Cuties! Stanthorpe Animals Tourists Love to Meet
Beware: seriously adorable animals ahead!
Here’s a few cuties to seek out on your next trip to Stanthorpe, Granite Belt Wine Country.
Photo: deer at Granite Belt Christmas Farm
Santa’s Animals at Granite Belt Christmas Farm
Feed Santa’s animals at the Granite Belt Christmas Farm! It’s a real Christmas tree farm, with free of charge entry and you’re welcome to stroll through the avenues of pine-smelling Christmas trees. But the first thing that greets you on arrival are the adorable deer.
Inside the magical Mistletoe Store buy a $2 bag of animal feed and head out to feed the deer, donkeys, goats, lambs and chooks.
Location: 321 Aerodrome Rd, Applethorpe near Stanthorpe
…more about Granite Belt Christmas Farm
Meet ‘Top Deck’ and the Rest of the Goat Gang
The welcoming party that runs to greet you on a wine tasting at Ridgemill Estate cellar door are surprisingly a very friendly gang of goats! Don’t be alarmed, they are behind a fence, but their hopeful looks will certainly bid you to wander closer and to the bin of feed to give them a treat. After that most important business is taken care of you can then head inside for wine!
Pictured below is Michelle at Ridgemill Estate feeding ‘Top Deck’.
Location: 218 Donges Rd, Glen Aplin near Stanthorpe
…more about Ridgemill Estate
Lorikeets, Kangaroos & Pet Deer at Your Accommodation!
Girraween Environmental Lodge is surrounded by wildlife – it’s set on 400 acres of bushland and adjoins Girraween National Park! Colourful lorikeets come for a feed, quiet kangaroos graze peacefully nearby and new residents… pet deer to meet!
Location: Pyramids Road, Wyberba (near Ballandean), Queensland
…more about Girraween Environmental Lodge
Feathered Friends at Heavenly Chocolate Cottage
Your hot chocolate and handmade morsels of chocolate can be enjoyed on the verandah and in the cottage garden with the ducks and chooks at the Heavenly Chocolate Cottage. You’ll never guess what their favourite teat is… Anthony and Glenys feed them crushed chocolate freckles and they go wild for them!
Location: 2117 Pyramids Rd, Wyberba (near entrance to Girraween National Park south of Stanthorpe)
…More about Heavenly Chocolate Cottage
Afternoon Tea with the Alpacas
The Straw House Farm a short drive north of Stanthorpe you can book to have afternoon tea with four gorgeous and very friendly alpaca boys: Pablo. Edwardo, Diego and Nigel. You’ll be treated with a delicious afternoon tea including scones with jam and cream and other delicious morsels that the Straw House has become famous for. Add to that T2 teas, fresh coffee and local apple juice from Sutton’s.
Mix, mingle with the alpacas, feeding, patting and even hugging them – they will be very excited to see you. You can even read to or share a secret with an alpaca – they are very good listeners. Loads of photo opportunities and don’t forget the all-important alpaca selfie!! Your alpaca experience lasts an hour but some lingering is allowed.
Pre-bookings are essential and bookings are available for groups of minimum 6 adults. Contact Anna to enquire about booking and adult/child/family rates.
Ph: 0466 134 777 | info@strawhousebnb.com
Meet Cramer and Friends
Kent Saddlery are renowned leather artisans and their saddlery just north of Stanthorpe very much welcomes visitors to stop in on their way past. Find adorable baby camel Cramer and feed and pat his farmyard friends. (The fun and free leather stamping activity on the verandah is temporarily unavailable due to covid restrictions)
Location: 25798 New England Hwy, Stanthorpe
…more about Kent Saddlery
Where to Stay for more Up Close Encounters!
Meet Alkhan and Bahookie, the Scottish Highland Cattle at The Straw House B&B Cottage. They are just a few of the cuties you will meet if you choose to stay on a farm during your trip to Stanthorpe.
…more about accommodation on farms in the area.
