Autralia & New Zealand

If the film Australia has inspired you to try to be like Nicole Kidman or Hugh Jackman on one of the vast livestock stations down under, the good news is there are several working ranches and farms bookable through UK operators that offers tourists the chance to get involved. Whether your fantasy is mustering cattle in Australia or feeding lambs in New Zealand you can be sure of doing so in some spectacular natural backdrops.

Australia

Home Valley Station
Home Valley Station in the east Kimberley region of Western Australia was one of the film locations for Australia. Spectacularly located at the base of the Cockburn Range, its landscapes can be experienced through a host of activities, including walks through gorges, barramundi fishing in the river and horse-rides over savannah plains and rocky ridges. Would be drovers can help round up 2,000 head of cattle at a “mini-muster”. The station is owned by the Indigenous Land Corporation, which supports employment training for Aboriginal people.

A two week trip to Australia taking in Darwin, Broome and Perth including three nights full board in Home Valley Station’s luxurious new Grass Castle accommodation, a cattle mustering experience and a scenic flight to the Bungle Bungle range costs from £3245, including all flights and transfers.

Bullo River
No fewer than 9000 head of cattle roam Bullo River cattle station in the north west of Australia’s Northern Territory where the landscape is dotted with distinctive chunky boab trees and Aboriginal rock paining sites. The all inclusive tariff at Bullo River includes plenty of activities. Guests can take a gorge cruise to fish or spot crocodiles and between May and October (with prior booking) can watch or even help with mustering, when cattle are rounded up, or bull catching – during which the males are nudged off their feet by 4x4 vehicles.

Kuoni offers 14 nights in Australia, staying three nights each at the Medina in Darwin, Bullo River in Kununurra, Cable Beach Club Resort in Broome and the Crowne Plaza, Perth plus a two night stopover at the Pan Pacific, Singapore. The price, from £3218 per person is for room only except Bullo which is all inclusive. International and domestic flights and transfers are included.

Outback Cattle Drive
The Great Australian Outback Cattle Drive is back for 2010. Between July 30 and August 29 next year, tourists can help 500 head of cattle on their epic journey along South Australia’s Oodnadatta Track. Participants will be guided by experienced drovers – who may or may not look like the drover played by Hugh Jackman in Australia.

New Zealand

Sheep Farms
New Zealand’s famous sheep farms are huge by UK standards; they are also set in some particularly gorgeous landscapes. In the Southland region of New Zealand, farms that take in guests and allow them to learn something of farm life include Chartlea Park in Lumsden and Hillcrest at Balfour. Chartlea breeds not only sheep but also cattle and goats. Guests stay in the antique filled 1896 homestead and can take tours to see the stock and watch farm work in action. There are also sheep, deer and a cow kept as pets that visitors can feed. Hillcrest which, as its name suggests, boasts mountain views, also allows tours of its 650 acre sheep and deer farm and there are opportunities to fish in a river.

A five night half board stay at either Chartlea Park or Hillcrest costs from £1099 including Heathrow flights to Christchurch for travel between April 12 and June 15.

Luxury Lodge
Staying on an authentic New Zealand farm needn’t mean roughing it. Grasmere Lodge in New Zealand’s scenic Southern Alps is an authentic working sheep station; it’s also a member of Small Luxury Hotels of the World and boasts sumptuous lodge, chalet and cottage accommodation. Guests may choose to experience no mud beyond that in their face pack in the Lodge’s own spa, or they can get down and dirty out on the farm. Tours of the estate can be made by four-wheel drive or on horseback. Sheep shearing demonstrations can be arranged. There’s plenty more action in store at Grasmere for those who like to go canoeing, trout fishing or take a scenic flight.

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