There are bucket list experiences that take you to the other side of the world, and then there are the ones hiding in the Adelaide Hills, just 40 minutes from the city. The Farm Clarendon falls firmly into the second category, and its Cuddle a Cow experience is exactly what it sounds like, and somehow even better.
Found on Piggott Range Road in the pretty southern Hills village of Clarendon, The Farm is home to a small herd of Highland cattle, those magnificent, shaggy-fringed creatures with the enormous horns and improbably gentle temperaments that have been delighting the internet for years. Here, you get to meet them in person.
The 45-to-60-minute session is as unhurried and uncomplicated as rural life should be. Small groups of up to six people brush, hand-feed, pat and lead the cows around the field at whatever pace the animals feel like moving, which, it should be noted, is entirely on their terms. Highland cattle are famously calm and affectionate, and spending an hour in their company has an almost meditative quality. There is something restorative about stepping away from screens and schedules to stand in a paddock with a hairy, hay-scented cow leaning contentedly against your shoulder.
The experience costs $200 for a group of up to six, not per person, making it an excellent outing for a small group of friends or a multigenerational family visit. Budding photographers are welcome to bring a camera, and separate professional photoshoot packages are available for those who want the full Highland cattle portrait moment.
Bookings are essential and dates fill quickly, so check the website for availability.
The Farm Clarendon,
334 Piggott Range Road, Clarendon.
thefarmclarendon.com.au
