Wilga Station, Bathurst: a peaceful hideway in classic sheep country

Bathurst's luxury accommodation options have bloomed since 2020, thanks to the entrepreneurial Hamish Keith. The former CEO of Mayfield Garden - Australia's largest cool-climate garden - Keith has opened two stunning stays on his family's 105-hectare multigenerational sheep farm. Recently, his hospitality portfolio expanded even further with The Wool Store - five glamorous apartments on Bathurst's Keppel Street.

Wilga Station, home to the one-bedroom Farmers Hut and family-friendly five-bedroom Shearers Hall, is about a 10-minute drive from Bathurst. Time your arrival right and you might have to wait for a mob of sheep to trot out of the way so you can park. This is a peaceful farmstay where you can unwind in a hilltop setting - with all the convenience of being able to pop into town if you feel like trying one of its restaurants.

The grass-roofed Farmers Hut, which opened in 2020, is a cosy off-grid retreat complete with a day-bed set against a picture window. It frames a field sown with wildflowers and an idyllic view over valleys and distant hills. After parking, you must zig-zag through a series of gates and fences (much like sheep) to reach the front door. The nearby Shearers Hall, which opened in 2021, is a repurposed corrugated-iron shearing shed. It incorporates evocative features such as sheep chutes, shearing tools and a wool table turned into a dining table.

At the Shearers Hall, early arrivals will likely nab the two rear bedrooms, which both feature an extra window (all the better for watching the passing ewes and lambs). Keith, his wife Mez and his artistic mother Denise have recycled and repurposed farm timbers, drafting gates and equipment in the interior design, so each room differs slightly. This spot, 750 metres above sea level, is occasionally dusted with snow, so the two bathrooms feature underfloor heating and the hall is kept snug with underfloor wool/polystyrene insulation. A chest holds hot-water bottles and extra blankets; there's also a nicely curated supply of books, magazines and board games.

Rates include hot-breakfast provisions (think Trunkey bacon and the farm's own eggs); hut-dwellers also score a bottle of sparkling wine. Antipasto platters and dinner hampers are available (additional charge). Both hut and hall feature barbecues; the hall also has a full kitchen while the hut has a kitchenette. Don't feel like cooking? Head to Bathurst's Dogwood BX for hearty American diner fare and a mean cocktail or two, or to Vine & Tap's leafy courtyard for Italian-style feasting.

It's de rigueur to book a lunch table at the Rockley Pub, owned by celebrity chef Matt Moran. As you head to the tiny village, a 30-minute drive south-east from Wilga Station, stop for a tasting of Italian varietals at Vale Creek Wines. Mayfield Garden is a 35-minute drive south-east of Bathurst. Allow as much time as possible to gawk at its spectacular themed gardens. Orange, renowned for cool-climate wines and sophisticated cellar doors, is a 50-minute drive north-west of Bathurst.

Wander the farm's meandering Sheep Trail to reach willow-lined Wilga Creek where you can swim if it's warm, relax on rock platforms, listen to birdsong or simply skip stones.

Katrina Lobley was a guest of Wilga Station.

Where: Wilga Station, 1611 Mid Western Highway, Evans Plains

How much: Prices start from $1100 a night for the Shearers Hall, the Farmers Hut starts from $450 a night; in town, the Wool Store's Penthouse costs $1400 a night while other apartments range from $275 a night upwards. All require a two-night minimum stay.

Explore more: wilgastation.com.au