Searching for a place to enjoy the outdoors? We list 7 farms near the Gold Coast where you can meet farm animals, sample fresh produce, and gain a taste of farm life.
Farms on and around the Gold Coast have been an on-trend place to visit for a long time.
With more people focused on buying fresh fruit and vegetables and connecting with nature, there has been a considerable spike in their popularity. There is an abundance of different ways you can experience a farm from an overnight stay to a day visit. Some have farm animals you can meet while others focus on health and wellbeing.
The below list will inspire you to leave the beach behind for the weekend and take a family outing with a farming twist. Continue reading for my suggestions, along with highlights the kids will enjoy.
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Table of Contents
1. Freeman’s Organic Farm
Where: 618 Tomewin Mountain Road, Currumbin Valley, QLD
Established in 1915 and run by four generations of the same family, Freeman’s organic farm is a commercial fruit and vegetable farm in the Currumbin Valley, approximately 40 minutes from Surfers Paradise. It was once the largest commercial banana farm in Australia, but it has diversified its products and now grows a variety of seasonal fruits, vegetables, and herbs.
The expansion of the produce grown is not the only change; Freeman’s Organic Farm has also added services, from hosting guided farm tours, mums and bubs outings, yoga sessions, and including live music by local artists.
Take along your picnic hamper or visit Freeman’s Organic Café that serves fresh coffee and light snacks that have been sourced from the farm.
Enjoy the fresh air and picturesque views overlooking the spectacular Currumbin Valley from Arthur’s lookout area, and before leaving purchase, organic produce direct from Freeman’s farmhouse stall.
HIGHLIGHT FOR THE KIDS – Freeman’s Farm Tour | Every Sunday at 1.00 pm farmer David runs a 1 hour guided tour of the property, which gives you an insight into a working farm and allows children to pick their seasonal vegetables for free. Tickets are $15 per adult and children under 12 are free. No bookings required.
Stall Opening Hours
Friday 8.00am – 1.00pm
Saturday and Sunday 8.00 am – 3.00 pm
Monday 8.00 am – 1.00 pm (An honesty system operates on Mondays, so ensure you take cash)
2. Farm and Co
Where: 529 Cudgen Road, Cudgen, NSW
If you haven’t visited Farm and Co in person, there is a high chance you would have seen this farm grace your social media accounts over time. Farm and Co are well known for its Insta-worthy crop of sunflowers that are grown annually. If you want to take some of this yellow happiness home, the sunflowers can be purchased from the farm.
Farm and Co’s farming philosophy is to provide fresh, organic produce that is not only healthy to eat but gives you peace of mind that it’s grown in the purest form.
Take a seat and relax under the shady macadamia trees as the kids enjoy running around in the open space or visit the Farm and Co Kingscliff café. Order a wholesome meal made from produce grown directly from the farm, created to make you feel good from the inside.
Farm and Co have now crafted an easy way for your body to be nourished at home with the farm now offering delivery and pick up for your fruit and vegetable needs.
HIGHLIGHT FOR THE KIDS – Farm and Co Sunflower Season | Skip down the rows amid the yellow blooms that tower overhead
Opening Hours
Seven days a week 8.00 am – 4.00 pm
The entry fee is $5 to stroll the grounds, sunflower fields, and visit with the farm animals. Additional costs apply for picking macadamias and cutting sunflowers.
Cafe Opening Hours
Seven days a week 8.00 am – 2.30 pm
If you would prefer to bring your picnic, visit the website as fees apply.
3. Historic Rivermill
Where: 950 Beaudesert Nerang Rd, Mount Nathan
This place is not your typical farm; in fact, it is known more as a function venue and café, but it makes the farms Gold Coast list for several reasons. Only 15 minutes from Nerang sitting on prime real estate, the Historic Rivermill is what the name suggests an old building filled with antiques that has been modernised into a family-friendly dining location while keeping its rustic charm.
The Historic Rivermill café serves breakfast, lunch, treats, and ice creams to visitors while you enjoy the views overlooking the Nerang River from the alfresco dining area.
Stroll along the riverside, which flows into a babbling creek. Relax on the green lawns under the shady trees, step out on the wooden jetty and meet the resident ducks and turtles.
HIGHLIGHT FOR THE KIDS – Animal petting area | The animal farm petting area is located adjacent to the main building. For a gold coin donation, you are given a bag of food to get up close and personal to feed the alpacas, and deer.
