Kate Bloxsom (Hancock) - Lawyer
Married at Woodbyne, November 2006
I did think about having the wedding in Sydney but just love the south coast. We decided we didnt want to drive around in traffic and be in a place where lots of other weddings were going on.
The ceremony was held in Woodbynes garden with a red carpet across the lawn serving as the aisle. Red and white rose petals were scattered beneath the juniper tree to form a carpet where Kate and Ryan exchanged their vows.
A string quartet played the Processional and Recessional during the ceremony and later entertained the 100 guests as they enjoyed drinks and canaps in the garden while the bridal party had their photos taken.
The reception was in the hotel gallery room and throughout the evening guests continued to move between the reception area and the romantically lit garden. A marquee with a dance floor was set up outside with a jazz band providing the music.
It was a very happy day, a perfect day - Kate recalls. Although I worked up until the Tuesday before the wedding, it all went very smoothly. I knew what I wanted and there was not much indecision or shopping around - and then I found the professional people to do it for me.
Among those professional people working to make the day such a success were Annette and Jeff Moore, the owners of Woodbyne.
Sheridan Rogers - Travel writer Sunday Telegraph
Top of the Class - Woodbyne is a lesson in luxury comfort. April 2007
Theres a wonderfully sweet smell in the air as you enter the old schoolhouse and the Garden Room - at Woodbyne, just south of Berry, on the NSW south coast. Is it the perfectly poached vanilla pears? The pale pink plums and peaches? Or the delectable croissant pudding?
People ring ahead for our pudding - says Annette Moore. We are known for our breakfasts, and it is the most popular dish with our regulars. Some requests come from as far away as New York, France and England.
Lighter and more luscious than the normal bread-and-butter pudding, this one is studded with currants and strewn with berries.
Breakfasts are a highlight at this luxurious boutique hotel. Set in the large Garden Room next to the main house, they comprise quintessential country fare with dishes such as sliced avocado, smoked salmon and caper mayo on Turkish toast, chive frittata with sautéed mushrooms, and scrambled eggs with bacon or smoked salmon.
Annette Moore and her husband, Jeff Moore, have owned, developed and been running Woodbyne for over fifteen years - they have expanded the number of rooms available and vastly improved other features of the property.
You would swear they had a team of interior decorators and landscape gardeners in, but this talented pair (Jeff Moore is a chartered accountant; Annette Moore has a degree from Sydney University in archaeology) have done all the work and planning themselves. More recently, Jeff has encircled a large parkland area below the hotel with deciduous magnolias and leylandii.
Although their stamp is apparent in every nook and cranny of the house and garden Jeff Moore and Annette Moore are discreet hosts who make you feel as though the house and the garden belong to you alone.
It is about giving people time out - Annette Moore says. Most of our guests are in the 25 to 40 age group and do not get time together as couples until they come here. We may not see much of them for the whole weekend.
Annette Moore also has an excellent eye for design - something that is clear the moment you step through the front door into the elegant guest lounge.
In the cooler months, open log fires and plump sofas make this a perfect place to relax.
It is also an ideal meeting place for conference delegates (a desktop computer with broadband Internet access is set up there) or for bridal groups.
Woodbynes guest rooms are decorated in muted shades of cream, beige and white, they are elegantly furnished with king beds, plump armchairs, stylish lamps, TV, DVD players and no phones. Each one looks out over the surrounding leafy gardens, creeks and meadows.
Carla Caruso - Sunday Telegraph Escape
It had become a little like the film You, Me And Dupree.
My new hubby and I were sharing our tiny, already cramped Sydney apartment with a friend who had arrived from interstate.
It was a temporary situation which had lasted four months – our families were noticing the photos we brought home were always of the three of us.
One Friday night, desperately needing some time together, we clicked on a few last-minute accommodation sites and hit on the perfect relationship remedy – Hotel Woodbyne at Jaspers Brush, about two hours drive south of Sydney.
To me, it sounded like something out of The Wind In The Willows. Perfect.
The next morning, we snuck out early, leaving behind a quick, quilt laden note: Off for the weekend! Back Sunday afternoon x. The emancipation had begun.
