Whether you have got children or are a child at heart yourself, spending a day patting, cuddling and feeding adorable animals is always a fun day out.
Here in Ipswich, there are some amazing farmers who happily open their gates and welcome visitors to come and experience the country life firsthand.
One of the most unique and truly memorable animal experiences in Ipswich is getting the opportunity to take a llama for a walk, which you can do at The Llama Farm in Pine Mountain. There is a purpose-built trail where you can walk the llamas, which also shows off the charming countryside. As the majority of the herd have been hand-raised, they are extremely friendly around humans. The farm is also home to camele, donkeys, goats, miniature ponies, peacocks, turkeys, guinea fowl and two dogs.
Not too far away in Haigslea, an authentic farm experience awaits you at Ewe Nique Hobby Farm. Be sure to strap on your gumboots because you will be visiting lots of animals including sheep, lambs, alpacas, goats, chickens and geese, all of which have names. And if you book into one of their special monthly wildlife shows you’ll get to meet some furry and scaly Australian animals like a koala, wombat or even crocodile!
After you have fed and cuddled them to your heart’s content, grab a hot drink and some homemade goodies from the Baa Baa Cafe and enjoy the rural setting while sitting on a hay bale.
Another stop that should be included on your farm animal road trip is Summer Land Camels. As soon as you enter the gates and make your way up to the homestead, you will be greeted by herds of camels in the front paddocks. You can ride and feed the camels for a small fee, or even participate in a farm tour where you can learn how the farm makes gelato and cheese using camel milk.
If you love koalas, Spicers Hidden Vale operate koala safaris where they will take you out bush and show you how best to spot them in the wild. The area is home to healthy population of koalas that love to doze in the treetops, so there is a good chance you will see plenty of adults, and maybe even a joey or two!
Additionally, hundreds of Ipswich’s cutest and fluffiest residents can be found at the Ipswich Nature Centre, which is nestled inside Queens Park. It is free to enter, so you can stay as long as you like, or come back again. Animal lovers will be thrilled to see dingoes, bilbies, quolls, wallabies, kangaroos, birds, an emu and even a wombat.
Another farm experience that you can do sans animals is Watercress Creek Olives and Limes. It’s close by to The Llama Farm and Ewe Nique Hobby Farm and you can book in for a picnic in the grove with a tasting platter of their fresh jams, tapenades and olives. You can also stock up on produce at the farm shop on site.
If you’re looking to extend your stay, there are also a number of farm stays where you can rest your head and spend more time soaking up the fresh air.
Tallavalley Farm B&B is a three-bedroom cottage on a working farm at Tallegalla. This delightful cottage includes a open kitchen, living room, laundry and a deck, which overlooks the gardens and surrounding farmland. Here you will find lots of horses and cattle.
At the end of a winding road full of leafy trees you will find Pocket Retreats – a great location to reconnect with nature. Located in Pine Mountain on a 120-acre cattle farm, there are two retreats to choose from for your stay. You will also find lots of rare bird species and birds of prey flying high in the sky.
