Birchfield Farmstay

Birchfield Farmstay is a rural property at Forest Grove, a short drive south of Margaret River in Western Australia, with strawbale chalet and dome accommodation set among forest and farmland. It is one of the few stays in the region where dogs of any size are welcome, multiple pets are allowed, and there is no additional pet fee.

Dogs at the Birchfield Farmstay

Dogs of any size can stay, and more than one pet is fine, provided the hosts approve them in advance before you book. There is no extra charge for pets. Outdoors, dogs stay on a lead at all times because ducks and peacocks roam the grounds alongside the farm animals. Indoors, dogs are welcome but must stay off the furniture and out of the bedrooms. A kennel is available near the cottage, and you are asked to pick up after your dog around the property. Cats are not permitted.

The farm setup

Two self-contained options take pets. The Dome is a two-bedroom, clay-rendered strawbale chalet with a fireplace and a safe outdoor enclosure where your dog can sit outside with you off-lead but contained. The Chalet is a two-bedroom cottage on the same property. Both book with a two-night minimum. Stays include daily animal feeding with donkeys, alpacas and guinea pigs, and the property is far from town lights, so the night skies are genuinely dark.

Max: Keep the lead on around the grounds. With ducks, peacocks and livestock wandering free, an off-lead dog here is asking for trouble.

Getting there and getting around

The farmstay sits on Calgardup Road at Forest Grove. Witchcliffe, with a cafe and general store, is the closest village, and Margaret River town is about a 12-minute drive for supermarkets, pubs and breweries. Redgate Beach is close by for a swim or a surf, and the Leeuwin-Naturaliste national park tracks nearby make an easy on-lead walk before you head back for the afternoon animal feed.

Pair it with

If the farm is booked out, Harmony Forest Cottages is a pet-friendly alternative on the same road corridor, and The Cabin Margaret River is another Forest Grove option. For a coffee stop on the way in, Boranup Forest Cafe sits in the karri forest to the south. More dog-friendly stays are listed on the WA stays page, and the Forest Grove guide covers the area.

Confirm the pet rules for your specific accommodation and get host approval for your dog before you book, and check how they expect dogs to be managed around the resident animals during feeding time.