After our pit stop for lunch in Bulli, we crunched up the gravel driveway to Woodbyne, a few minutes’ drive from the historical town of Berry. Co-owner Annette Moore, who has been running the boutique hotel with her husband Jeff for 15 years, signed us in at the chic guest lounge room, complete with an open log fire and Home Beautiful-style décor.
We were slightly taken aback to discover we could take our pick from the cupboard of DVD’s, books and board games – for free. It’s the type of generous hospitality city slickers, like us, are unaccustomed to.
Our pick of the 11 plush rooms was decorated in cream, beige and white, furnished with a king-size bed, plump couch and Buddha-like statues. The large windows, with white painted frames, opened onto the central garden, which featured hedge archways and a trickling water fountain.
After a bit of luxurious lazing about we headed to a local watering hole on the main strip of Queen St. for dinner.
Sated, we wandered a few doors down to the Justin Lill Wines bottle shop for a night cap. The bottles came with witty, handwritten recommendations.
We made our selection and headed back to our room, where our DVD selection awaited.
Next morning, we were awoken at 8am for our breakfast. We dodged raindrops on the way to the old schoolhouse next to the main house – The Garden Room – for our brekkie and soon decided the early morning call was well worth it, after all.
Post breakfast and after a bit of pottering around in Berry, we were back on the road again, enjoying our last few hours together as just “us”.
Hilary Doling - Weekend Breaks
Drive through the white gates of Woodbyne and up the sweeping gravel drive and you know you have come to a very special kind of Bed and Breakfast Hotel.
It is not just the length of the drive or the immaculate gardens but more the air of tranquillity and calm.
Here is a place where the tensions of the world seem to disappear within minutes of arrival. You can almost feel your shoulders relax.
The property, built in late 1890, was once the old schoolmasters home at the Jaspers Brush school. Now it has been converted into an elegant hotel with guestrooms ranged around a central courtyard.
We pass paintings with rich, sensuous brushstrokes as we walk across the polished wood floor of the guest lounge towards our bedroom. As we open the door it is almost like stepping into a mini gallery: the large rooms with wide windows feature original art and a sculpture stands in the corner.
However, a squashy, cream sofa, a bed piled high with feather pillows, TV and DVD and en suite bathroom make the room the kind you want to lounge around in, too.
The breakfast they serve at Woodbyne is almost a masterpiece in itself.
The hotel is located 3km south of Berry so you are within easy driving distance of Kangaroo Valley or the beaches of the South Coast.
We dragged ourselves away from the rarified air of Woodbyne and drove south. The road to Currarong leads on to a four-wheel-drive track that takes you out to Point Perpendicular with its lighthouse and panoramic views of Jervis bay. After a breezy cliff walk it was back to Woodbyne to relax in the manicured grounds.
Attention to detail makes the property special.
Peter Hughes - Tatler Travel Guide
At the irresistibly named Jaspers Brush you will find Woodbyne, an exceptionally well-run, white-clapboard hotel. It has enormous style. Hiding behind the hedges of designer gardens, it is in a 19th-century school building, with brilliant yellow Robinia trees at one side and a giant juniper in front - black cockatoos screech in to feast on its berries.
Woodbyne marries hotel smoothness with family welcome, metropolitan cool with country comfort, informality with privacy. Think Amanresorts goes Bed and Breakfast. It has only eleven rooms, uncluttered and big, with creamy fabrics and interesting furniture. This is the way things are heading in out-of-the-way places. The owners are Jeff Moore and Annette Moore; he is a chartered accountant, she is an archaeologist and outstanding cook.
Liz Hannan - Weekender The Sun Herald Travel
There is plenty of pleasure to be had at the Woodbyne Boutique Hotel – and much of it can be found in the detail.
Certainly the features you would expect from an establishment which arguably is the NSW South Coasts finest – charming exterior, elegant interior, modern comforts and picturesque setting – are there.
Built more than a century ago as the masters house and schoolhouse for Jaspers Brush School, the hotel is tucked amongst 1.2 hectares of classic gardens and bush.
Beyond the neat fences dairy cows content themselves in meadows which roll down from the escarpment.
Country lanes beckon and the mecca of Berry, replete with antiques and indulgences, lies just 3.5 kms to the north. Little wonder actress Rachel Griffiths and company booked out Woodbyne when fellow thespian Toni Collette married on her South Coast property.
