We saw kangaroos, horses, sheep and cows on the drive in, so our daughter was already pretty excited about the place we were staying. Turning into Misty Valley Country Cottages, our car was met by a smiling golden retriever whose name we later learned was Lucy. She chaperoned us towards the reception area, where we met Misty Valley host, Warren. He gave us our key and some warm chocolate muffins as a welcome treat before we drove a short way through the dense bushland, past tall karri trees and wildflowers to find our cottage, Autumn Mist.
Our cottage had two bedrooms, the other cottage at Misty Valley, Lake Mist, is slightly larger, with three bedrooms and accommodates up to eight people. The two cottages and the homestead are only a short distance from each other but with the native bushland surroundings, there's a sense of seclusion.
The cottage itself was a comfortable setting for our family getaway. It had country style decor, wooden floors, an open kitchen, reverse cycle air-conditioning and a wood fire inside and a deck outside that looked out onto a valley. The nice thing about farm-stays is that you not only get cosy accommodation but kids (okay adults too) are kept entertained thanks to the animals and farm activities. After a good night sleep, Warren introduced us to some of the animals on the farm and our daughter enjoyed patting the rabbits, taking our kitchen scraps to the chickens and feeding the goats.
Kids have the chance to have a pony ride at Misty Valley as well. Our daughter helped with brushing and feeding one of the ponies but a quick sit on top of one of them was enough for her, (she tells us when she turns three, she'll be ready to ride a pony, she's currently two and three quarters).
On our second morning at Misty Valley, we got a little closer to the cows and were even given a chance to try our hand at milking one, which isn't as easy as it looks. The farm environment even provides opportunities for spotting animals without setting a foot outside.
Much to my daughter's delight, we were able to see kangaroos on the hillside out the window when we woke up. She also enjoyed seeing the colourful birds just outside the kitchen window that came to eat from the bird feeder hanging on the back verandah.
Misty Valley Country Cottages was a perfect base for us to explore the Great Southern region which includes plenty of wineries, gorgeous beaches and impressive national parks.
Exclusive WN offer for subscribers: Mention 'WeekendNotes' when making a booking of three or more nights during the month of May and receive a $30 discount per night. Terms and conditions apply - contact (08) 9840 9239 for more information.
*Aleisha was invited as a guest
