Trade city lights and endless appointments for cosy cottages and the peaceful sounds on these farmstays.
Collect your own eggs, milk the cows, and end each day next to a campfire, sharing stories with welcoming hosts who have experienced years living the Aussie farm life.
Opening image: © Lavandula
Tommerup’s Dairy Farm, Kerry, Queensland
Through six generations of dairy farmers, this adventurous accommodation site gives a taste of the farm life to its guests. Connect with the farmers and learn about the life on a dairy farm while admiring the views of Kerry Valley.
Stay in one of two rustic guest houses to feel even more a part of the family, but also keep your own privacy. Don’t miss out on the opportunity to milk the cows and feed an abundance of pigs, sheep, chickens and goats. The kids can help to collect eggs for breakfast and enjoy produce straight from the farm.
The Rustic Hut Farmstay, Penguin, Tasmania
Walk through amazing bushland and see native wildlife when staying at Rustic Hut. As soon as you arrive, it’s time to start living like a farmer. Start by feeding friendly farm animals, collecting eggs, take a full tour of the grounds and end the day by the campfire.
After a good night’s sleep in the Mountain View Spa Hut, which combines rustic charm with creature comforts – and includes a corner spa, queen bed and private verandah, it’s time to immerse back into farm life. Your day will involve milking cows and churning butter with an afternoon break of tea and scones.
Bullo River Station, near Timber Creek, Northern Territory
This cattle station and homestead covers 500,000 acres of the Northern Territory, showing off some of the most breathtaking views of the area. Generous and comfortable rooms combine with wholesome meals and a cool drinks to welcome guests in true Aussie Outback spirit.
Your days will be filled with dust, sweat and the exhilaration of living the station life. Be sure to spend a day exploring the wonderous landscape: take a dip in remote waterholes and waterfalls, go barramundi fishing and discover Aboriginal rock art. Cruise down the Bullo River and join in daily activities on the working cattle station, such as bore checks, feeding calves and muster training.
Cupitt’s Winery, Milton, NSW
The 100-year-old renovated Cupitt’s Cottage is located within the sprawling vineyards of Cupitt’s Winery. The cottage is complete with a kitchen, fireplace, antique furniture and classic Aussie verandah overlooking the extraordinary views across the vineyard to the Budawang Ranges and Burrill Lake.
Besides the winery, Cupitt’s is also a brewery, fromagerie, restaurant and wedding venue. A behind-the-scenes tour means you can taste hops from the brewery (not yet open to the public) and attend a cheese making and tasting workshop.
Taralee Orchards, Wirrabara, South Australia
In the Wirrabara Forest, this biodynamic stone fruit orchard provides a variety of fresh fruit, dried fruit, jams and other gourmet delights. The Taralee orchards also grows a range of vegetables, have free-range poultry and livestock onsite as well. When staying in either the Apricot Cottage or Ruby Cottage, guests can relax, take in the views and birdwatch right from the window.
Lavandula Swiss Italian Farm, Shepherds Flat, Victoria
With grand views and fresh air, this home-away-from-home is just north of Daylesford. Set upon a lavender farm, this three-bedroom country house has a modern timber and stainless-steel kitchen and a contemporary lounge. Its European-style gardens are perfectly planted all around the Italian-style stone buildings. Wander around the grounds and learn about all the products produces from the lavender harvested here, and be sure to visit the café, La Trattoria, afterward to enjoy a cuppa under the ash trees.
Ferguson Farmstay, Ferguson, Western Australia
Eleven fully self-contained chalets offer guests uninterrupted views across to Bunbury and the ocean. Constructed from local rammed earth, each chalet is finished with cedar and pine, and equipped with separate bedrooms, bathrooms, kitchen and living areas. Spacious lawns and pretty landscaped gardens are dotted around the property grounds.
Fun farm-based activities are included with stays of two or more nights. Guests can get a taste of local country life by the feeding goats, pigs, ponies, kangaroos, rabbits and emus. Kids can enjoy a pony ride and the family can take a tractor ride to the back of the property to feed the cows.
Mt Bundy Station, Adelaide River, Northern Territory
On the banks of the Adelaide River, Mt Bundy Station is a more than 100-year-old working cattle station which offers accommodations for everyone from singles and couples to families and campers. The station sits on the doorstep of Litchfield National Park. The station accommodates for all types, with the option to stay in safari-style tents, self-contained cabins or to bring your own caravan. Take a swim in the pool, enjoy nightly campfires and head over to the Cheeky Bull Bar for pizza and drinks after a day’s work on the station.
Mowbray Park FarmStay, Picton, NSW
Staying at this farm is like journeying back in time. Each lodge contains a rich history and character own its own: from colonial-style to classic design, there’s something great to suit every guest. The best part is visiting the animal nursery, feeding the farm animals, including donkeys, ducks, sheep and alpacas, and helping to bottle-feed young calves. Those into sports can try canoeing, archery, swimming, fishing (BYO rod) and mountain biking (BYO bike).
Tara’s Richmond Farmstay, Richmond, Tasmania
Tucked into the Coal River Valley Wine Region, this organic and eco-friendly farmstay includes a vineyard, olive groves, vegetable gardens and farm animals that roam freely around the grounds. Choose from two modern apartments, each with its own kitchen, loungeroom, bathroom and patio with kitted out barbecue area. Your stay includes an organic continental breakfast with freshly baked bread, homemade jams and fresh coffee where most of the ingredients come straight from the farm. The owners pride themselves on being environmentalist, with half of the electricity used onsite generated by solar energy. Wander around the farm to see all the ways the owners’ practice eco-friendly principles, such as limiting water waste and being carbon positive through their annual tree planting program.
For more amazing adventures around the country, check out our top glamping experiences.
