A farm stay has been on my family bucket list since my eldest son made his arrival back in 2014.
There was something about welcoming a baby into the world that made me crave fresh air, farm-picked produce and some time spent immersed in nature.
Three children and nearly six years later, and the closest we’ve actually come to a farm has been the baby chicken section at Taronga Zoo.
Perhaps it’s the logistics involved in going anywhere with multiple children, or maybe it’s my secret fears of real farm life that have prevented us from taking the plunge.
But now, it’s time to book. Because I’ve just discovered the type of getaway that will make all my luxurious, culinary farm stay dreams come true – Dairy Flat Lodge and Farm.
This immersive, experiential retreat comes to us from the team behind the renowned Lake House Daylesford, the Wolf-Tasker family, who have long been innovators in regional Australian hospitality and tourism.
The 38-acre regenerative Dairy Flat Lodge and Farm is set amid rolling hills in the hamlet of Musk, seven kilometres from Daylesford, and features an extensive and productive kitchen garden, a vineyard, established olive grove and an orchard of 350 heritage fruit trees. The European-style Lodge, complete with a cellar has been exquisitely decorated with custom-made furniture and offers luxurious accommodation for up to 14 guests (or one huge family). In other words? Pure heaven.
Those who know Alla Wolf-Tasker know that she has long been a champion of all things sustainable and local, and her support of the growers and producers in and around Daylesford has been pivotal in shaping the region, as well as the Lake House menu, over the past 30 years.
“Having our own productive farm has been a long-held dream for me and the team at Lake House. It means that the vast majority of produce we serve now comes entirely from the local area. It’s also the next step for us and the Lake House family to close the loop on the immersive food-focused experience for all our guests,” said Alla.
With six ensuite rooms and a unique style of luxurious lodge and farmhouse accommodation, the interior design focuses on craftsmanship and artisanal production with custom-made furniture, cabinetry and upholstery, and original artworks by Allan Wolf-Tasker, botanical paintings by Alesandro Ljubicic, sculpture by bronze worker Anthony Vanderzweep and woodwork from craftsman Greg Stirling.
Guests can partake in a farm tour or book into scheduled workshops on gardening, baking and beekeeping, while also immersing themselves in the day-to-day activities of the farm: in the vegetable garden, orchard, vineyard, olive grove or ornamental gardens, with the beehives or in the bakehouse.
Dairy Flat Lodge is an ideal destination for any of us who want to embrace life on a productive farm, but who still want hotel-style comforts and a good cocktail at the end of the day. With a live-in concierge who can organise every aspect of your stay, let’s just say I’m ready to book. Children, pack your bags.
Visit https://dairyflatfarmdaylesford.com.au for more information. Dairy Flat Farm opens in December 2019.