Close encounters with furry farm animals never get old, so we’ve done the research and rounded up the best spots where you can have an authentic experience to remember.
The Farmyard at Terella
Family at Terella Brewing
Who knew that a brewery would fit in so nicely with a petting zoo? If you head to The Farmyard at Terella Brewing, you’ll have the chance to pet goats, pigs, chickens, sheep, ducks, rabbits, guinea pigs and even miniature horses!
The animals here are almost all rescues, and many have been raised by hand. This means they’re super tame, and each one has a name. A highlight of the experience is watching on as the animals run from their front pens back to their paddocks – beer in hand for the adults of course!
Borumba Deer Farm
The name is a giveaway, so you know there will be deer at Borumba Deer Park... but did you know there’s also some friendly pigs and goats to spend time with as well? Meet Barney the Baby Buck, and Fi, who come down to the kiosk for hand-feeding and the chance of a selfie on your next visit.
The whole park is 15 acres along the banks of the beautiful Yabba Creek, with plenty of great camping spots. You can also book into a cabin if you want to stay longer and enjoy the new playground complete with rock and rope climbing, as well as slippery slides.
QCamel
Curious about what it’s like to cuddle a camel (or have a camel cuddle you)? If the answer is yes, your next stop should be QCamel in the Sunshine Coast Hinterland.
Every Saturday at QCamel’s farm brings a new opportunity to meet and greet their friendly camel herd. As an added bonus, you’ll also get to sample products from the only certified-organic camel dairy in the world! Plus, with a motto like ‘a happy camel produces happy milk’, you can be sure these furry guys are treated like part of the family.
If you get lucky, you may also spot a baby tagging along in the pasture as the young ones tend to stay close to their mums for the first couple of months.
Maleny Botanic Gardens & Birdworld
Did someone say miniature farm animals? In addition to lush vegetation and walk-through aviaries, Maleny Botanic Gardens & Birdworld is also home to rescue guinea pigs, Mediterranean miniature micro donkeys, miniature goats, baby-doll sheep and miniature pigs ready for petting and feeding on your next visit!
Make a day of it exploring the 23 acres of stunning gardens and rainforest, or simply hire one of the golf buggies.
Engle End Farm
With their floppy tufts, slender necks, ingénue eyes, and coy grins, alpacas are possibly one of the cutest animals you can visit here on the Sunshine Coast.
The friendly folks at Engle End Farm invite you to meet their alpacas for a selfie opportunity on your morning visit, or to spend some more time and have a ‘Picnic with the Pacas’, which includes a picnic hamper of locally sourced goodies and drinks.
Booking a farm visit here is a must-do if you’re keen to meet some new four-legged friends!