So the big picture is impressive but it is in the observance of small things that Jeff Moore and Annette Moore distinguish themselves.
In place of the standard issue crockery you find in most hotels, from the most modest to the best, you can take tea in your room from patterned china that is reminiscent of what your nanna would serve - and a new pattern appears each day.
The breakfast menu, which changes daily, is scripted on crisp, white notepaper and brought to your table, which is a rare indulgence so early in the day.
They may be small things - and there are more of them - but they do make the difference.
Georgina Windsor - ROOM at the INN Weekend Australian Travel
It is a wild and woolly morning, the sound of rain lashing at the windows makes staying nestled in bed at Woodbyne Boutique Hotel an appealing prospect. The rooms bay windows open onto the gardens, a gentle breeze blows in and the trickle of the creek is just audible above the rain.
If I had not sampled yesterdays breakfast, I could ignore the slight tummy rumbling and burrow down for a long sleep-in. But after tasting the warm European bread-and-butter pudding - a sinful mix of croissants, chocolate and currants baked in a creamy home-made milky custard sauce…it was so delicious - the thought of an encore performance is enough to get me out of bed.
By the time I emerge, the rain is clearing and the sun poking through the clouds. Breakfast in the Garden Room is a delicious spread of fresh juice, cereals and seasonal poached fruits (the rhubarb baked with blood orange juice and brown sugar is a standout). And, joy of joys, another croissant pudding - with strawberries and currants this time. For sheer gluttony, guests can order one of four hot dishes that change each morning. The shallot pancakes with smoked salmon, avocado and lemon butter sauce are divine - but get in quick for the popular ricotta hotcakes with strawberries and maple syrup.
Owners Annette Moore and Jeff Moore fell in love with the 1.5ha property that includes the 110 year-old Garden Room now used for breakfast, corporate retreats or wedding receptions seating up to 50 guests. Over the years, they have decorated 11 rooms in sumptuous but tasteful East-meets-West style and, with passion for gardening, have created classical gardens complete with roses, lavender, box hedges, statues and water features.
Every room has a stunning outlook, with lots of hidden benches in particularly verdant spots, perfect for curling up and reading a book. Apart from meeting fellow guests at breakfast, it is very private and the Moores have that clever knack of being both accessible and unobtrusive at the same time.
Located on the NSW south coast, Berry is a real seachange area and it is not hard to see why. Rolling green hills, a vibrant town centre and close proximity to Sydney make it an attractive option for those who want a few hectares to run cows, horses and chickens. It is the country estate with the bonus of some of the countrys best beaches just 15 minutes drive away. Truly, the best of both worlds.
Southbound - Qantas In Flight Magazine
A two-hour drive south of Sydney, Woodbyne Boutique Hotel on the New South Wales south coast is an exquisite, secluded boutique hotel overlooking meticulous gardens and vast countryside. The 1897 property was once the Jaspers Brush School. The hotels Garden Room, shaded by a 150-year-old juniper tree, was originally the old schoolhouse, and the schoolmasters home is now the hotels guest lounge and reception.
Simple, elegant guest suites are clustered around a courtyard. Breakfast is served daily in the Garden Room.
If you do not have the time to leave work behind, take it with you - group workshops can be held in the lounge or gardens. Woodbyne is minutes from historic Berry and Kangaroo Valley, and a scenic drive to picture-perfect beaches, parks and villages. And if you want to avoid the drive there, helicopter transportation can be arranged from Sydney airport.
A Fresh Day of Love - Studio for Brides
Rain threatened to intrude, but luck shined down as Louise Friedland and Graeme Bell made their vows in a Shakespearean-style garden setting. Louise Friedland tells how nothing could put a dampener on their perfect day.
Rather than remain city-bound on their wedding day, Louise Friedland, a graphic designer and fiancée Graeme Bell, an architect, decided to make an event of their marriage, and escape to the beautiful Woodbyne Boutique Hotel in Jaspers brush, about two hours drive south of Sydney, on the NSW South coast. It was close enough that people could still get there but it was still a weekend away for everyone - says Louise Friedland.
