Best farm stays in NSW for a country escape

According to the Bureau of Statistics, nearly 90 per cent of the Australian population now lives in urban areas.

It’s not until city dwellers move outside the urban sprawl that they understand how crowded and relentless ordinary suburban life can be. Feel like you need to unplug from the hectic pace of the rat race for a few days? There’s no better way to slow down and recharge than a farm stay.

We’ve compiled a list of the best farm stay experiences in NSW, everything from rustic accommodation where you can get hands-on with the farm animals, to exclusive resorts where rural splendour provides a luxury backdrop.

Glenhope Farmstay, Armidale

Best for: Animal lovers and couples
Location: Armidale, New England NSW
Farm experience: Alpaca feeding and birdwatching

Glenhope is a working beef cattle and alpaca farm in the countryside outside Armidale. Guests at this cosy B&B-style farm stay can feed the inquisitive and loveable alpacas and learn a bit about these gorgeous creatures from their hosts.

The gardens invite a brisk morning walk with opportunities for some alpaca spotting and birdwatching. Afterwards, you can enjoy a hot cup of coffee on the outdoor daybed or have a bite to eat in the breakfast room, which has huge glass windows overlooking the garden.

Glenhope’s location at the end of a dirt road makes it feel like it’s in the middle of nowhere, yet it’s only a 10-minute drive from the centre of Armidale – which means the conveniences of modern life are within easy reach if you need them. 

Oakleigh Farm Cottages, Narooma

Best for: Beach and country escapes
Location: Mystery Bay, near Narooma, NSW South Coast
Farm experience: Sheep, horses and chickens

If you can’t decide whether you’d prefer a seaside or countryside getaway, Oakleigh Farm Cottages in Mystery Bay south of Narooma delivers both.

This dog-friendly accommodation has a history dating back to the 19th century. The spacious, country-style cabins are perched on expansive hillside lawns, providing an enviable eyrie to Montague Island. Pristine beaches are just a short walk away.

The communal hut has table tennis, a yawning fireplace, cosy lounges and a barbecue and BYO bar area. Oakleigh is a working sheep farm, with horses and chickens also sharing the surrounding paddocks.

Kimo Estate, Nangus

Best for: Couples, groups and rural luxury
Location: Nangus, near Gundagai, NSW
Farm experience: Working farm and countryside walks

Kimo Estate is a farm property just outside Gundagai in a locale called Nangus. It has multiple accommodation options, including newly built eco-huts and historic buildings refurbished to comfortable country spec.

Daleys Cottage (pictured) is a former workers’ residence constructed around 1910. It’s a comfortable and secluded place, surrounded by gentle hills and talkative sheep. Larger groups will find the rustic Shearer’s Quarters a comfortable stay.

Visitors can walk through the gentle rolling hills and get up close to the woolly animals that give this working farm its undeniable charm.

Elm Cottage, Tumut

Best for: Nature lovers and families
Location: Tumut, Snowy Mountains NSW
Farm experience: Rural life, trout fishing and wildlife

Set on farmland about 15 minutes out of Tumut in southern NSW, Elm Cottage comprises five different cabins that overlook a brawling stream, which squiggles through the surrounding hills.

It’s a real farm experience, with a gate to open and close, rabbits darting into your headlights at night, and the baa of sheep to greet you in the morning.

With the Snowy Mountains providing a scenic backdrop to rival just about any in Australia, Elm Cottage is the perfect place to relax and unwind – or you can get active with riverside walks, trout fishing, or even a swim in the summer months.

Trilby Station, Louth

Best for: An authentic outback escape
Location: Louth, Outback NSW
Farm experience: Station life, fishing and canoeing

If you want to get away from it all – literally – an outback farm stay is the way to go. Liz Murray and her family have welcomed visitors to Trilby Station, a working sheep and goat farm an hour south-west of Bourke, for decades.

