Esperance Farm Experience

Description

Esperance Farm Experience provides an opportunity for participants to see, touch and taste life on a mixed farming enterprise.  

Oake Marsh Farm is 3,500 acres of attractive farm land, 25 km North East of Esperance. We have a herd of 43 breeding cows (Black Angus and Gelphi), two bulls and their various prodigy. We run 1,800 Merino ewes which are crossed with both Merino rams for fine wool and poll black faced Suffolks rams for prime lambs for market.  We always have a myriad of pet sheep and calves throughout the seasons who adore attention.

We have large machinery sheds full of an extensive array of farm machinery, a hay shed, super shed and a novel silage pit.  The highlight is the Shearing Shed and yards that hold many stories and are a hive of activity throughout the year providing the necessary health care for the mobs of sheep and herds of cattle. We have many native animals who seek refuge in our Blue Gum Plantations, including Kangaroos, Emus and rabbits, along with a pair of beautiful bush turkeys.  We have a mix of snakes who generally stay well out of sight, along with blue tongue goannas and racing lizards.

An airconditioned 4x4 Mercedes Sprinter Bus and an informative and enthusiastic tour guide will guide patrons through a half day (3 hour) visit to the farm.  Each tour will be seasonally based and individualised to meet the interests of the participants.  It will include a tour of the machinery shed, the shearing shed and the livestock yards.  It will include opportunity for participants to walk in the paddocks, meet the cows and see the tagasati hedges.  It will include the opportunity to get up close and personal with our various farm animals and pets who love visitors and especially being hand fed.

A full day Experience will begin with a 9am bus pick up from the Esperance Visitors Centre and the opportunity to spend time at the famous Esperance Stonehenge on the way to Oake Marsh Farm.  The farm tour will begin with a sumptuous morning tea, providing patrons with a 2.5 hour 'hands on' farm tour. The tour will continue to our neighbouring farm - Yirri Grove for a walk through the Olive Grove where patrons will learn how olives are pressed and taste the award winning Yirri Grove Oil.  A shared lunch platter and glass of wine will be served amongst the Olive trees.  The afternoon will complete with Gin tasting at the Esperance distillery, and safe return to the Esperance Visitors centre at 4.30 pm.  All costs inclusive.

Fun loving, self driven, active visitors are welcome to bring their own mountain bikes to Oake Marsh Farm to experience a self paced, self directed cycle tour.  Patrons will be given a map and follow navigational posts with QR codes guiding them to the various farm activities.  Cycling past the cows and tagasati hedges, the natural bushland and paperbark swamp will give patrons opportunity to see plenty of wildlife.   Hear the whisper of the blue gums and smell the scent of nature.

Farm Stay options are currently in development, which will include 'At home with the family'; the refurbishment of the 'Wool Classers Cottage' to provide a camp kitchen and RV friendly site; and Eco Cottages.