The 15 most charming farm stays in NSW

Wilga Station 

On the outskirts of Bathurst, Wilga Station is a 100-hectare working sheep farm that has been in the same family for three generations. Visitors are now welcome to experience the idyllic countryside here, checking in to The Farmers Hut (space for two adults) or The Shearers Hall (space for 10, with kids welcome). Design across both is country chic, with much of the materials reused or repurposed from the farm. Explore walking trails along the willow-lined creek, then huddle by the fire to toast marshmallows as the sun sets.  

Mowbray Park FarmStay 

Located in Picton, just an hour south of Sydney Airport, this farm stay is a great way to get a taste of country life without having to travel too far. There are seven lodges to choose from, each with its own history and character, as well as camping and powered RV sites. Guests are invited to get involved in activities around the property, whether feeding animals; milking the cows; enjoying a pony ride; or getting active canoeing, swimming or fishing.  

Corynnia Station 

This enormous 7,000-hectare property sits pretty in Carrathool, in the western Riverina region of southern NSW. In addition to having a flock of 11,000 sheep, the Corynnia estate has an irrigating crop program including cotton and grains; you can learn more on a farm tour. Choose between accommodation in the homestead, a one-bedroom cottage and a six-bedroom lodge, all of which are surrounded by a lush garden oasis replete with a pool and tennis court. The best bit? Pets are welcome.  

Rosedale Farm 

A lovingly restored 1846 estate located on the outskirts of Orange, Rosedale Farm is steeped in history. The six-bedroom homestead is complemented by a pair of one-bedroom suites, with everything luxuriously decorated and oozing style and charm. You can take a tour of the gardens, which offer plenty of colour whatever the season, and come 2024 you can also potter about in the plant nursery and farm shop, which will be stocked with produce and homewares. Get set to meet the animal residents, which include a handful of sheep, two shire horses, chickens, ducks, white peacocks, a camel and two ostriches.    

Hillview Farmstay 

Located in the Riverina region of southern NSW, Hillview comes with plenty of accommodation options, from glamping safari tents to modern one-bedroom cottages and a four-bedroom lodge, each with its own barbecue and kitchen facilities. Your backyard is 400 hectares of rolling countryside, home to alpacas, horses, chickens, sheep and goats – there are three daily animal feedings you can get involved in. Or just chill out on your veranda with a bottle of local wine and a cheese board, while keeping watch for visiting kangaroos. 

Starline Alpacas Farmstay Resort 

The stylish cottages and suites on the working Starline alpaca farm cater to everyone from couples to a party of eight. The idyllic setting is nestled between Cessnock and Singleton in the Hunter Valley region of NSW, with the Brokenback ranges and Wollemi National Park on your doorstep. Take a dip in the saltwater pool, have a hit of tennis, then book in to feed the alpacas – they’re very friendly, and love visitors of all ages.  

Trilby Station  

Covering a whopping 130,000 hectares, Trilby Station sits on the banks of the Darling River near the town of Louth, in the northwest of NSW. A fifth-generation sheep station, the property is home to a range of huts, cottages and a bunkhouse, as well as powered and unpowered camp and caravan sites for those wanting to get back to nature. The owners have put together maps of the grounds, giving you the chance to explore and learn more about life on the land; you can also get involved in fishing and yabbying, canoeing, bushwalking and bird watching.  

Markdale Station Farmstay 

On the Southern Tablelands of NSW, Markdale is a working sheep and cattle station in the Great Dividing Ranges. There’s self-catered farm-stay accommodation for up to 24 guests, whether in the two-bedroom stone cottage, four-bedroom homestead or six-bedroom shearers’ quarters. The gardens are a highlight, first planted in the 1920s and then redesigned by pioneer of Australian landscape gardening, Edna Walling. Wander through lush grounds uniting native plants with exotics – think wisteria, weeping elms and roses, tumbling down to a small lake (there’s also a pool).  

The Barn at Nguurruu  

The Barn was created as a way for the owners to share their biodynamic farm near Gundaroo, on the Southern Tablelands of NSW. The super-stylish two-bedroom cottage sits in the middle of a working cattle farm, with the former horse stables transformed by award-winning architects, AMC. It’s fully self-contained with a kitchen, wood heater, outdoor fire pit and direct access to a heated pool. Relax, unwind and explore the grounds, where native grasslands stretch to the horizon and a river meanders between ancient hills.

Forget Me Not Farm Cottages 

Located just a few minutes from the heritage village of Bangalow in Byron Bay’s idyllic hinterland, the four luxe Forget Me Not Farm Cottages overlook a dam and are surrounded by fields of horses and cows. Each is individually designed, but whichever space you check in to you can look forward to a fully equipped kitchen and spacious living and dining areas – two also come with fireplaces. If you can tear yourself away, you’re just a short drive from the beaches and restaurants of Byron Bay.    

Coolamon Station 

Wake up to the sounds of farm life when you wake up in the boutique three-bedroom retreat on this working farm in the Tweed region of northern NSW. The open-plan Coolamon Station barn that you check in to comes with country swagger to spare, from the charming kitchen to the living area with picture windows framing the bucolic countryside. There’s plenty to do in the region, from gin tastings in distilleries to world-class galleries and restaurants.  

Currajong Retreat 

Things get snuggly on the Sapphire Coast when you stay at Currajong Retreat – not only are your digs located on a working angora goat farm, but you can meet them on a private tour during your visit. And then there’s the accommodation: three luxurious safari tents, each with a private deck and stunning views over the countryside. There’s every amenity you could want, from plush beds to a kitchenette, ensuite bathroom with waterfall shower and outdoor tub for leisurely soaks.  

Lost & Found Retreat 

Set across an avocado orchard near the small country town of Barham on the Murray River, Lost and Found is an exclusive place to unwind and escape it all. Welcome luxuries include Carlotta and Gee linen, a coffee station, and gin and wine honesty bar… all wrapped in a package of dreamy views over the Pollack Forest and orchards. There’s plenty to do in the area, but it’s hard to justify leaving your sunny veranda, replete with a swinging chair. 

Callubri Station 

Nestled in the heart of the Central West of NSW, between the remote country towns of Nyngan and Tottenham, Callubri Station occupies an enormous working merino farm. The accommodation can host up to 12 guests over four rooms with ensuite bathrooms, while your outlook offers a glimpse into Aussie farm life not available to outsiders. A highlight is the 12m mineral pool, housed in a shipping container and replete with swim jets and sun lounges.  

Blueberry Hills on Comleroy 

Feel your soul soar when you stay at the adults-only Blueberry Hills enjoying a ridgetop perch just an hour northwest of Sydney, with views over rolling hills where sheep and alpacas graze. You’re welcome to get involved feeding the animals, or just enjoy a stroll around the property or picnic by the dam. There’s space for 10 people in the cosy self-contained cottage, with perks including an alfresco jacuzzi and broad patio for leisurely outdoor meals.