Five country station stays for your next weekend away
You know a farm is big when it’s called a station and in Australia, we have some very large farms. Perfect for a country weekend escape.Whether it’s in the Outback or a bit closer to civilization these sheep and cattle stations are like living communities and the good news is, many open their arms to paying guests. So if you have a hankering for the country life and want to stay on a working station, try these for (large) size.
Goonoo Goonoo Station, NSW
This small village (pronounced “gunna g’noo”) just south of Tamworth was rescued from ruins by a local grazier family and rebuilt as a kind of rural resort. The original houses are now stylishly outfitted accommodation for family or friends, the homestead is bigger still and the shearers’ quarters offer individual rooms with modern and luxury country flair. Or you can book the lot for a memorable wedding venue. There’s a pool, the fabulous Glasshouse restaurant and it’s all set in a hilly, scenic cattle station with nary another house to be seen.
Gilberton Outback Retreat, Far North Queensland
Exclusivity is one attraction at Gilberton – after all, it takes only two guests at a time in one gorgeous retreat on a 36,000-hectare cattle station. Guests can kick back and enjoy the clifftop river views from the generously proportioned stone and timber cabin or join the Finch family in mustering and feeding the cattle. The landscape is rugged yet beautiful, everything is included in the admittedly high tariff and it’s a long drive from anywhere (about 550km from Cairns), but it’s an outback experience never to be forgotten.
Allanvale Homestead, Great Western, Victoria
It’s a three-hour drive west of Melbourne to Allanvale, a gracious homestead on a working sheep station. The house itself has two accommodation wings in the 1920s homestead amid leafy gardens and is close to the wineries of Great Western and the Grampians National Park. It’s a short stroll to the historic shearer’s quarters which have been lovingly restored into separate bedrooms and its communal kitchen and dining area make it perfect for groups.
Quobba Station, near Carnarvon, Western Australia
While Quobba Station has 35,000 hectares of sheep grazing land, visitors will probably stay closer to the coastal stretch owned by the property. Why? How about unlimited views of the Indian Ocean from your own timber-floor safari tent and reasonable proximity to Ningaloo Reef and Shark Bay? The station also has campsites, refurbished cottages and other accommodation options and, yes, plenty of sheep out in the scrub.
Bungaree Station, Clare Valley, South Australia
The Clare Valley is where they grow grapes and make wine, right? Yes, but the region is also sheep country and at Bungaree Station you’ll have plenty of woolly friends to serenade your morning awakening. The magnificent sandstone homestead is set in a 3000-hectare farm just outside Clare and guests can choose from a number of cottage accommodation options, or large groups can take the entire shearers’ quarters. Kids can feed the animals (kangaroos as well as sheep) while adults crack a local Riesling and watch the sun go down. Rural bliss.
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