JUST 90 minutes south of Sydney, the Wollondilly Shire is all rolling hills and lush green paddocks.

This is prime farming land, and beside the tree-lined driveway to Mowbray Park, Black Angus cattle graze contentedly in the fields.

Mowbray Park is a family-owned farm stay catering for individuals, family groups and small conferences, but there are no shearers’ quarters here. Accommodation is in ensuite rooms in heritage buildings, from a small chapel to the large homestead. You can dine in the coach house or self-cater.  

Activities include tractor and pony rides, feeding the nursery animals and milking a cow. There are rabbits, alpacas, donkeys, goats, sheep and ducks for children to play with.  

Learn about natural horsemanship on a trail ride or try your hand at archery, canoeing and whip cracking. 

History buffs will enjoy learning about the property’s past, while those with an interest in the environment can learn about aquaponics and revegetation projects.

Save time for a visit to the recently refurbished Trainworks museum, which is just up the road at Thirlmere. 

Briar Jensen was a guest of Mowbray Park. 

The info

Mowbray Park Farm 

745 Barkers Lodge Road, Picton, NSW 2571

Phone: 02 4680 9243

Web: www.farmstayholidays.com.au 

Rates: Bed & Breakfast from $75 per adult, $35 per child (3–14 years).