Diamond Forest Farm Stay

Diamond Forest Farm Stay is a working farm property on the South Western Highway in the forest country between Manjimup and Pemberton, in the small settlement of Middlesex. It runs four self contained cottages on the farm, and the experience is built around the animals: guests feed the stock, the peacocks and parrots come to the verandahs, and the farm dams hold marron that can be caught in season. Canoeing on the dams, the tall karri forest all around and the Southern Forest food and wine routes make it a base for families staying several nights rather than a one night stop.

The cottages are the whole offering, each separate and self catering, with hosts on site who keep the animal interactions running daily. Town supplies come from Manjimup, fifteen minutes north.

Dogs at Diamond Forest Farm Stay

Per the property's own site, two of the four cottages are pet friendly, each with a secure fenced yard, and pets are welcome by prior arrangement, so the booking conversation happens before you arrive, not at the gate. Around the farm animals, dogs stay on a lead, and guests bring their own pet bedding and bowls. The full pet policy is published through the booking platform's policies page for the property.

Guests add the texture the site leaves out: the fenced yards attach to the verandahs, so early morning toilet breaks need no harness wrestle, and there is a spot down by the big dam where well mannered dogs get a swim off lead. The Diamond State Forest sits across the road with quiet logging tracks for longer walks, and guests report the hosts are relaxed about leaving a settled dog inside the cottage while you run to town, though confirm that when you book.

Worth knowing

The two cottage limit means pet friendly availability goes fast in school holidays, and the fenced yards matter because this is genuinely stock country with animals grazing nearby. The lead rule around the farm animals is not negotiable.

Morning feeding time is the daily highlight and the daily hazard: the stock stir up a lot of excitement, so keep the dog inside or on a short lead while it runs. Chalets sit close enough together that a reactive dog will meet traffic on the common paths, and mobile coverage dips in the valley, so download maps before you leave the highway.

Pepsi: I watched the peacock from the verandah all week and we agreed to disagree.

While you're out there

The Southern Forests region stacks up well for dog travellers: Lewana Cottages at Balingup to the north, Brookvale House at Balingup and Glenarty Road at Karridale toward the coast. The full set is on the Western Australia dog friendly stays page.