15 best farm stays in Victoria & near Melbourne for families

Want a weekend where the kids feed lambs, collect eggs and pat ponies before breakfast? A farm stay in Victoria gives them all of that, and you don’t have to drive far to get there.

This guide rounds up the best family farm stays in Victoria. Some are farm stays near Melbourne, about an hour from the city and easy to reach on a Friday night. Others take you up to the High Country or down to the Great Ocean Road for a longer break.

Every listing tells you what the kids can do on the farm, how many people it sleeps, how far it is from Melbourne and whether pets are welcome. That makes it easy to pick one fast, even if you’re planning last minute.

Got toddlers? Look for our notes on cots, high chairs and age limits, because a few of these stays suit older kids better.

Quick Picks for Best Farm Stays in Victoria For Kids

If you want	Go for	Why
Closest to Melbourne	Animal Land Homestead, Diggers Rest	About 40 minutes from the city, with egg collecting and tractor rides
Most animals to feed	Bellevue Farmstay, Scotts Creek	Lambs, calves, alpacas, goats and a camel
Big family groups	Wilindi Estate, Tyabb	Book all the cottages and it sleeps 14 plus 2 kids
Bringing the dog	Ripples n Tonic, Phillip Island	Pet-friendly, with a daily feeding session for guests
Wheelchair access	Ripples n Tonic, Phillip Island	Built as a fully accessible property
Yarra Valley	Yarradene, Healesville	Mini highland cows, donkeys and a beekeeping session
High Country	BullerRoo, Mansfield	Hand-feed alpacas and pygmy goats at the base of Mt Buller

Best Farm Stays in Victoria for Families

1. Animal Land Homestead, Diggers Rest

Animal Land is the easy pick if you want a farm stay near Melbourne. It’s about 40 minutes from the city, so you can leave after school on Friday and be there for dinner.

Kids collect eggs, ride the tractor and run between the playground and the games room. Book the two-night package and a family farm tour pass comes with it.

Animal Land won gold at the 2025 Victorian Tourism Awards. For the day-visit side of the farm, read our Animal Land review.

Kids can: collect eggs, ride the tractor, see the cows milked on the VIP tour
Sleeps: 8
From Melbourne: about 40 minutes
Address: 200 Duncans Lane (Gate 2), Diggers Rest
Book: Check prices and availability on Booking.com
Website: Animal Land

2. Yarradene, Healesville

Yarradene is a Yarra Valley farm stay with miniature highland cows and donkeys that kids help feed. In warm weather, they can suit up for a session with the farm’s honey bees.

There are fresh eggs to collect, a flower farm to pick from and bush tracks to explore. Back at the house, there’s a games room for rainy afternoons. Healesville Sanctuary is close by for a day out.

Kids can: feed the mini highland cows and donkeys, collect eggs, try beekeeping (warm weather)
Sleeps: 8 in 4 bedrooms, plus 2 rollaway beds on request
From Melbourne: about 1 hour 15 minutes
Pets: no
Book: Check prices and availability on Booking.com
Website: Yarradene

3. Wilindi Estate, Tyabb

Wilindi is a 10-acre farm in Tyabb, about 55 minutes from Melbourne on the Mornington Peninsula. It’s home to Herd Harmony, a registered horse rescue charity, and booking fees help fund the horses’ care.

Kids can groom and feed the rescued horses, lead the mini ponies through an obstacle course and collect eggs. There are pigs, goats and chickens to meet too, and the owner takes families on a guided farm tour.

Kids can: groom and feed horses, lead mini ponies, collect eggs, join the farm tour
Sleeps: Harmony Cottage 3, Maple Cottage 5, Poplar Cottage 6. Book all three for big groups.
From Melbourne: about 55 minutes
Pets: no
Book: Check prices and availability on Booking.com for Maple Cottage or Poplar Cottage
Website: Wilindi Estate
Read more: Amy’s Wilindi review

4. Bellevue Farmstay, Scotts Creek

If your kids want to feed every animal on the farm, Bellevue is the one. They can bottle-feed lambs or calves, ride the tractor and hand-feed alpacas, goats, sheep and a camel.