The Shearer’s Bunkhouse provides an authentic taste of outback farming life, with six twin-share bedrooms and communal bathrooms and laundry facilities. If you’d prefer something more private and cushy, the Jillaroo’s Cottage, Overseer’s Cottage and Mitch’s Hut offer self-contained options. Campers are also catered for with powered and unpowered sites.

Trilby is a gigantic property (it can take a full day to drive its perimeter) and genuinely remote, so be prepared for geographical isolation. Onsite activities include yabby and cod fishing, canoeing, birdwatching and historical tours.

Goonoo Goonoo Station, Timbumburi

Best for: Luxury farm stays
Location: Timbumburi, near Tamworth, NSW
Farm experience: Historic pastoral town, countryside and fine dining

No law says a farm stay has to be all draughty outbuildings and sheep droppings. The owners of Goonoo Goonoo Station, about 20 minutes south of Tamworth, spent a fortune on transforming an 1840s farm village into luxe accommodation.

There are 10 different retreats on the sprawling landscaped property, ranging from the two-person Shearer’s Quarters all the way up to the Homestead, which can accommodate 10 guests. Small or large, each dwelling is decked out with timber floors and designer furniture and fittings.

Also on site is the award-winning Glasshouse Restaurant, a stunning edifice which cost upwards of $10 million to develop. Set high on a hill, the Glasshouse would be a desirable place to hang out even if it didn’t serve up delicious meals and fine wines.

Hosanna Farmstay, Stokers Siding

Best for: Families and active travellers
Location: Stokers Siding, Northern Rivers NSW
Farm experience: Animal feeding and farm tours

Located in the hinterland between Byron Bay and the Gold Coast, the Hosanna Farmstay provides everything from camping facilities right up to treetop cabins and a homestead that can house 20 people.

It’s a little different to the other farm stays on this list, with an onsite café, live music sessions, a waterslide, playgrounds and a treasure hunt joining more traditional farmyard activities such as animal feeding and farm tours.

Hosanna is very much family-orientated (think a holiday park vibe) and popular among cyclists and hikers, as it is located on the Northern Rivers Rail Trail. The public can also purchase a day pass to enjoy Hosanna rather than staying overnight.

Old Minton Farmstay, Nimmitabel

Best for: Nature lovers and history buffs
Location: Nimmitabel, Monaro NSW
Farm experience: Sheep, goats and wildlife

A few minutes up a dirt road outside Nimmitabel, south of Cooma, this farmhouse was built in the 1920s and extended in the 1970s. Husband and wife tree-changers Paul and Bronwyn put a ton of work into refurbishing it while retaining its rustic period charm.

Sleeping up to 11, it’s set on a huge property populated with friendly sheep and goats. Old Minton Farmstay is perfect for mountain bikers, bird watchers, or anyone who wants to disconnect for a few days and forget social media and smartphones exist. 

A visit to the Nimmitabel township is worthwhile, too, for its lolly shop and historic hotel. Once a key waystation along the Monaro Highway, Nimmitabel’s pub – the Federal Hotel – became legendary for hosting famous musicians, including Peter Garrett and Suzi Quatro.

Currajong Retreat, Burragate

Best for: Couples and a digital detox
Location: Burragate, Sapphire Coast NSW
Farm experience: Angora goats and rural glamping

If you really want to escape the hustle and bustle of regular suburban life, book a stay at Currajong Retreat. Secreted in the hinterland 50km west of Eden on the Sapphire Coast, it’s a luxury glamping experience on a working Angora goat farm.

On the property are three safari tents, each with a private deck and bushland views. But you won’t be roughing it – this ‘camping’ includes a queen-size bed, a fully equipped kitchenette, ensuite bathroom with a waterfall shower, and an outdoor bath where you can both soak and soak in your picturesque surrounds.

Currajong is also a great way to enforce a digital detox – don’t expect much in the way of mobile phone reception. And in case you were wondering, yes, you can meet the soft and cuddly angora goats during your stay.