Embrace the chance to connect with the land, your loved ones and even yourself on a New South Wales farm stay. Whether you are drawn to vast cattle stations, kid-friendly hobby farms or historic estates, there’s a perfect NSW farm stay to suit every holidaymaker. Rise with the roosters, unplug from the everyday and bask in the beauty of the blissful rural setting.
Escape to the countryside
Delight your kids with the chance to meet (and feed) merino sheep, horses, pigs, dogs and cats; learn how to groom and saddle a horse; and even bake scones in the homestead’s kitchen at Ba Mack Farmstay near Mudgee, a 3.5-hour drive northwest of Sydney. Ramp up the fun factor with a stay in the property’s restored ‘red rattler’ train carriage or cosy up in the guest cottage, which also has two bedrooms. Then treat yourself to a relaxing afternoon exploring Mudgee’s boutique wineries, knowing your offspring are having just as much fun at Ba Mack’s complimentary Kid’s Club held every afternoon.
Immerse yourself in farm life at Amaroo Cottage Farmstay near Bathurst, a three-hour drive west of Sydney, where guests are welcome to muck in with the real work of running a farm. Get a feel of farm life as you muster stock, marking lambs or shearing, depending on the season. After accomplishing the ‘chores’, enjoy spotting the abundant native wildlife or gazing up at the stars, uninterrupted by artificial light sources, before bedding down in the property’s three-bedroom self-contained farmhouse.
Have a laugh getting acquainted with the 200 alpacas that roam the grounds at Starline Alpacas Farmstay Resort, a small property nestled between the renowned wineries of the Hunter Valley, a three-hour drive north of Sydney. Kids will love feeding the cute camelids straight from their hand, as well as feeding chickens in their coop. Choose from more than a dozen cottages and suites on the property, where you’ll also be pleased to find a swimming pool, spa, sauna, tennis court and children’s playground.
Stay close to the action
Get seriously hands-on with your kids at Mowbray Park FarmStay in Picton, just over an hour’s drive southwest from Sydney, which offers a choice of a number of lodges and cottages and a full program of supervised farm activities. Climb aboard a tractor ride to the animal nursery, where you can help bottle-feed a calf, pick grass for the bunnies, or even milk the cow. Or get stuck into other activities on offer including horse riding, canoeing, archery, tennis, fishing and mountain bike riding. (The property also welcomes day visitors.)
Get a hearty taste of farm life just 10 minutes from the alluring beaches of Byron Bay on the far North Coast at Cape Byron Farm. Learn about the property’s strong commitment to sustainable farming and conservation on a stay in one of its six ridge-top cottages, all with enlivening views over the hinterland and ocean. Collect fresh eggs for breakfast, walk among the cows and greet the friendly horses, then have fun kayaking or fishing on the lake or walking through the soothing subtropical rainforest gully.
Enjoy a classic high country farm experience at Highland Lodge Farmstay, perched high in the Snowy Mountains just outside the town of Jindabyne. Part farm stay, part ski lodge, the working sheep and cattle farm is open all year round to delight your kids with activities such as collecting eggs, picking vegetables, exploring the fields and letting loose in the playground. Finish your days rugged up around a roaring campfire, toasting marshmallows under a canopy of twinkling stars.
Live it up in luxury
Pair sustainable farming with indulgence at Jamberoo Valley Farm, a working permaculture farm just two hours’ drive south of Sydney, with luxury cottages overlooking the South Coast’s Jamberoo Valley and ocean. Experience the essence of ‘farm-fresh’ by picking fresh produce from the kitchen garden and collecting your own eggs for breakfast — you’re also welcome to feed friendly cattle, sheep, chicken and pigs. Warm up on brisk country nights by the indoor and outdoor fireplaces, or treat yourself to a relaxing soak in the Swedish hot tub.
Wake up to kangaroos grazing outside your bedroom window at The Woods Farm in Jervis Bay, a three-hour drive south of Sydney. Each of the property’s eight individually styled, modern country-luxe abodes contain three bedrooms, a fully equipped kitchen and all the essential mod cons of home. Kids will love the free bikes, giant yard games and gorgeous outdoor swimming pool, not to mention the farm animals, including miniature goats, horses, alpacas, cows and chickens. You’ll also uncover thoughtful touches like luxury perfume to spritz during your stay.
Revel in Italian country style on a stay at Rosedale Farm outside Orange, a 3.5-hour drive northwest of Sydney. Opened to guests in 2022, the historic property’s two former servants’ quarters have been transformed into two luxury guest suites. Appreciate luxe touches such as under-floor heating and a fridge stocked with complimentary local produce, then head out for a stroll of the grounds to meet an exotic menagerie of farm animals including white peacocks, a camel and two ostriches.
Discover once and for all that farm stays aren’t synonymous with roughing it at Kimo Estate in Gundagai, a working 2,800-hectare sheep and cattle farm dotted with luxury accommodation just a four-hour drive southwest of Sydney. Lean into the romance on a getaway at one of its three hilltop Ecohuts: each one has an outdoor hot tub and sweeping countryside views. Visiting with your extended family or a group of friends? Reconnect on a stay in the six-bedroom Shearers Quarters, a true rural Australian experience with an open fire, outdoor decks and barbecue.
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