The Couch family has farmed here for five generations. Stay three nights and you get two full animal feeding sessions. It’s a long drive, but the Twelve Apostles are close by, so it works well as a Great Ocean Road base.

Kids can: bottle-feed lambs or calves, ride the tractor, hand-feed the camel, alpacas and goats
Sleeps: 10 in a 3-bedroom farmhouse
From Melbourne: about 3 hours
Book: Check prices and availability on Booking.com
Website: Bellevue Farmstay

5. Dixiglen Farm, Dixons Creek

Dixiglen is a family-run farm at Dixons Creek in the Yarra Valley, about an hour from Melbourne. Its goats are the stars, and kids can help bottle-feed the babies when there are some on the farm.

Choose from Lorikeet Family Cottage, Kookaburra Cottage and Shady Oak Cottage. There’s a beekeeper on site, so grab a jar of the farm’s honey before you head home.

Kids can: meet and bottle-feed the baby goats (seasonal)
From Melbourne: about 1 hour
Book: Check prices and availability on Booking.com
Website: Dixiglen Farm

6. Bimbadeen, Phillip Island

Bimbadeen is a working farm in Ventnor known for its award-winning Angus beef. Farm tours let kids feed the animals, collect eggs and ride the tractor.

There are hens, alpacas and wallabies to spot, and the cabins have farm views. It’s a handy base for the Penguin Parade. See our guide to the Best Things to do on Phillip Island With Kids.

Kids can: join a farm tour, feed animals, collect eggs, ride the tractor
From Melbourne: about 2 hours
Address: 550 Back Beach Road, Ventnor
Book: Check prices and availability on Booking.com
Website: Bimbadeen

7. Ripples n Tonic, Phillip Island

Every morning from 9am to 10am, guests help feed the ponies, pigs, sheep, cows, goats and chickens. Depending on the season, there may be calves, lambs, kid goats or piglets too.

After feeding there’s a playground, an in-ground trampoline and a games room. Ripples n Tonic is built to be fully accessible, and it’s pet-friendly.

Kids can: help with the daily animal feeding, play on the trampoline and playground
Sleeps: up to 6 in a 2-bedroom farmhouse, up to 9 in a 3-bedroom
From Melbourne: about 2 hours
Pets: yes, check the pet policy when you book
Accessibility: fully accessible cottages
Book: Check prices and availability on Trip.com
Website: Ripples n Tonic

8. Hoddles Hideaway, Hoddles Creek

Hoddles Hideaway is a two-bedroom cottage on a 40-acre farm near Gembrook. Kids can help feed the sheep, cows, alpacas and chooks, then collect the eggs.

Keep an eye out for koalas, kangaroos and wombats around the property. Puffing Billy runs from Gembrook, so it’s easy to add a train ride to the weekend.

Kids can: help feed the animals, collect eggs, spot wildlife
Sleeps: 6
From Melbourne: about 1 hour 20 minutes
Pets: no
Website: Hoddles Hideaway

9. Jamar Lodge, Goornong

Jamar Lodge is a small farm stay near Bendigo that families rate highly. Kids can feed the lambs and burn off energy in the outdoor play area.

It sleeps five, which suits a family of four with a grandparent or a friend along for the trip. If you’re travelling to Bendigo check out the best things to do in Bendigo with kids.

Kids can: feed the lambs, use the outdoor play area
Sleeps: 5
From Melbourne: about 2 hours
Listing: Jamar Lodge on Stayz

10. River Gardens, Axedale

River Gardens is a self-contained farm stay near Lake Eppalock with a mix of farm animals. Kids can bottle-feed the lambs in season.

It’s set up for families with little ones, with a baby monitor and kids’ plates and cups provided. Pets are welcome too.

Kids can: bottle-feed lambs (seasonal), meet the farm animals
From Melbourne: about 1 hour 45 minutes
Pets: yes
Book: Check prices and availability on Booking.com
Facebook page: River Gardens Axedale

11. BullerRoo, Mansfield

BullerRoo sits at the base of Mt Buller in the High Country. Kids can hand-feed the alpacas and pygmy goats, and cuddle the baby goats when there are some on the farm.

Stone Creek Cottage sleeps six across three bedrooms and suits families with young kids. The Chalet sleeps five, but it only takes kids under 6 on request.

