The Cedars, Kangaroo Valley
less than five minutes away and alwayspopular Nelson Bay is only a 15-minute drive.
Owners Scott and Louise Smith are definitely doing something right: with gumboots waiting for you at your front door and Bob – the resident pup – greeting you with a sloppy kiss as you enter the property, this cosy little farm feels like a home away from home. But the afternoon is when the real fun begins; guests are instructed to meet outside the farmhouse to feed the animals, starting at the baby chicks and cows, before taking a tractor ride.
Kookaburra’s main drawcard is location, location, location, so make the most of your stay by enjoying a dolphin or whale cruise, go four-wheel- driving or boarding on the Stockton Sand Dunes, bush walk in the nearby national parks or snorkel in the marine park. Set on 485 hectares and surrounded by national park, The Cedars is a working farm which breeds cattle and is home to horses, chickens, sheep, goats, pigs, donkeys and even peacocks! Located in the picturesque Kangaroo Valley, there is always the chance of spotting native animals as well, so keep your eyes peeled for echidnas, wallabies and wombats idly passing by. With four selfcontained one- and two-bedroom cottages, each accommodating between two to six people, cottages feature a traditional Australian homestead-style verandah so guests can enjoy the gorgeous mountain views and feel at home among the gum trees.
The farm is also the largest private wildlife sanctuary in the Kangaroo Valley, geared towards minimising the human impact on its surrounding ecosystems, so is a great choice for those wanting to get lost in nature, but who also want to “walk with light footprints”.
Madison’s Mountain Retreat, Blue Mountains