Opening Hours
Monday – Friday 8.00am – 4.00pm, Saturday and Sunday 7.00am – 5.00pm.
4. Tropical Fruit World
Where: 29 Duranbah Road, Duranbah, NSW
Just over the New South Wales border nestled in the Tweed region is one of the most popular fruit farms you can visit near the Gold Coast. In 1983 the farm first opened its gates as a tourism destination with avocados being the primary fruit farmed on the land. Due to the expansion of the fruits grown over the years, the property was rebranded to Tropical Fruit World.
Visitors to the farm can enjoy tasting a variety of seasonal fruits at the workshop and on the plantation tour, where you learn about the history of Tropical Fruit World and the fruits grown. A working farm, but somewhere you can easily spend the day with the inclusion of their island retreat in the heart of the farm with a kid’s playground, and mini train ride. The wildlife boat cruise from the island travels to Fauna Park, an animal petting area.
HIGHLIGHT FOR THE KIDS – Fauna Park | Meet the local farm animals, along with kangaroos and emus.
Opening Hours
Open to the public seven days, 10.00 am – 4.00 pm Queensland time
Free entry to the market and café. Purchase a ticket for the farm tour and tastings.
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5. Chambers Flat Strawberry Farm
Where: 912 Chambers Flat Road, Chambers Flat QLD
Located in Chambers Flat on the South Side of Brisbane, about 55 minutes from the Gold Coast, Chambers Flat Strawberry Farm is a berry patch where you can buy and pick your strawberries. The berry patch grows strawberries from June to November annually, with the shop opening sometime in June selling fresh strawberries, homemade strawberry ice cream, and local produce.
In August, September and October, purchase a container from the shop and wander the rows picking fresh strawberries straight from the patch.
HIGHLIGHT FOR THE KIDS – Strawberry Picking Gold Coast | The kids will love filling their containers with delicious juicy strawberries and tasting the homemade strawberry ice cream from the shop.
Opening Hours
Open to the public seven days, 9.00 am – 5.00 pm from June to November. Keep an eye on the Chambers Flat Strawberry Farm Facebook page for details as opening time and dates are subject to change.
6. The Farm Byron Bay
Where: 11 Ewingsdale Road, Ewingsdale, NSW
Only a little over one hour south from the Gold Coast, just outside of Byron Bay, “The Farm” is fully operational and gives visitors a first-hand account of how food is grown and produced.
The place oozes character and charm with vintage pieces of farm equipment, machinery, and herb beds spotted near the main entrance. Take a farm tour learning about environmentally conscious farming or walk the pebbled laneways at your pace. Visit the farm animals, and scavenge for macadamia nuts that have fallen from the magnificent trees.
The onsite restaurant, Three Blue Ducks Byron Bay, is open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Alternatively, pack a picnic lunch, buy some delicious treats from the produce store onsite and take advantage of the sprawling lawns or picnic benches that are dotted around the farm.
HIGHLIGHT FOR THE KIDS – Playground | The kids will love the wooden playground, equipt with a large slide attached to a wooden fort, swings, sandpit, and a seesaw. There is also an antique tractor for the littlies to use their imagination.
Opening Hours
Seven days a week 7.00 am ‘til late
7. Paradise Country Gold Coast
Where: Production Drive, Oxenford Gold Coast, QLD
Tucked away behind Movie World along the Pacific Highway, Paradise Country Gold Coast is operated by Village RoadShow Theme Parks. If animals are the main reason for visiting a farm, then you’ll find these in abundance at Paradise Country.
With an emphasis on native Australian animals, walk the expansive grounds to see koalas, kangaroos, wombats, Tasmanian devils, reptiles, and more. There are fun and entertaining daily shows and presentations, a Shaun the Sheep themed playground for the kids, wildlife encounters, pony rides, and panning for gold.
The onsite Farmhouse Restaurant adjoins the homestead on the grassy hilltop and is open for lunch every day, breakfast on Saturday and Sunday, and dinner on Friday and Saturday nights.
Extending on the farm experience, Paradise Country farmstay enables visitors to stay on the grounds at their camp and van sites, or in one of their eco tents, while helping with farm activities from collecting the eggs, feeding the animals, and cow milking.
HIGHLIGHT FOR THE KIDS – Farmyard Nursery | Visit the goats, lambs, guinea pigs, and chickens at the farmyard nursery where you can watch the daily feedings.
Have any questions about the farms? Ask me in the comments below.
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