Best Farm Stays near Canberra
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Hillview is a fun, family-friendly and pet-friendly NSW farm stay between Sydney and Melbourne, and just a half an hour from Wagga Wagga. It has a huge range of accommodation on nearly 1000 acres of farm and bushland home to farm animals such as alpacas, sheep, cattle, and hens, as well as lots of local wildlife. There is a swimming pool and tennis courts in the gardens, too. THE ACCOMMODATION: The accommodation consists of farm cottages and lodges and two glamping safari tents. Check out all your options on the booking page here. The tents are cleverly designed as safari… > See All the Details & Book
All our recommended farmstays in NSW are listed here, though for farm stays and rural tourism in general, there are two specific areas we’d recommend, especially for first time visitors to rural NSW.
And these are Hunter Valley and Kangaroo Valley.
Both of them are within three hours of Sydney and offer beautiful natural landscapes, small town charm, excellent food and wine, and some of the best farm stays in Australia.
Hunter Valley
Just north of Sydney NSW, between the Blue Mountains and the Barrington Tops, the Hunter Valley is Australia‘s oldest wine-producing region. It is home to over 150 wineries, cellar doors, and vineyards. It’s not just wine tourism, though; the region is a delight for all kinds of nature and food lovers.
How to Get There:
Getting there is easy, it’s about two hours up the M1 from Sydney until you see the exit sign for Cessnock. If you’re carless, you can jump on one of the trains that link Sydney to Singleton and Maitland.
Where to Go: Rural Towns
Cessnock:
Cessnock is the starting point for most visits. It is the area’s largest town and gets very lively at weekends. Art enthusiasts will be impressed with the local galleries and the Hunter Valley Zoo is a children’s favorite.
Singleton:
Singleton is a laid-back little town on the banks of the Hunter River. It offers easy access to stunning national parks like Wollemi and Barrington Tops.
Maitland:
Maitland is another laid-back town. A particular quaint feature are the roadside stalls where local farmers sell organic, fresh produce.
Where to Go – National Parks
Hunter Valley is one of Australia’s best areas for national parks. Here they are in no particular order:
Barrington Tops:
A World Heritage Area with ancient Gondwana Rainforest and fantastic hiking trails.
Watagans:
Near Cessnock, offering wilderness hikes and rich Aboriginal heritage sites.
Wollemi:
World Heritage-listed park full of spectacular sandstone rock formations and canyons.
Yengo:
Another area with rich aboriginal heritage, best explored by 4WD or mountain bike.
Check out our recommended farmstays in Hunter Valley, NSW
Kangaroo Valley
Two hours southwest of Sydney and about two and a half hours northeast of Canberra ACT lies a treat for lovers of nature and food. Kangaroo Valley, to many Australia’s most beautiful valley, lies in the heart of NSW’s Southern Highlands and is an area of lush rainforest, rolling green hills, small vineyards, and farms.
How to get there:
From Sydney: Take the M31 south, exiting at Aylmerton to take the B31 through Mittagong and Bowral until you reach the town of Kangaroo Valley. The journey from Sydney should take no more than two hours.
From Canberra: Take the A23 which leads on to the M23 just outside the city. Follow the M23 for about two hours or so before exiting at the A28 towards Moss Vale. At Moss Vale take Nowra Road and follow it on to the B73 until Kangaroo Valley. Total journey time two and a half hours.
Where to go:
Kangaroo Valley is a more compact area than Hunter Valley and is broadly centred around the town of the same name itself. It’s a charming little town – neat, pretty, relaxed, and friendly, and it has a history going all the way back to 1870.
You’ll find a few nice arts and crafts shops, as well as cafes and restaurants. You can try some homemade desserts at the Kangaroo Valley Fudge House & Ice Creamery or some famous fresh pies at the Old Store in the nearby hamlet of Barrengarry.
Pretty much everyone who comes to Kangaroo Valley will take a stroll across Hampden Bridge, Australia’s last remaining wooden suspension bridge, and a historical icon. History lovers will also be interested in the Kangaroo Valley Pioneer Village Museum which recreates the old settlements of the region.
There are plenty of outdoor activities to be enjoyed in Kangaroo Valley, and all can be arranged from the town or from any of its farm stays; sailing, kayaking, rock climbing, and mountain biking.
There are also a number of wineries and vineyards around the valley. The award-winning Yarrawa Estate at 43B Scotts Rd., Upper Kangaroo, is a solidly good choice.
Griffins Walking Track:
One of NSW’s loveliest hikes, the Griffin takes you 11km through Morton National Park. It can be a tough walk with plenty of steep sections, but it’s certainly worth it for the scenery.
Manning’s Lookout:
A much easier venture for those wanting a hike and some great views is the short walk through the bush from the car park at Manning’s to the lookout.
Fitzroy Falls:
The spectacular Fitzroy Falls is one of the most popular attractions around Kangaroo Valley. It’s easily accessible with a 150m boardwalk leading up to the falls.
Gerringong Falls:
Farther afield and a lot less accessible is the equally spectacular Gerringong Falls. It is a hidden gem with a wilderness feel.
Check out our recommended farmstays in Kangaroo Valley, NSW.