Melbourne is a vibrant city with the bonus of having a multitude of hidden delights awaiting your discovery. It was only last year that I heard about the Collingwood Children’s Farm. Suddenly it was appearing in my social media news feed with many of my Melbourne based friend’s regularly visiting and singingits praises. T and I didn’t even discuss adding it to our itinerary, it was on there regardless.
In early January we headed to the Collingwood Children’s Farm in anticipation of a pretty full day of animal petting, animal feeding and perhaps a little milking. We were all excited and spent much of the trip discussing the animals we would see and which ones we should seek out first.
On arrival we paid our $20.00 family admission and headed down to the stables just in time for the Guinea Pig petting. Every child in attendance formed a big circle and sat patiently (or not so patiently) while three of the rodents were passed around. Of course, every adult in attendance had their camera or phone out to capture the moment making the experience crowded, rushed and rather uncomfortable. Master R and Miss N, being the eldest, were the last to get a go by which time the crowd had largely dispersed to go and chase chickens. For the comfort of the Guinea Pigs, the actually individual petting probably lasted 1 – 2 minutes per kid.
We headed to the orchard to view the fruit and the chickens. There are actually a range of chicken breeds at the Collingwood Children’s Farm which was lovely to see. The kids enjoyed pointing out the various types and discussing the differences between each. There was no feed to entice them over to us, but we did find if we crouched down and clucked at them that they became curious and would wander over.
A walk down the track and we came to a paddock of goats. The gate was latched but not locked so we wandered in. The farm hand had arrived before us with some hay which the tribe were enjoying. The goats were very friendly and the kids found that if they picked up a handful of the hay the goats would eat it from their hand. It was a lovely experience to touch each goat and give it a good pat.
I think it was too hot for the pigs who refused to leave their sty to greet the visitors so we headed down the track to spot the donkey and horse. We found the gate locked so we stayed on our side of the fence. Unfortunately for us (a relief for the animals?) their hay had been placed away from the fence. We could only look on as they ate, completely disregarding their fans.
The opposite paddock boasted a flock of sheep who were much more interested in us and, with an unlocked gate, much more accessible. The kids had a chance to feel their wool and give them a pat too before we headed to the cafe for lunch.
If you are going to eat at the cafe you need to be aware that there are two separate entries. One is via the farm where you will need to find a picnic table on site (only a small number are shaded by trees). The other entry point is via the external road and offers a covered, seated option. You will need to leave the farm to enjoy this option.
We decided to remain in the farm to eat. Master R was quite impressed with his ‘lunchbox’ choice which offered a cheese sandwich, strawberries and a flapjack treat. Miss N chose a homemade sausage roll, whilst T and I shared a gourmet sandwich. The menu is plentiful with something on it to accommodate most tastes. The kids also enjoyed freshly squeezed juice while T and I drank Organic Cola from Daylesford. Perfect!
After lunch we went on the hunt for the resident cat who we found sitting in front of a tap. We turned it on a little and were delighted when she started lapping it up straight from the spout. It was a lovely ending to our visit.
Be warned, if you kids have visited a few farms previously they might think that the Collingwood Farm is small. There are quite a few animals but they aren’t all available to touch and feed. The farm is also quite popular so be prepared for crowds. For us, circling the farm and eating at the cafe took around 90 minutes all up. Perhaps it would take longer if you arrive before 10.00 am in time for the cow milking.
The Collingwood Farm is open every day and is not far from the Melbourne CBD. Head to St Heliers St, Abbotsford to access the car park and walk from there. Access for a family is $20.00.