Corella Creek Country Farm Stay

Corella Creek Country Farm Stay is a working property out from Nelia, on the way between Hughenden and Richmond in Queensland's north west. Guests come for the artesian baths, the camp fires under big outback skies and the farm animals, including goats and guinea fowl, that wander the property. It works as a genuine farm stay for travellers crossing the Flinders Highway country, with rooms and camping both on offer.

The dog setup

Per the farm stay's own booking page, pets are welcome for both in house room guests and campers, with conditions that come straight from it being a working property: dogs stay on a leash or caged at all times and are supervised, because the farm runs its own animals. You need to advise the number, size and breed of pet when booking, and room stays attract a $10 fee per pet per stay. There is no dog beach or off leash run here, but the leash and cage rule is the trade for a stay where livestock share the ground.

The free-roaming menagerie includes a resident kelpie called Ziggy, goats and a camp fire mooch named Miss Millie the cow, and hosts Georgi and Eric ask that visiting dogs mind their manners around all of them. Regulars park their vehicles away from the animals, because the goats will treat a 4WD like a climbing frame, and the property typically runs April to September, so time the trip to the season.

The vibe

Feedback centres on the outdoor artesian bath, the evening camp fire and the animals, which is exactly what sets this apart from a highway motel stop. The property sits on the edge of the artesian basin country, so water from the tap is warm and the pace is slow. It suits self sufficient travellers, grey nomads and families who want kids to see farm animals up close rather than a resort schedule.

While you're out there

West of Nelia, the Ayr Plantation Park off leash dog park and the Ayr Apex Park are both proven dog stops if your route swings toward the Burdekin, giving your dog a proper run after a long stretch on the road.

For more options across the state, the Queensland pet friendly stays page lists the wider set.