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Barkala farmstay

96%

· Coonabarabran, New South Wales

13000 acres hosted by Maria N.

59 Vehicle/Tent sites

Family-friendly

Recent Hipcampers say this Hipcamp is great for families and kids.

Best tent sites: Finalist

Named one of the best Hipcamps to visit in 2023.

Maria is a Star Host

Star Hosts are highly rated, responsive, and committed to providing incredible experiences.

Barkala Farmstay is a self-sustaining farm located off the grid, supplying our own water and solar electricity. The Farm is a grazing property situated on 13,000 acres surrounded by the tranquil Pilliga Forest. Only access is a 10km dirt road of the Newell Highway, north of Coonabarabran (follow directions below). As well as farm animals, the farm hosts a thriving community of birds and well- designed bush tracks where you can discover local wildlife, plants, Aboriginal artifacts, great lookouts, sandstone cliffs and caves all in the midst of the Pilliga Forrest. Barkala Farmstay is also home to Pilliga Pottery and the Blue Wren Bush Cafe (closed Wednesdays), offering pottery demonstrations and workshops, traditional European inspired fresh foods with ingredients from our organic green house and homemade Gelato. The property offers two camp sites, Goanna and Kellies Campground, which are freely available to anyone who books a camping stay with us. There are no allocated camping spots in either campground, thus it is first come, first serve. We offer large camping spots with no campground boundaries hence there is space for vehicles of any size. Both camping sites offer compost toilets and showers (although we encourage short showers due to our off-grid, self-sustaining farm). You are welcome to stop by the reception upon check-in to hear more about our campgrounds and we can help you find the perfect camp spot and tell you more about what we have to offer. Campers are welcome to enjoy feeding of our farm animals, our saltwater pool and campfires. Firewood can be collected on the property by yourself, or you can visit the reception to buy firewood. There is no phone reception close to any buildings but free limited Wi-Fi in the cafe area.Barkala Farm is a self-sustaining farm located off the grid (follow directions below), supplying our own water and solar electricity. The Farm is a grazing property situated on 13,000 acres surrounded by the tranquil Pilliga Forest. Campsites located close to the homestead, toilet and shower facilities, swimming pool, volleyball court, farm animals and cafe/pottery. Choose from a wide variety of camping sites ranging from creekside camping to open paddock sites. We also offer private sites away from the hub. As well as farm animals the farm hosts a thriving community of birds, well designed bush tracks where you can discover local wild life, plants, Aboriginal artifacts, great lookouts, sandstone cliffs and caves all in the midst of the Pilliga Forrest. Barkala Farm is also home to Pilliga Pottery and the Blue Wren Bush Cafe (not open for dinner on Wednesday night), offering demonstrations and workshops, traditional European inspired fresh foods with ingredients from our organic green house and home made Gelato. Campers can also enjoy feeding the farm animals, our salt water pool and campfires.

Activities

Biking

Hiking

Swimming

Wildlife watching

Natural features

Cave

Forest

River, stream, or creek

Mountainous

96%

190 Ratings · 135 reviews

Karina W.recommends

October 4, 2024

Kellies Campground

A easy family stay!

We had a great stay with our family at Maria’s. The kids had a ball running around and exploring. The cafe was such a nice extra treat and made everything just that little bit easier with us able to have a yummy and fairly priced meal and delicious gelato treats here and there. We did a pottery class together too which was a lot of fun. All in all a memorable and happy stay made only more special with the friendly and helpful service. We will happily return soon.

Lisa M.recommends

September 27, 2024

Kellies Campground

Such a lovely place

What a beautiful stay we had. The grounds had beautiful gardens filled with decorative pottery. It was fascinating watching the staff demonstrate their ceramic skills and create beautiful works of art! We camped in the nearby paddock. The frogs were croaking and we felt so relaxed! Thank you Barkala farm for having us!! Lisa and Ian from Melbourne!!

Sarah W.recommends

September 17, 2024

Kellies Campground

Loved it, &will be back next year

We thoroughly enjoyed our stay at Kellie’s Campground, on Barkala Farm. It was the weekend of the Pilliga Ultra, so it was busier than usual, but there’s plenty of space! While it’s basic camping, with no power or potable water, the campground is beautiful and the facilities are good. We woke to birdsong and dappled sunshine through the gum trees, which is always a gorgeous way to start the day! Many pieces of pottery from Maria’s studio are dotted around the property, and the handwashing basins in the bathrooms are stunning. The composting toilets were a bit of a challenge for a few of the more “citified” members of our group, but a few extra buckets of sawdust would have easily subdued the “whiff” of nervous runners. In all honesty, it was hardly an issue in the scheme of things, but it’s just worth understanding for the more delicate campers who visit. Thanks, Maria, for sharing your beautiful property! We will definitely be back next year and will bring more of our family to enjoy the space!

Jeanette R.recommends

September 6, 2024

Kellies Campground

Peaceful Retreat

Kellie’s Campground was perfect. It was peaceful, quiet, remote and spacious. Maria’s directions made finding the place very easy. The pottery shop was a bonus, with fabulous pieces to buy. The cafe was lovely and had a buzz to it. We loved the walks on the property, lots of different views. Our only regret, we didn’t stay longer!

Mina A.recommends

September 5, 2024

Kellies Campground

Gorgeous place with lots of lovely walks with plenty of wildlife and beautiful views Camp ground was never busy and facilities were very fine. We loved our stay and having the cafe for breakfast was awesome. We didn’t do any pottery which of course means we will have to come back again

Holly A.recommends

September 1, 2024

Kellies Campground

Quiet, beautiful little spot. Stopped here for a night and it was very nice, had a little camp fire and enjoyed the area!

Location

Coonabarabran, New South Wales, AustraliaTraditional, ancestral territory of Kamilaroi First Nations according to To respect the Host's privacy, the precise address of this land will be provided after booking

Hosted by Maria N.

Joined in March 2017

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Hipcamp acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of country throughout Australia and their connections to land, sea and community. We pay our respect to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Elders past, present and future and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples today.