White Ridge Farm

Looking for a laid-back day spent feeding farm animals, then White Ridge Farm, Moreton Bay’s most popular animal farm attraction, is where you need to visit.

Located just north of Caboolture, White Ridge Farm is a family-friendly animal experience that offers the chance to pat an alpaca and cuddle a llama, along with an array of other beautiful creatures, while you take a peek into life on a farm.

You’re able to hand-feed many of the animals and the kids will love doling out their bucket of feed to their new-found furry friends. Depending on your ticket type, a cup of feed is included, with extra buckets able to be purchased at any time.

The playful goats are eager for their share of attention (and food), but even more so, the seemingly aloof llamas and alpacas will certainly make sure you don’t miss them.

But be warned, they are known to spit sometimes, so heed that when choosing outfits for the day. Remember, you are surrounded by farm animals and, well, 'spit happens'.

The ducks and geese, a variety of beautiful chooks (keep an eye out for the colourful and fancy bantams), and a very proud rooster are all housed just near Babe, the farm’s resident ‘big’ pig (who loves being rubbed), and the nearby gorgeous piglets are just too cute to pass without a few oohs and aahs as they mischievously snort and play together; at least when they're not tuckered out and catching a quick nap between pint-sized, two-legged visitors eagerly vying for a cuddle.

As you’d expect with a farm, you’ll also see horses, sheep, donkeys and cows – even a camel named Gypsy who thinks her eyelashes are the most Insta-worthy thing on the farm – up close and personal. Pony rides are a popular extra that the kids will remember and cherish for a long time.

The interactive petting area is where the kids have the chance to pat and cuddle some of the cutest little animals, which vary between calves, lambs, goat kids, chicks, rabbits and guinea pigs, amongst others, depending on the time of year.

Very helpful and knowledgeable volunteers are on hand everywhere around the farm to answer any questions about the animals, their peculiarities or their habitats, so don't hesitate to ask.

A visit to a farm isn’t complete without the chance for a ride behind the tractor, and the hay ride is everyone’s favourite experience. Taking around 10 minutes or so, this discovery trip explores eucalypt forested areas of the farm not otherwise on offer, and is just as much fun as it is informative.

The kiosk at the entrance sells a small range of cold drinks, fresh coffee, light snacks and ice-blocks, but visitors are more than welcome to pack a picnic to enjoy in the grounds. There are a couple of covered eating areas – one of them even has books and games for you to use, plus a lovely old piano if you’re feeling the inclination to tinkle the ivories – and there are plenty of shady picnic tables to kick back at and enjoy the downtime while the kids head off on another circuit to feed their new best friends.

Just to mix things up a bit, there is a fun, 9-hole mini putt course that certainly puts your golfing skills to the test. Offering an all-round family day out, the farm has a kids’ adventure playground, complete with trampoline, as well as a separate toddlers’ playground for the little tykes to tool around in, perfect for burning off any extra energy before the drive home.

Always practising responsible animal management, the farm was specifically created as an educational resource. As such, school groups are welcome to visit White Ridge Farm, with the owners happy to adapt the farm tour to suit the group’s curriculum unit.

Off-street parking is plentiful under the shade of the gum trees.

Nice to know – Family passes are available, plus you can purchase annual passes so that you can return as many times as you like during the year.

Nice to know – Birthday parties (BYO catering) can be booked to be held here for a party with a difference.

Nice to know – Affectionately, all of the animals have names, and just like people, each has their own unique personality.

By Danella Perrins