Greyleigh Kiama – Review

Country getaway is taken to a whole new level at sumptuous Greyleigh, a working dairy farm established in the 1800s in Jerrara, New South Wales, now turned into a luxury accommodation and destination wedding venue. Spanning about 80 hectares, this relaxed retreat is just you, your crew, the estate’s cows, alpacas and Shetland ponies (Moe and Roxy) accompanied by the sounds of the wild. Read on for our full review.

Where is Greyleigh?

Greyleigh is located on Dharawal country and, from Sydney, it's a scenic two hour drive down the South Coast, passing through Wollongong and Kiama along the way. If you’re coming from Canberra, it’s a three-hour drive north-east to the coast.

What’s near Greyleigh?

While the estate may feel like it’s a world away from everything else, it’s an easy five-minute drive to Kiama and the town’s central beach and quieter Kendalls beach. For avid surfers, Bombo beach to the north is favoured by the locals. In Kiama, you’ll find cafés (Penny Whistlers and The Brooding Italian are popular among residents for their topnotch roasts), restaurants and a weekly farmers' market every Wednesday afternoon. Don’t miss visiting Kiama Blowhole – it’s one of the largest blowholes in the world and is a quick eight-minute drive from Greyleigh.

Room types

Across the terracotta, corrugated iron-clad Homestead and Guesthouse, Greyleigh sleeps up to 18 and guests have exclusive use of the whole property. Thoughtfully designed by design studio Duet, each house is a riot of colour and patterns with jewel-toned marble, statement lighting and eclectic furnishings, coming together in cosy country-chic harmony.

The Homestead features four bedrooms (one includes three bunk beds and can sleep six guests) and three bathrooms, with The Loft bedroom as the crown jewel. Sequestered away from the rest of the house downstairs, it comes with a custom four-poster bed and a clawfoot bathtub that sits next to the Juliet balcony, delivering views over the estate’s grounds and the swaying cabbage tree palms beyond.

The smaller Guesthouse has three bedrooms, two bathrooms and a kitchen decked out in teal and marble that flows into an open-plan living and dining space. The hand-painted wallpaper offers bright pops of colours throughout, while jute flooring in the bedrooms adds a textural contrast.

The houses are close in proximity, with the property’s swimming pool, pizza oven, orchard, gardens and main event spaces mere footsteps away.

Eat and drink

There are no dining venues on site, but guests are invited to stroll the orchard and vegetable garden and make use of the property’s own produce – including freshly-laid eggs from the chicken pen. If you’d prefer not to cook, speak with Greyleigh’s manager Erica Warren prior to your stay to arrange for a private local chef to create a bespoke meal just for you. Otherwise, take the five-minute drive into town to Silica Bar and Restaurant for Mediterranean-style fare overlooking the water or Hanoi on Manning for authentic Vietnamese cuisine. Greyleigh offers onsite bar and catering services for weddings in their central event space, The Gables, but they are only available for guests who stay for leisure on request.

Travel for work

While Greyleigh is a popular destination for company retreats and team-bonding exercises, it’s ultimately a place designed for switching off and reconnecting with people in real life. Wi-fi is available onsite, but it won’t cover the whole estate.

Pool and wellness

The estate features an outdoor swimming pool with a poolside deck, lounges and a fireplace for those cooler days. You can also have the Greyleigh team organise an early morning pilates session (yoga mats are supplied) or arrange for a therapist to provide body-melting massages and decadent facial treatments to turn your getaway into a wellness retreat.

Sustainability

The estate grows its own produce which guests are encouraged to use, and the catering team uses it for events and weddings. Any food scraps from functions are fed to the chickens to ensure minimal waste.

What you need to know

Greyleigh’s property manager Erica will go above and beyond for every guest: want an Italian cooking class or DIY pizza party on the lawn? Sorted. An intimate whiskey or cigar masterclass? Easy. From yoga sessions to art classes, the Greyleigh team will help take your stay to the next level. 

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