Bungaree Station Clare review | SA’s Great Travel Planner

We head out to help feed the station’s pet animals and get an up-close look at the wider property; its sprawling grassy paddocks and flowing little creeks.

THERE’S nothing quite like heading on a family getaway: a car boot stuffed full of the things required for two nights away, not to mention the two young, screaming children in the back seat. Prepare yourselves for the mess and noise to come!

But there’s one thing guaranteed to make the family getaway even more fun: going away with friends who will actually put up with all that mess and noise. And who have a three-year-old themselves. All you need then is to head somewhere where the two families will be welcome.

That’s where Bungaree Station, nestled next to the Hutt River in the Clare Valley, ticks all the boxes.

Not more than 12km north of Clare’s centre, it’s close enough to the region’s famous wineries for the parents, and immersed in nature enough for the kids.

Bungaree Station, today, is a thriving farm. In the past, it was a thriving rural centre. It was established in 1841 by George Hawker and his two brothers, James and Charles, when they selected it as their “head station” after they’d purchased 2000 ewes and, on the advice of famed explorer Edward John Eyre, went looking for land.

Here, they found “good drinkable water at a depth of eight feet and plenty of it” and named the property Bungaree after the Aboriginal word for the area. At the time, it was the northernmost settlement of the new South Australian colony and became the headquarters for the Hawkers’ expansive property, running 100,000 merino sheep at its height.

The 32,000ha property housed its own church, store, blacksmith shop and district council chambers.

Except for the church, which still holds services every quarter and plays host to weddings, these historic buildings have been transformed into boutique accommodation.

With our combined party of four adults and three children, we choose to stay in the Men’s Kitchen, a gorgeous verandahed cottage that was originally constructed for bunkroom-style accommodation for the single station hands who worked the property.

It has been tastefully renovated and can sleep up to 10 people in four bedrooms. It also has two bathrooms, a large kitchen and sitting room and a wood fireplace to keep it all warm.

After unpacking our loaded cars and settling into the place, we take time to explore the grounds around our cottage. There is a creek running towards the back of the house and an expanse of lawn surrounding it that is the perfect spot for a quick game of chasey.

It isn’t long until we’re hitting the road – unfortunately Mintaro Maze is closed – but there are some fabulous playgrounds in and around Clare and we end up enjoying a picturesque lunch on the balcony at Paulett Wine’s Bush Devine Café.

It is only spoiled by our one-year-old’s monumental tantrum, which the staff handle with a caring sense of humour. Their excellent kids’ menu and “entertainment pack” is worthy of a mention.

The night is spent drinking Clare Valley red and reminiscing about our child-free youths in front of the crackling fire.

On our first full morning, we wake up early and head out to help feed the station’s pet animals and it’s at this point we get an up-close look at the wider property; its sprawling grassy paddocks and flowing little creeks.

The centrepiece, of course, is the stunning Bungaree homestead. But the kids are not in awe of the property itself, they’re too busy chasing the farm animals. There are turkeys and calves and eggs under chickens, deer and sheep and lovely clydesdale horses.

The respective three-year-olds hold out their hands filled with feed and their smiles are a joy. Our preschooler is left desperately asking how she could be a farmer when she grows up, while our one-year-old coos at the animals; eyes wide and arms outstretched. But a lesson learned by my ruined pair of white slip-on trainers: they are inappropriate footwear; wear gum boots, especially after it’s been raining. But the shoes are not a disappointment, rather happy collateral damage.

History is alive across the entire property from the initial point of contact with the owners at the Old Station Shop (where you can still see historical items that kept life ticking over more than 150 years ago), to rusted old tractors and cars lined up in wooden stables. There are tours offered including a self-guided option and because we’re staying on site, these are free.

That night, we are treated to an intimate barbecue dinner using the Station’s own lamb.

Bungaree Station remains in private hands and continues to be a mixed farm run by fourth and fifth generations of the Hawker family.

So because it’s still a working farm, keep an eye out for all those tractors: Since we travelled here, “Wow … ’actor; big ’actor” has become our son’s favourite sentence.

We only spent two nights here. We wish it were more. There’s always next time.

Reviews are unannounced and paid for by SAWeekend.

This review was first published in January 2016 and had details updated in March 2021

• 431 Bungaree Road, Clare
• 8842 2677
• bungareestation.com.au
• LOCATION Bungaree Station, 160km north of Adelaide in the Clare Valley.
• ACCOMMODATION A range of accommodation in restored historic buildings around this working farm. Choose from “bed and breakfast” accommodation in self contained cottages including the Stallion Box for a couple, or the Men’s Kitchen for up to 10 people, or go “camping” in the old Shearers’ Quarters.
• FACILITIES Seven self contained cottages with 1-4 bedrooms, kitchen, bathroom/s and sitting room with wood fires and airconditioning. All bedding and towels provided, as well as full breakfast provisions. Basic camping facilities at Shearers Quarters for groups. Farm shop, audio tours, 4WD farm tours, animal feeding, walking trails and swimming pool available for guests.
• PRICE Varies from $228/night in the Stallion Box to $660/night for the Men’s Kitchen. The Shearers’ Quarters can be booked for up to 25 people for $550/night