Kids can: hand-feed alpacas and pygmy goats
Sleeps: Stone Creek Cottage 6, the Chalet 5
From Melbourne: about 2 hours 45 minutes
Good to know: the Chalet takes kids under 6 on request only
Book: Check prices and availability on Booking.com
Website: BullerRoo

12. Tarndie, Warncoort

Tarndie (short for Tarndwarncoort) is a working sheep farm near Colac known for its Polwarth wool. Families can take the self-guided farm walk and visit the wool shop.

The Farmer’s Cottage sleeps four with one bathroom. It suits families who want a peaceful farm base more than hands-on animal time.

Kids can: take the self-guided farm walk, see the sheep
Sleeps: 4 in the Farmer’s Cottage
From Melbourne: about 1 hour 45 minutes
Website: Tarndie

13. Warby Cottage, Wangaratta

Warby Cottage is a farm stay in north-east Victoria with horses on site and kangaroos in the paddocks. Guests rate it highly, with close to 300 reviews.

A porta cot and high chair are available on request, which makes it an easy option with a baby or toddler.

Kids can: see the horses, spot kangaroos
From Melbourne: about 2 hours 45 minutes
Good to know: porta cot and high chair on request
Book: Check prices and availability on Booking.com

14. Yarra Valley Strawberry Farm, Wandin North

This self-contained stay on a Yarra Valley strawberry farm is about an hour from Melbourne. The flat lawn is made for backyard cricket and kick-to-kick.

It sleeps six, and the wineries, cafés and Healesville Sanctuary are all within an easy drive.

Kids can: run around on the big lawn
Sleeps: 6
From Melbourne: about 1 hour
Listing: Yarra Valley Strawberry Farm on Airbnb

15. Stoneycroft Cottage, Cavendish

Closed for renovations (updated 1 November 2026). We’ll update this listing when bookings reopen.

Stoneycroft Cottage sits on South Mokanger, a sheep farm near the Grampians with an 1864 woolshed. It sleeps big groups, and kids can ride bikes along the 4 km farm laneway.

Kids can: see the sheep and lambs, ride bikes along the farm laneway
From Melbourne: about 3 hours 15 minutes
Listing: Stoneycroft Cottage on Airbnb

Choosing a family farm stay

Start with the animals. Some farms let kids feed, groom and bottle-feed every morning, while others are more about the view. If hands-on time matters, look for a daily feeding session or a farm tour.

Check the age rules before you book. A few cottages take kids under 6 on request only.

Think about the drive. With little kids, a farm stay near Melbourne means less time in the car and more time on the farm.

Go in spring if you can. That’s when many farms have lambs, calves and kid goats to bottle-feed.

Only got a day? Our guide to animal farms in Melbourne has plenty of farms to visit without staying the night.

Farm stay FAQs

Are there farm stays near Melbourne?

Yes. Animal Land Homestead at Diggers Rest is about 40 minutes from the city. Wilindi Estate in Tyabb, Dixiglen Farm in Dixons Creek and Yarra Valley Strawberry Farm in Wandin North are all about an hour away.

What is a farm stay?

A farm stay is accommodation on a working or hobby farm. You sleep in a cottage, cabin or farmhouse on the property, and many farms let kids help feed the animals and collect eggs.

Which farm stays in Victoria let kids feed the animals?

Most on this list do. Bellevue Farmstay, Ripples n Tonic, Yarradene and Wilindi Estate all include hands-on time with the animals.

Are there pet-friendly farm stays in Victoria?

Yes. Ripples n Tonic on Phillip Island and River Gardens at Axedale welcome pets. Check each farm’s pet policy before you book.

Are farm stays good for toddlers?

Many are. Warby Cottage has a porta cot and high chair on request. BullerRoo’s Chalet only takes kids under 6 on request, so book Stone Creek Cottage instead.

When is the best time for a farm stay in Victoria?

Spring is a good time to go, because many farms have baby animals to bottle-feed. Ask the farm what’s on when you book, since it changes with the season.

15 Best Farm Stays in Victoria + Melbourne for Families

Quick Picks for Best Farm Stays in Victoria For Kids