Australia's Golden Outback Holiday Planner 2025

know where to look — the scale of each year’s harvest, the region’s dark skies, the stories behind its escarpments and the characters that you find at our local country pubs.” The Nenke family, owners of Mary’s Farm Cottages , have long known the value of the rich Wheatbelt soils, having established their farmstay in 1912. Now, they rely on those soils to nurture their crops of wheat, barley, oats, lupin, field peas, vetch and multiple hay species. “Our family embraces regenerative agriculture using biological fertilisers and practices to improve our soils,” explains Mary Nenke. Alongside their crops, the family runs Cambinata Yabbies, having diversified from sheep and grains more than 30 years ago. Now, their yabby operation is the largest yabby exporter in Australia, and guests can experience the full scale of the business, right down to sampling The family is proud to open up their property to visitors, inviting guests to meet the farmers and get a taste of the Wheatbelt farming lifestyle. Rather than a singular farmhouse, the property houses eight two-bedroom cottages, the picturesque country abodes nestled under towering native gums. By day, guests can soak up the farmland views with each cottage boasting a private verandah overlooking the paddocks and expansive crops, while by night they can gather around the fire pit for stargazing. After more than 100 years of operations, the farm remains a family affair. Guests will likely see patriarch, and hobby apiarist, Michael tending his bees, son Derek managing crop rotations, or daughter-in-law Lisa cooking for guests helped by their young children. These family links make it even more important to share agritourism with visitors, says Lisa. “It’s essential tourists meet and learn from real life farmers who are passionate about looking after the land and producing quality food for everyone to enjoy on their plates. It is essential for the future of family farms that the city learns through experience the challenges and opportunities in farming, how farmers look after their land and their animals as well as the importance of having animals in the system to help in the requesting of freshly cooked yabbies in a real paddock-to-plate experience.

from hand-feeding the chickens to observing the shearing process. “There’s always something happening on the farm that guests can observe right at their cabins, whether the seeding rig is out in the paddock, the header is harvesting the crop, the ute out in the paddock feeding sheep, or the motorbike is mustering the sheep into the yards.” The country-style cabins on the property are ideal to experience farm life, allowing guests to rise with the sun and enjoy the countryside peace in morning solitude before embarking on a day exploring the farm and surrounding attractions. “I believe tourists enjoy learning about our Wheatbelt landscapes, the work we undertake and having the opportunity to experience farm life first-hand. They can have the opportunity to learn about the different aspects of agriculture and how food is produced, whilst enjoying a short stay on the land.” Liquid of the Land T hose iconic golden crops are not all that grows with abundance in the Golden Outback — there are a number of vineyards and wineries where visitors can taste the fruits of the region. The founders of Walker Hill Vineyard set out to prove vines could be grown in the Wheatbelt, and the award-winning vino the winery has produced is proof enough. Leading off the brick tasting room, an airy deck overlooks the rows of grapes, and proves a perfect place to perch with a glass of the house Shiraz. Owners of Downderry Wines similarly felt a desire to prove that the clay soils of the property had potential to house healthy vines. Alongside an award-winning Zinfandel, the winery produces Shiraz, Rosé, Moscato and sparkling wines, all nestled in the shade of the towering native trees.

Downderry Wines, near Narrogin

carbon and the economics of farming. Everyone needs to know where their food comes from and about the people who care for that land.” Nestled among the looming rusty red ironbark eucalyptus trees that inform its name, Ironbark Farm Stay offers a taste of the Wheatbelt farming lifestyle on the edge of the Golden Outback region. Owner Lisa West describes the property as being the gateway to the Golden Outback, bridging the city and Wheatbelt regions. As born-and-bred farmers, Lisa and partner Andrew know better than others the many challenges that come with the farming lifestyle, but also the many rewards. “It is extremely rewarding growing and producing food,” says Lisa. “It gives us a real sense of freedom, space, grounding and tranquillity.” For Lisa, educating visitors on the realities of farm life is not only important, but ultimately gratifying for the guests. She encourages guests to immerse themselves in farm experiences,

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