Feature by Carolyn Beasley 

From colossal northern stations running sheep and cattle, to wheatbelt fields of sunshine-tinted canola and swaying wheat, to southern vegetable farms on rich, loamy soil, agriculture is a vital and ubiquitous industry in Western Australia. Farming is interwoven with our culture, and connecting with our farmers provides an authentic, unforgettable experience.

Found all over this vast state, these are some of our top farm and station stay experiences.

Settlers Rest Farmstay, Swan Valley

Just a 30-minute drive from Perth / Boorloo, Settlers Rest Farmstay is situated in the wine and food destination of the Swan Valley on Whadjuk country. The property offers a single historic, three-bedroom farm cottage, featuring a fully equipped kitchen, ideal for families or couples. Collect eggs from the chickens for breakfast and feed your food scraps to lambs, goats, guinea pigs, llamas or the pet cow. Chat with the owners at the horse stables to learn about their show horses. The Swan Valley’s best attractions are moments away, like wineries and breweries, the Margaret River Chocolate Company, Swan Valley Wagon Tours and Caversham Wildlife Park.

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Burnside Organic Farm, Margaret River

Off a marri forest-lined laneway near Margaret River on Wardandi Noongar country, you’ll find Burnside Organic Farm, an integrated winery, avocado, capers and meat farm offering three rammed-earth cottages. All cottages have luxurious bathtubs, some outside, overlooking gardens and grape vines. Take a morning walking tour, feeding friendly pigs and geese. Learn how worms recycle all food and vegetation waste, chickens and geese are used in pest control, and how sheep suppress weeds in the vineyard. Venturing further, taste the country at world-class wineries, stroll a pristine beach or discover majestic Boranup Forest.

Diamond Forest Farm Stay, Pemberton

Between Pemberton and Manjimup, Diamond Forest Farm Stay nestles into tall timber country in the Southern Forests. Here, four red cedar cottages, each sleeping up to five people, blend into a working farm. The highlight of any family stay will be the daily animal feeding, where visitors can pat and feed kangaroos, chickens, turkeys, pigs, ducks, ponies, goats, donkeys, sheep, alpacas, horses, and cows. From a canoe in the large dam, guests can fish for rainbow trout and marron, the freshwater crayfish. Visit boutique cool climate wineries, and in winter, join a truffle hunt with farmers like Australian Truffle Traders.

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Mary’s Farm Cottages, Kukerin

In the eastern wheatbelt, Mary’s Farm Cottages at Kukerin make a perfect stopover on the way to Wave Rock / Katter Kich or Esperance / Kepa Kurl. The eco-friendly, stylish accommodation includes two-bedroom cottages, one-bedroom apartments and motel units. There’s outdoor play equipment and a quirky barbecue under the bonnet of an Austin truck. Take a tractor ride around this integrated cropping farm, and don’t miss their Cambinata Yabbies, a processing facility for these farmed, freshwater crayfish. Grab a meal at the Kukerin Hotel or visit Walkers Hill Vineyard.

Wooleen Station, Murchison (temporarily closed)

Western Australia’s beating outback heart is in its immense leasehold cattle and sheep stations. In the Murchison region, Wooleen Station is a pioneer of regenerative agriculture. Hosted accommodation is provided in the heritage homestead, where you’ll dine with pastoralists David and Frances Pollock in the formal dining room. Rammed-earth cottages are also available, and wilderness camps by the Murchison River. Join the fascinating sunset tour to learn about the Pollocks’ efforts to regenerate this landscape, and meet the station’s new resident dingoes to discover their role in this complex ecosystem.

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Cheela Plains, Paraburdoo

The sprawling cattle station at Cheela Plains Station Stay makes an excellent stopover between Ningaloo Reef / Nyinggulu and the spectacular gorges of Karijini National Park. Accommodation ranges from self-contained rooms and on-site tents, powered campsites, and wilderness camping in the breathtaking Beasley Gorge. Stroll up the hill, drink in hand, for an unforgettable sunset over the rangelands. Pre-book for the long table dinner in the Red Plains Café or join the campfire burger night. Spot some of the 92 species of birds here, or join a guided star-gazing session, and don’t miss the four-wheel drive ‘time trail’ through the ancient geology of the property’s gorges.

Bullara Station Stay, Exmouth

Swim with a whale shark or an inquisitive manta ray, then retire to Bullara Station Stay / Purnurrba for the sunset over dusty outback plains. Situated just an hour from Exmouth, and less from Coral Bay, it’s an easy cattle station to combine with World Heritage-listed Ningaloo Reef. Accommodation includes safari and bell tents, three-bedroom cottages, shearers’ quarters, and camping. A short drive provides access to fishing in tidal creeks and Exmouth Gulf. Friendly animals wander the campsite, and join your fellow campers for happy hour around the campfire. Grab coffee and scones at the café, or skip the cooking with burger night, or a two-course dinner in the woolshed.

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Published June 2023.