Want to muck in and feed the chooks, milk the cows or simply enjoy the pace of country life? Then why not make hay while the sun shines on a Aussie farmstay holiday.
Staying on a farm can add a unique twist to your family holiday and is a fabulous opportunity for city kids who’ve never ridden a horse, collected eggs straight from the hen house, milked a cow, ridden a tractor, or joined a muster to experience country life.
With a variety of on-farm accommodation available across Australia – from historic homesteads to self-contained cottages – a farmstay holiday offers families comfort, hearty food, great facilities and best of all a safe and relaxed environment for kids to interact with all manner of cuddly, and not so cuddly, farmyard critters.
Here we’ve have wrapped up ten of the best farm stays around Australia.
1. Minimbah Farm Cottages – Kangaroo Valley, NSW
Minimbah Farm is sprawled across 130 acres of scenic farmland, with spectacular views across the scenic Kangaroo Valley. The farm is a wonderful rural escape for families, home to three homely cottages (able to accommodate up to 16 people). Farmyard activities involve collecting eggs, feeding the goats and alpacas and horse riding along ‘The Man from Kangaroo Valley’ trail ride. The farm is located close to Kangaroo Valley village and plenty of other outdoor activities in the surrounding area – canoeing, bushwalking, swimming, golf, tennis and scenic drives.
2. Freshwater Creek Cottages – Torquay, VIC
A 15-minute drive from the coastal town of Torquay, Freshwater Creek Cottages offers seven charming self-contained stays on an expansive 50 hectare farming property. Owned by Marissa and ‘Farmer Phil’, the farm offers a great bush escape where kids can put on their gumboots and help to pick apples, collect eggs and feed the resident animals. There’s also a kids’ playset, cubby house, swings and a seesaw to keep little ones busy for hours.
READ OUR REVIEW: A refreshing family farm stay at Freshwater Creek
3. Cedar Glen Farmstay – Darlington, QLD
Cedar Glen is an authentic farm stay in the foothills of the iconic Lost World, part of Lamington National Park. Families choose from four historic cottages (the largest accommodates up to 12), located across the serene Cedar Glen property and can take part in horse trail riding, pony rides, animal feeding, egg collecting, cow milking, swimming the rivers, tennis, bushwalking and a twilight mountain top 4WD tour.
4. Fernleigh Farmstay and Bike Park – Goughs Bay, VIC
Located in Victoria’s High Country, Fernleigh Accommodation cottages is set on 11 acres of lush farmland outside Mansfield. The perfect choice for families seeking an activity-filled escape, guests are invited to help out feeding the farm animals, to explore the exciting bike park and other activities – horse riding, bushwalking, skiing, golf, tennis, volleyball, football, fishing, swimming, boating, campfires, scavenger hunts – and to explore all that the surrounding area has to offer. Their three cottages accommodate families of 4-8, or large groups of up to 38 guests in the Lodge.
5. Eight Acres – Lakes Entrance, VIC
Not far from the famous Ninety Mile Beach, accommodation options at Eight Acres range from pet-friendly farmhouse cottages to large glamping bell tents. The experience combines the rustic charm of a farmstay with the modern mod cons of a coastal getaway – it’s all just five minutes from town. Amenities include a pool, playground and games garden while the two-bedroom cottage features a rain shower, breakfast bar, private barbeque and outdoor fire pit.
READ OUR REVIEW: A farm stay and sailing holiday in East Gippsland
6. Kings Creek Station – Petermann, NT
Set among magnificent desert oaks, Kings Creek Station is a working cattle and camel station that offers an experience of unique outback farm life. Families choose from comfortable safari cabins, glamping tents or a bush swag camp. The historic station has been featured in 36 documentaries, and there are loads of activities for families to take part in to get that real outback experience! Take quad safaris and helicopter flights, swim at the station, take an Aboriginal cultural tour and embark on interesting day walks, including the especial Kings Canyon, Watarrka National Park.
7. Pump Hill Farm Cottages – Pemberton, WA
Set among majestic forests of karri trees and lush green valleys, Pump Hill Farm is a 4-star cottage retreat for families. Every morning, kids are picked up for a hay ride to feed and pat the friendly farm animals, can go bird watching, bush walking, visit the farm animals anytime, and head into friendly Pemberton to fish for trout, canoe the river, ride a steam train through the forest and explore the town.
8. Brickendon Estate – Longford, TAS
Brickendon Farm Village dates back to 1824 when assigned convict women and men lived and worked on the estate. Families have the option to stay in the estate’s historic convict-built cottages or rustic farm cottages, to explore the World Heritage Listed Farm Village, pat and feed farm animals, take the fun Convict Farm Walk and explore the estate’s picturesque gardens.
9. Lavendale Farm – Gilgering, WA
At Lavendale Farm, a friendly oasis in WA’s Avon Valley, families choose from nine self-contained cottages and lodges (that can accommodate up to 14 visitors). The whole family can help feed and milk the farm animals, while kids will enjoy the fantastic playground area with trampoline, sandpit, swings, wooden fort, and the indoor activity room with table tennis, foosball, drawing boards and other games.
10. Billabong Ranch Adventure Park – Echuca, VIC
This country ranch located in an historic town along the Murray River, is ideal for families looking for an adventure. Billabong Ranch offers trail rides though Red Gum forests, pony and camel rides, an animal nursery, pedal boating and a family fun park with playgrounds, mini golf, beach volleyball, table tennis, archery, foosball and bowling. There’s the option for ages 7-17 to take part in school holiday horse riding and adventure camps or for the whole family to stay and explore the ranch, with accommodation in their family hideaway cabins.
Opening image: Sheep at a farm in Sydney. © Alison Godfrey
