Wondering where to take your kids for a weekend outing? Check out these 5 animal farms near Sydney that are not only fun but also great for photos!
On weekends in Sydney, sometimes it’s nice to experience the simple and natural life on a farm, especially when it involves beautiful scenery and adorable animals. Our team has selected a few farms with great experiences!
Where are Sydney’s Best Animal Farms
Golden Ridge Farm
Golden Ridge Animal Farm is located about a 40-minute drive from the Sydney city centre, and it’s cleaner than we had imagined. We were mentally prepared to come back covered in mud and animal droppings, but it turns out we worried too much.
Regular admission is $25 per person, including children over one year old. During the recent Easter Long Weekend, there was an Egg Hunt activity, and with the ticket package, it cost $35 per person. If we’re not into the Easter festivities, a regular visit is just fine.
Horse riding, animal feed, and excavator activities all cost $5 per turn, and you can also pick your own eggs for $10 per box. You can pay for these activities along with your ticket at the entrance.
Be sure to make a reservation in advance and book online. Even if your child is under 1 year old and gets in for free, you still need to count them in the total number of people. They don’t accept walk-ins.
Overall, there’s a good variety of farm animals, and each species is in groups, so we can milk cows, feed piglets, lambs, calves, and even baby llamas. Babies can also hold a basket of ducklings, chicks, bunnies, and play with them. The highlight, of course, is horseback riding, which costs about $5 for four or five laps. Our child loved it so much that they couldn’t stop talking about it even before bedtime.
During Easter, when places are usually crowded, the farm didn’t have too many people. The wait for horseback riding was less than ten minutes, and we could enjoy the animals without feeling crowded. So, if you’re worried about crowds, it’s worth considering.
Address: 686 Old Northern Rd, Dural NSW 2158
Calmsley Hill City Farm
It’s incredibly child-friendly and offers activities like tractor rides, animal feeding, sheep shearing demonstrations, and sheepdog herding. The farm also has a basic shop where you can grab coffee or a simple meal. We brought our own lunch boxes to enjoy on the farm. You can check the specific timing for activities on their website, and you can buy tickets on the same day.
There are many farm animals at the farm, including koalas, kangaroos, donkeys, ponies, cows, snakes, rabbits, chicks, and more. Throughout the day, there are different ‘Daily Shows’ at various times, so make sure to grab a timetable at the entrance.
You can purchase a bag of animal feed for $2 at the entrance. Remember to grab a map with the ‘Daily Show’ times.
If you want to take the ‘Tractor Train Ride,’ make sure to get the special ticket with the designated time on it – don’t miss the boarding time (it’s about a 20-minute round trip).
You can bring your own picnic or BBQ food. There’s a dedicated BBQ area on the farm.
Parking at the entrance is free, with multiple parking spaces.
‘Show Time’ Schedule on the day we went
- Animal Petting/Talk: 10:30 am
- Morning Cow Milking Show: 11:00 am
- Tractor Train Ride: 11:30 am
- Stockwhip Show: 12:30 pm
- Working Dog Show: 1:00 pm
- Sheep Shearing Show: 1:30 pm
- Koala Talk: 2:00 pm
- Tractor Train Ride: 2:30 pm
- Animal Petting/Talk: 3:00 pm
- Afternoon Cow Milking Show: 3:30 pm
Admission Fee was:
- Adults: $27.5
- Children (3-16 years old): $15.5
Be sure to get some animal feed – the kids won’t want to leave once they start feeding the animals. We left the farm around 2 pm because we had seen most of the activities, and there’s a repeat performance in the afternoon.
Overall, it was a very fulfilling day, and the schedule was just right – not too rushed. The kids had a blast all day and were ready to sleep when we got home!
Address: 31 Darling St, Abbotsbury NSW 2176
Amazement Farm & Fun Park
The drive takes about 1.5 hours, and it’s not too far. The farm offers a wide range of activities:
The little train is a favourite for our little ones. You can visit a small zoo with lions, turtles, camels, and more. Animals and trains – it’s the perfect combination that every baby loves!
There are three small mazes for the kids to explore.
In the morning and afternoon, there are two sessions where you can get to know the wildlife up close! You can even touch many adorable animals. Today, we got to touch three different kinds of small animals (wombat is the one we liked the most).
In the morning and afternoon, there are feeding activities for the little animals. Ducks, bunnies, guinea pigs, and lambs – you can pet them all! At noon, you can ride a pony!
Throughout the park, you’ll see ducks, peacocks, geese, and more. Once you have some animal feed, you become the superstar in the animals’ eyes!
There are also small entertainment facilities for the little ones to have a blast! Before you go, you can check the timetable on the official website to plan your time better.”
Address: 170 Yarramalong Rd, Wyong Creek NSW 2259
Koala Park Sanctuary
We stumbled upon this lesser-known Koala Park and promised the kids that we’d visit on the weekend. Even though it was raining, we stuck to our plan and made it there.
This Koala Park Sanctuary is renowned for its abundant koalas and natural rainforest environment. The history of this sanctuary dates back to the 1920s, and its core mission was to protect the koala population from hunting and eventual extinction.
Parking: Free
Admission: Adults $30, Children (4 to 14 years old) $15, Family Pass (2 adults + 2 children) $85, accepts Parents Voucher!
Activities on the day we went.
Farmyard Petting Times: 9.30 am, 1.10 pm, Reptile Presentation Times: 9.50 am, 1.30 pm, Koala Presentation Times: 10.20 am, 11.45 am, 2 pm, 3 pm, Dingo Walk Time: 11.00 am.
You can feed kangaroos and goats throughout the day. There are feed bags available at the entrance for $3 each. You’ll be given a map at the entrance.
Address: 84 Castle Hill Rd, West Pennant Hills NSW 2125
Kindifarm
During festivals, the farm owners dress up the little animals in cute outfits. Besides feeding cows and milking them, you can also arrange various events and school activities, making it a perfect spot for family outings.
Address: 1059 Old Northern Rd, Dural NSW 2158
Mowbray Park Farmstay
Offers a wide range of activities, including Kids Club. The experience here is all about having lots of activities to enjoy with your kids on weekends. Activities include horse riding, various ball sports, swimming, kayaking, archery, and of course, various animal-related activities.
They also host birthday parties, so it’s a great place for kids’ birthdays. Accommodation options are available, and you need to stay for at least two nights, but meals are not included. The accommodations are similar to camper vans.
Address: 745 Barkers Lodge Road, Picton
Starline Alpacas Farmstay Resort
Ideal for alpaca enthusiasts and photography lovers. This farm is a luxurious family vacation destination. If you love adorable alpacas, you mustn’t miss it. Interact with cute alpacas against the backdrop of a beautiful sunset—a perfect natural photography spot.
The farm also has an orchard where you can pick your own fruits.
Address: 1100 Milbrodale Rd, Broke NSW 2330
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