Fantasy farm house fits all the family

Whether you choose to laze by the pool or lend a hand feeding the animals, the grass is greener at this tranquil Tweed farm stay

CUDGERA Springs owners Amy and Todd Arnell began their rural romance six years ago and still feel like they are on holidays every day.

It’s a lifestyle they want more people to experience, opening up their freshly renovated farmhouse at Cudgera Creek to holiday-makers on Airbnb.

“It’s a slower pace where we make time for the smaller things,” Mrs Arnell said.

“We want guests to be able to unplug from the rat race and spend quality time with family and friends.

“It’s about enjoying simple pleasures like feeding the animals, collecting eggs from the hens and picking fruit from the orchard.”

While the family jumped gumboots and all into improving their 55-acre property near Pottsville, guests are free to enjoy the perks of a high-end farm stay.

“We have built most of our improvements by hand: planting a 100-tree orchard, renovating the old dairy shed, adding stables and, most recently, building a firepit from rocks hand-picked with help from our two boys,” Mrs Arnell said.

“We are slowly building up the native tree population by planting a tree for every guest who stays.

“Our biggest challenge and greatest joy has been renovating the original homestead circa 1940 into a modern luxury farmhouse that we can share with others.

“It was the original house for the area, consisting of only four bedrooms and a veranda. We have opened it up, maximising the view of the farm and extending the veranda to meet our new 12m mineral lap pool.”

The light-filled four-bedroom, two-bathroom abode, which fits up to nine guests, features a pastoral panorama from every room.

“We love the start and the end of each day on the farm,” Mrs Arnell said. “You can watch the sunrise from your four-poster bed surrounded by the sound of native birds.

“We often awake to the most colourful sunrises and, in the evenings, the moon rises are spectacular to watch from the deck.

“Guests comment on how they feel like they are in the middle of nowhere, yet only five minutes to the beach.”

Visitors can stay close to home – planning a bushwalk, daydreaming on the veranda swinging chair and meeting Cudgera Springs’ animals – or explore further afield.

“The Northern Rivers are blessed with natural beauty,” Mrs Arnell said.

“Cabarita Beach and Hastings Point are only 10 minutes’ drive, while Black Rocks beach and Pottsville creek are only five minutes away. Byron Bay is 35 minutes down the road, with hinterland walks and great surf.

“I recommend foodies visit Pipit in Pottsville, Spice Den at Casuarina, Finns at Salt and Taverna in Kingscliff.

“You could also explore the Burringbar and spend an afternoon sampling local cheeses over a bottle of wine at Tweed Valley Whey.”