free and finds serenity.

'How close to Berry is Werri?" asks my surfer boyfriend as we prepare for our South Coast mini-break.

"Very," I say, watching him load his board and wetsuit into the car.

It's hard to get a surfer away from his home turf, especially in the last days of an Indian summer. I manage it only on the promise of a trip to the coastal village of Gerringong - a 15-minute drive from our destination in the Shoalhaven hinterland.

But the call of the surf falls silent as we pull off the highway and into Aurora @ Berry. The property is nestled in a grove of eucalypts and looks out across rolling dairy pastures that were once the area's reason for being. These days there are more B&Bs than cows in Berry and Aurora is one of the best.

Our timber-floored cottage is quaint and quirky. The main bedroom is on a mezzanine, at the top of a winding wooden staircase. The cathedral ceiling and triangular windows give the room a treetop feel. (At night, you can even see the stars from your bed.) The second bedroom, downstairs, has a deck and a king bed, which can be split into two singles. The bathroom features a spa, as well as a hideaway laundry.

In the lounge, a red pot-bellied stove takes pride of place by a magnolia-pink couch. A galley-style kitchen opens onto a cosy veranda.

We arrive just as the sun is going down - after a two-hour drive from Sydney - and make our little happy hour on the deck.

For dinner, we plan to try one of the two pubs in town but steep weekend surcharges spur us on to other options. There are a dozen cafes lining the main street, but Thai Berry is packed with locals. Our fried rice ($12), Panang curry ($13) and spring rolls ($6.50) don't disappoint.

Back at Aurora, we settle in for a DVD from our hosts' collection. Retired schoolteacher Peter Waugh built three luxury cottages on his 10-hectare hobby farm two years ago with the help of his wife, Sue. Sue's touch is evident - fluffy white towels, thick cotton sheets, candles and Ecossential toiletries.

Breakfast provisions are supplied, too - eggs, bacon and croissants. The only thing missing are some bathrobes, which wouldn't go astray given the lovely big windows.

There are two cottages for hire at Aurora, far enough apart for a romantic weekend but close enough for two families or a group of friends.

After a late breakfast, we check the region's surf spots. We criss-cross country lanes to the coast, passing through open pastures and under national park canopies.

There are six people on Seven Mile Beach, which stretches between Gerroa and Shoalhaven Heads, and three in the water at Werri.

The surf is flat, so we enjoy an ice-cream on the Gerringong headland before puttering back to Berry to pop into its boutiques and antique shops.

Tonight's dinner is courtesy of Berihurikari - an establishment known for delivering restaurant-quality curries made from locally grown ingredients. I buy a mixed vegetable curry ($18.50) from the deli in town and serve it with pappadams and rice. I suspect it would go nicely with a crisp verdelho from nearby Coolangatta Estate.

Unfortunately, Surfer Boyfriend has taken the car back to the home beach and all I'm left with is his half-bottle of Jamaican rum.

I'm sipping it slowly on the veranda, as he calls to tell me the surf is flat at home too.

"How berry bad for you," I say, smiling conspiratorially at the kookaburra beside me.

The writer was a guest of Aurora @ Berry and Tourism NSW.

TRIP NOTES

Address: Andersons Lane, Berry.

Bookings: Phone (02) 4464 3935, see http://www.auroraberry.com.au.

Rates: Luxury cottages sleep up to seven guests. Weekends are $275 a night twin-share; $300 for a family. Week-long stays are $1200 twin share; $1400 for a family.

VERDICT

Luxurious South Coast getaway - close to the coast but with a relaxing country atmosphere.

Why you'd go: Plenty to see and do nearby, yet equally pleasant to stay "at home" all day.

Why you wouldn't: A car is a must-have - necessary for exploring the delights of Berry and travelling further afield though picturesque countryside.

FIND TIME TO

Discover Berry's foodie treats: the Berry Wood-fired Sourdough Bakery on Prince Alfred Street for sensational bread, the Emporium Food Co on Queen Street for local gourmet products, and the Treat Factory on Old Creamery Lane for homemade chocolates, chutneys and preserves.

Go wine tasting: Try Cambewarra Estate, Jasper Valley Wines or award-winning Coolangatta Estate on Bolong Road, which serves regional cuisine for lunch and dinner. See http://www.coolangattaestate.com.au.

Hit the beach: at least 10 top surf beaches are within a half-hour's drive of Berry including the famous Seven Mile and Werri beaches.