Not only did the beautiful location, named after a line in William Shakespeares A Midsummer Nights Dream, lend itself to a ceremony that was stylish without being stuffy, it also had a family connection for Louise Friedland, as she explains. - My mum - Alison Friedland - wife of John Friedland - had her fiftieth there a few years ago, and it is just one of those places. The first time I arrived there I said - Oh, this is where I want to get married! It is just such a magical place you just think it is the perfect, perfect setting. So we all stayed there for the weekend and hired out all the rooms and had it all to ourselves.”
The wedding day was almost a soggy event, as the long-dry NSW skies broke the drought and the heavens opened on the Friday before the wedding. - I had sort of accepted the fact that Oh, we will have a rainy wedding day, it is still special, but it was great - at five oclock the sun came out. It was amazing, it came out literally for about an hour and then when we went inside it started pouring again!
The ceremony took place in the stunning central courtyard at Woodbyne. - It was just a perfect formal space for an outdoor casual wedding, - recalls Louise Friedland. After the ceremony, Louise Friedland and Graeme Bell then strolled around the venues gardens, an ideal location for scenic wedding pictures. - Everyone had drinks and canapés out there in the courtyard while we went off and had some photos taken in the grounds.
- It was nice not to have to go to very far, - she says. I can not imagine anything worse than having to go off and have pictures and come back.
After the photo shoot, it was back inside for the reception at Woodbynes Garden Room. The couple made their entrance to the strains of legendary jazz singer Billie Holiday singing - At Last -, and then there was much revelry and dancing until the reception concluded.
Jessica Irvine - GETAWAY - IN STYLE Magazine
Berry offers an education in relaxation
Woodbyne Berry, NSW A two hour drive south of Sydney, this luxurious boutique hotel gets top marks for understated rural style, and offers easy access to sun, sand and surf.
Tell me more…. Woodbyne Boutique Hotel has been operating for just ten years, but the property itself is no babe in the woods – it was once part of Jaspers Brush School, established 110 years ago. The reception and guest lounge, which overlooks a parterre garden and is warmed by log fires in winter, once encompassed the school masters entire home. These days, how to unwind is the only gentle lesson you will have to absorb. Each of the eleven ensuite bedrooms enjoys views of the surrounding countryside, while the interiors are a celebration of soothing creamy hues. The grounds often host wedding festivities, which wend their way to the Garden Room or Gallery.
Who goes..... Keanu Reeves and Rachel Griffiths and husband Andrew Taylor.
What to do….. Visit Berry fair, held on the first Sunday of every month. Head to Seven Mile and Werri beaches, both 10 minutes drive away. Take a bush walking or wine-tasting tour. If you feel you have not yet earned a gold star for your efforts at relaxation, order a massage in your room
What to book…. Room rates start at $265 per night. All tariffs include breakfast. Visit www.woodbyne.com.au or call 02 44486200.
Simone Costi - COUNTRY HOME IDEAS Magazine
The extensive and incredibly beautiful grounds at Woodbyne look as if they are right out of the pages of that delightful classic, THE SECRET GARDEN. You, too, will be enchanted by them and want nothing more than to curl up in a leafy corner with your favourite tome.
Woodbyne Boutique hotel is located around four kilometres south of Berry on the south coast of New South Wales. It is only a couple of hours drive from Sydney, but you would never believe it once there.
The guest rooms are comfy and elegant, each with an ensuite. They are also large and attractively furnished with plump sofas, desks and a table and chairs – perfect for a lazy Sunday morning, or a quiet afternoon writing letters. They are very private, too, and all positioned around a central garden. And then there is the view. Endless vistas of meadows, creeks and the gardens are visible from each one.
The Guest Lounge is also open to visitors, and it is a lovely place to catch up with friends in front of an open fire.
When it comes to breakfast, you can not beat the one at Woodbyne. If poached vanilla pears, croissant pudding or a chive frittata sounds like your ideal brekkie, make sure you visit soon. You will have to stay at least four nights to make the most of the location, and the menu!
Woodbyne is perfect for couples looking to get away and treat themselves. It is also a good place for work conferences and a stunning location for private weddings.
Dinners can be arranged for groups of guests who book the entire property.
So what are you waiting for? Grab your favourite book, your best friend or loved one and escape to a secret garden.
