Myrtlemae Farm

Myrtlemae Farm is a 24 acre property a kilometre from the Balingup town centre, with a restored, rustic former-stables cottage bordering State Forest and the Racecourse Flora Reserve. Dogs are welcome, but this is farm country with livestock about, so the owners ask you to check with them first before you book.

Dogs at the farm

Dogs are welcome to stay, but you must contact the property before booking to confirm your dog is suitable, largely because of livestock on the property and on neighbouring farms. Official house rules do not list a set size limit or a pet fee, so confirm both directly. Once you are there, the house rules ask that dogs be managed so they do not harass farm animals or wildlife, and there are two practical hazards to keep in mind: dams and a pond near the cottage for water-loving dogs, and snakes in the long grass during the warmer months. The cottage is separate from the main house, so you have the space to yourselves.

Pepsi: message the owners before you book, they genuinely want to check your dog suits the farm, and watch the dams near the cottage.

The vibe

The cottage has a hand-restored, rustic interior with gardens, fruit trees and valley views over the Blackwood River country. Guest reviews mention the quiet, the helpful owners and the wildlife, possums included. It is a private, self-contained cottage rather than a serviced stay, so bring your own bowls, bedding and food, and let the owners know your expected arrival time.

Getting there

The property sits just off the South Western Highway north of Balingup, down a tree-lined driveway, with free private parking on site. Balingup village is about a kilometre away for supplies, and the drive from Perth runs around two and a half hours.

Make a day of it

The Shire of Donnybrook Balingup gazettes off-lead exercise areas within the Balingup townsite, including the reserve off Balinga Drive and the Forrest Street Railway Reserve, so those are the spots for a legal off-lead run. The scenic walks closer to the cottage, including the Racecourse Flora Reserve and Golden Valley Tree Park, require dogs on-lead. If the farm is booked out, Lewana Cottages and Brookvale House Balingup are the other dog-friendly options nearby. More beds are in the Western Australia stays guide and the locality page covers Balingup.