By the time you’ve finished this adventure you will feel like you have experienced high country life and learnt a little about the farming history and conservation efforts. You will have met a few farm animals, bumped into some wild creatures and made friends with the native birds. You will have felt the spongy moss under your feet and maybe even hugged a few trees as you witnessed the Mandamus Reserve private conservation project in action where the property has set aside vast areas of land for forest regeneration, pest control and in turn wildlife restoration.
Day 1: Getting to Island Hills is half the fun. Self drive through the scenic Mandamus Gorge, across the suspension bridge and find your way to the end of a gravel back country road. Seclusion and tranquility are imediately apparent as you settle in to the renovated 1877 Huntaway Homestead around mid-afternoon. Take an short stroll, visit the farm museum or dip in the river before enjoying a hosted evening BBQ meal.
Day 2: A leasurely full cooked or continential breakfast prepared by your hosts. Followed by a mid-morning 4 wheel drive farm tour heading out to the conservation park. Hike for as long or short as you wish along formed trails through the gorgeous forest covenant. Checking pest control traps and listening to native birds as you go. Enjoy a picnic lunch and perhaps a dip in the creek. Back to the homestead by mid afternoon for some relaxation and an evening meal. Don't forget to check the stars at night as this is a dark sky area.
Day 3: Self-prep continential breakfast followed by short hiking tour on a different trail or try your hand at target shooting with our onsite professional tutors. No liceneces or previous experience required. Target shooting is a fun challenge and can become a contest to see who is the best shot, you might be a sharper than your hosts! Breakfast, lunch and dinner provided.
Departure by 11:30am
Optional extra: 1 more night of accomodation at Huntaway Homestead with food provided and additional hosted on farm activities. $970 for 4 guests.
Optional extra: Heli-hiking Alpine Adventure. $3,800 for 4 guests. Helicopter pick-up near Huntaway Homestead, flightpath over Island hills farmland, forest country and into the mountains. Drop off on an alpine ridge with incredible views over the wild untouched back country. Your host will guide you down the ridgeline stopping for lunch along the way. You will drop into the forest country ultimately meeting the pristine stream at the valley floor where a four wheel drive will be waiting to transport you back to the homestead accommodation.
Optional extra: Wild Deer Hunting Day Trip. $750 per hunter, $170 per non-hunting tag along. Hunting for your own meat is an unforgettable achievement. The deer we take must be removed for farm productivity and conservation purposes. This incredible adventure includes firearms safety training and range shooting practice prior to hunt. You don't need a firearms license or any experience at all. Rifle and ammunition is provided along with a dedicated guide who will show you how to; find animals, get into a shooting position, dress the carcass and carry meat out. Hunts are on foot over uneven hilly terrain so good fitness and capability is required, although we can cater a hunt to all capabilities. The meat will be used for the evening meal and guests can take meat with them for the duration of their holiday.
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