Highland Cow Experience

Private Farm Tours at Ballybrook Farm (Pat a cow)

Want to see a bunch of adorable Highland calves and ponies? (all of the fluffy babies)

These are PRIVATE TOURS- So, just you! Nobody else will be on the tour with you.

What to know

How long does it go for? – 1.5 hours (90 mins)
How much does it cost? – $260 for 2 people, $40 per person after this (children under 2 years old are free)
Photos – you take as many as you want on your phone (no professional/digital cameras please)
What to wear? – fully enclosed shoe that you are ok to get mud & manure on (we recommend BOOTS) & a weather proof jacket – we are happy to do tours in the rain if you are
Optional cheese platter picnic & drinks in the paddock at the end of your tour
Bookings essential (we can supply VOUCHERS)

What you do

Brush, pat and learn about Highland Cows on one of the largest Highland Cattle folds in Australia (Bairnsley Highlands)
See adorable Highland calves and Highland foals (& Bozley the dog of course)
See behind the scenes of a working Highland Cattle and Highland Pony farm
Admire breathtaking views of Melbourne city and the Lerderderg Ranges
Enjoy a personalised, guided tour in a 6-seater side-by side Can-Am

Picnic in the Paddock

Optional cheese platter and drinks served in one of our paddocks

Weather dependent of course (back up location in a rustic, cow-themed “Glen’s Shed”)
$50 for 2 people ($15pp for additional people)
Must be booked when you book your Highland Cow Experience
Let us know your dietary requirements

We have been showing people around our farm, and our cattle and ponies since 2023. We put a lot of work into making sure, that while these are still farm animals, that they are comfortable to be around people in all their various shapes and sizes. Most of this extra work comes in the form of some expert guidance and revolutionary techniques provided by Bree herself (Bree’s Bovine Behaviour). Bree teaches a gentle, modern method of handling farm animals that both sees trust to build up, yet still assures respect from the animals in our presence.

Ballybrook Farm has been used for many purposes over the years, but since 2013, it is the home of Bairnsley Highland Cattle, one of the biggest, and certainly the most well known breeder of “heelin coos” in Australia. We show our cattle (& our ponies) in Victoria, but also NSW, ACT, South Australia. Shows help a great deal to desensitise our animals to people and circumstances that most farm animals would not get the opportunity to do. Bree and Glen regularly travel to Scotland, and other countries around the world with our breed, in a search for new genetic lines that can help the breed in Australia to not become too inbred.

Our Highland ponies will astound you as well. We’ve had many a person who started a tour hesitant about approaching horses, but these ponies are no regular equine. Their docility and curiosity is second to none (the same as our cattle). They are extremely slow moving, gentle beasts who will walk right up to you for a pat, or just to sniff and inspect the new arrivals in their paddock. They are a very rare breed in Australia (& the world in fact), and we are passionate about breeding them and spreading the word about their hardiness and unique, quiet personalities.

The perfect gift idea

Birthdays

Mother’s Day

Valentine’s Day

There is no event that can not be made more memorable with a Highland cow. Small gatherings of up to 20 people can be accommodated and we have done elopements, adults and kids birthdays, proposals (100% success rate so far guys!), anniversaries and hens parties – just to name a few. With over a 100 acres of settings to choose from, as well as cows, calves, bulls and ponies, we can put an event together for you that will make you the envy of all that you know.

Talk to us about the options for accommodation as well – stay in our tiny home (“Calmore”) in the paddock at Ballybrook Farm or in our Swiss-styled Chalet down the road at our other property, Cnoc Dubh. There is an accommodation style for all.