Luxury off-grid farm stay 28 gates in the heart of the Derwent Valley

Unwind in luxury and immerse yourself in the charm of a true Tasmanian farm experience within the heart of the Derwent Valley at 28 Gates. FULL EXPERIENCE >>

Everyone loves a special touch on a well deserved getaway.

At a five-star hotel it might be a chocolate on your pillow.

At 28 Gates farmstay it’s freshly baked bread, eggs straight from the chicken coop and lessons from the locals who live off the land.

After taking the plunge into the agri-tourism industry just a little over a decade ago Susie and Michael Parsons have been sharing the wonders of their quintessential Tassie farm life with tourists ever since.

My best friend and I took the chance to escape the grind and visit the Parsons’ boutique homestead on a recent weekend, in the hope of swapping our blaring alarm clocks for the sweet bliss of country life.

Arriving on a cold and rainy night our brief worries of a soggy getaway were thankfully dashed as we woke to sunshine the following day in the heart of the Derwent Valley.

Making the most of the change in weather Susie picked us up for a tour of their 2,220ha grazing property.

“There aren’t many places like this” she said with a smile as we drove between rolling green hills, her family’s pooch Lily comfortably perched on my lap in the passenger seat.

“People arrive and generally aren’t relaxed but by the time they leave they have a different way about them,” said Susie.

“You get to learn about a slower way of life while spending time in the country.”

The seventh generation working farm is home to sweeping pastures, native animals and trout-rich lakes.

After quizzing us on how many sheep call 28 Gates home (there’s 10,000!), we ventured down to the property’s three private lakes which are a massive drawcard for anglers keen to try their luck at catching Wild Brown, Rainbow and the rare Tiger Trout.

We made a stop at the shearing shed where Susie passionately described the ins and outs of sourcing their fine merino and white suffolk wool before meeting her family’s beautiful farm animals.

Living out our ultimate Old MacDonald experience we hand fed the family’s pet sheep and Poppy the horse, played with pooches Billy and Arthur and snapped pics with Burt - a playful pig that could be straight out of the Aussie film classic Babe.

For travellers up for an adventure there’s multiple walking tracks to explore, the surrounding bush abundant with native wildlife - from Tassie devils, echidnas, quolls and wallabies, the property is a nature lover’s paradise.

A stable turned luxury three bedroom, two bathroom house was our accommodation for the night nestled within the hills of the working farm a short drive away from the Parsons’ home.

Stepping inside we breathed a sigh of relief, the toasty wood-fire that Susie had kindly lit prior to our arrival instantly warming us to the core.

The two-storey building features a well-stocked kitchen with complimentary homemade goodies, a cosy leather lounge, flat-screen TV with an array of classic DVDs and an ensuite fit with a bathtub overlooking country skies.

A highlight of the stay was our delicious home cooked dinner lovingly made by Susie with local produce and delivered to us piping hot.

We indulged in an antipasto plate paired with a bottle of riesling, before digging into a serving of slow cooked lamb from the property with roasted vegetables, gravy and mint sauce, finishing with poached pears in a spiced syrup for dessert.

We ended the day content with a full belly and a cuppa of specially blended 28 Gates tea, curled up by the crackling fire.

If deciding to venture out for a day trip, Mount Field is a must this autumn to see the turning of the fagus, the alpine landscape is a photographer’s dream with rich tones of rusty red and gold blanketing the national park.

Deciduous fagus in autumn, Mount Field National Park. Picture: Tourism Tasmania

During our travels we also made a visit to the historical town of New Norfolk only a half hour’s drive away.

Booked into the award-winning Agrarian Kitchen for a gourmet Saturday lunch we wined and dined in the eatery’s famous restaurant, devouring a six course paddock to plate set menu, that featured succulent oysters, pork belly and apple sorbet with honeycomb - a personal favourite of mine.

We ended our weekend with a stroll around the historic Willow Court, soaking up the town’s rich and haunting history before snapping a couple of bargains at a number of eclectic antique stores dotted around town.

Set in the beautiful Bronte building in New Norfolk Willow Court The Agrarian Kitchen Eatery & Store revolves around a constantly changing menu which celebrates seasonality every day. Credit: Stu Gibson/Tourism

For a city slicker like me, bursting out of the concrete jungle and heading back to Tasmania’s countryside roots for a weekend away gave me the chance to breathe and hit reset.

Driving down the gravel road with 28 Gates in my rearview mirror I was left in awe of the Parsons’ passion for their work and yearning to share their special slice of paradise with others.

I’ll be back next time with my family and friends in tow.

The author was a guest of 28 Gates Farmstay.

MAKE A NOTE:

• 28 Gates is ideal for a getaway with family and friends. Prices start at $1,200 for a two night minimum stay which includes breakfast provisions, home-baked bread, a bottle of still or sparkling wine, farm tour, fishing with no licence needed and special treats on arrival. The private three-bedroom house sleeps up to six people.
• Getting there: 28 Gates is an hour’s drive north from Hobart. Make sure to take the route through New Norfolk if heading from the city. The farmstay is a few minutes away from the small town of Gretna and an hour’s drive south from Mount Field National Park.
• While you’re there: Go fly-fishing, have a private picnic at sunset on the property, explore the many walking trails or sign up for a wildlife night tour - perfect for all ages. Check out the farm stay’s delicious menu for a homecooked dinner or arrange for an In House Chef to cook up a seasonal five-course menu matched with wines - $250/person for two guests and $200/person for three to six guests.