Peaceful farm stays in Western Australia: swap the city for countryside charm

Colourful wildflowers will herald your arrival to lakeside Karri Valley. Slow down and ease into the relaxed countryside lifestyle here–the most intensive activity you’ll get into will be gliding a canoe across the mirror-like waters of Lake Beedelup while singing birds swoop overhead. You’ll have plenty of space in a comfortable two-bedroom chalet, where calming views of the lake or forest from your own kitchen make whipping up family feasts a pure joy.

If you’d prefer to leave the cooking to someone else, settle in for dinner at the on-site Lakeside Restaurant for a delectable meal of Pemberton Maron in herb butter or seared local rainbow trout. Treat the kids to hot chocolates as you sip a Pemberton Hidden Valley Estate Port to top off the evening.

Back in your room, relax on your private balcony and soak in the serene atmosphere of the lake and forest surrounding you, accompanied by the sound of frogs chirping and fish splashing unseen in the lake. If you think you’ll fancy grilled fish, later on, throw a fishing line into the lake and haul in a catch to cook up on the communal barbecue.

Jump aboard the tractor and get a true taste of farm living at Pump Hill Farm Cottages. A crackling log fire will welcome you to your private cottage, where handmade jarrah furniture and handprinted quilts create a charming country atmosphere.

Rise early in the morning and take your fishing rod down to the grassy banks of the Big Brook Dam–you can easily spend a few hours trying to lure in trout for a barbecue lunch. For even more rustic adventure on this Western Australia farm stay, take a ride through the forest on a tram, travelling over trestle bridges and past the old sawmill.

You can get even more into the rural vibe by piling onto a trundling haywagon for a tour of the farm, meeting the resident cows and chickens along the way. With your lungs full of crisp country air, you can wander the surrounding bush tracks or climb to staggering heights atop Gloucester Tree for magnificent views over the forest.

No matter where you hail from, a stay against the iconic red backdrop of the Australian outback at Wooleen Station will be a memory you’ll keep for a lifetime. Set on a whopping 250,000 acres, it’s a truly nature-based farm stay under a shockingly blue sky–and just wait ’til the stars come out at night!

Book a fully inclusive few days and immerse yourself in life at the station. Dinner is served group-style in the main dining room–station cooks plate up creations made from the farm’s own produce along with bottles of rich, velvety WA wines from the private cellar.

When you’ve had your fill, wander outside to gasp at a sky so filled with stars, you’d think someone tipped over a jar of silver glitter on black velvet. You can seep beneath the far-off lights in a tent on one of the station’s remote campsites, or stay comfy in a rammed-earth guesthouse.

Escape for a weekend spent in the company of kangaroos and kookaburras at Walpole Wilderness Resort. Kick off your shoes on arrival and sigh into a hot, steamy spa bath while pouch-bearing creatures hop and graze on the lawns just beyond your window.

Your self-contained chalet combines luxury with rustic comfort that sings of the surrounding woods–think polished jarrah floorboards and vaulted ceilings to bring the forest vibes inside. Cosy up around the fireplace on chilly winter days, while a homemade stew made with local groceries bubbles on the stove and fills your full kitchen with the warm fragrance of bay leaves.

You can get even more of a taste for nature around coastal Walpole, where your options range from relaxed sand beaches to national parks dense with ancient trees. The towering red Tingle trees–only found here–are sure to nurture the imaginations of any kids in tow. When stomachs start to rumble, fire up your private barbecue for a family cook-fest alfresco, then tuck into your spoils on your veranda and listen for nocturnal animals beginning to stir.

Combine a romantic getaway with a farm stay holiday at Lazy River Boutique Bed and Breakfast, where long days are best spent with a book by the river. Befriend fellow guests and head to the lawns for a casual game of croquet, or just retreat to your colonial-era room for a sound night’s sleep in your four-poster bed.

In the morning, you can admire the view of gum trees and lush pastures from your perch on a stately leather sofa, hot coffee in hand, while you crack open a breakfast hamper brimming with poached pears and cheese quiche. This boutique spot partners with a local farm to bring paddock-to-plate fare right to your table.

Dinners are sumptuous affairs here, with sweet, succulent racks of lamb prepared fresh and served with organic vegetables or buttery shellfish. After your meal, spend the evening sharing a drink on the veranda with other guests before retiring to your room for a soak in your spa bath before bed.

Family fishing, canoes and kangaroos are all part of the fun at Diamond Forest Cottages. A farm stay here means an escape to a cosy, two-bedroom cottage, where you can stretch out on a lounger beneath vaulted ceilings made of fragrant wood. Cook up family meals in your fully self-contained kitchen, then unwind on the porch to take in the fresh country air and views of the verdant property.

Spend the morning in a canoe on the dam trying to catch the elusive rainbow trout. If you prefer to stay on dry land, watch as your kids’ faces light up when they meet the resident miniature ponies.

Fill your hands with farm feed and scatter your offerings for quails and alpacas. You might just come across wild grey kangaroos, too–they’re regular visitors of the trails throughout Karri Forest, so keep your camera ready as you head off for a picnic lunch under the on-site gazebo.

Pile into the car and take the family to dinner at Café Mazz, a 13-minute drive away, where you’ll tuck into locally caught marron with garlic butter or surf-and-turf. Have a glass of Hidden Valley Chardonnay as the kids’ feast on their ice-cream sundae desserts, then head back to your cottage to relax under the night sky before sinking into bed.