If you’re looking for a friendly Farm Stay experience in Outback NSW, Carinya Station might be right up your alley.
Carinya Station is situated just 15km out of the quirky opal mining town of Lightning Ridge, in Outback NSW. The private property is a 6600 acre working Merino Sheep Station for wool production, trade lamb sales and dryland cropping. The family-run Sheep Station is open in the cooler months for travellers to come and camp.
You will get an up close and personal look at outback station life where getting your hands dirty is encouraged! On offer is a whole list of farm tasks, which campers are more than welcome to have a go at, which gives you experience and helps out the family farm.
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Carinya Station Farm Stay
Joe and Jacinda open up their property to campers for the cooler months of each year (April – October, depending on the circumstances).
Campers are welcome to get involved with the farm activities or to simply unwind, relax and take in the outback surroundings.
An introductory Farm Tour is included with each booking. This is where you will be shown around the workings of the station, meet some of the animals and be invited to participate in some farm activities if you wish (no obligation).
Carinya Station Farm Tasks
- Collecting and washing chicken eggs
- Feeding the pigs, sheep, lambs and goats
- Walking the dogs
- Painting
- Building bits & pieces
- Anything else you want to put your hand to
Carinya Station Camp Features
💲 From $50/nt powered | From $30/nt unpowered
📝 Bookings required
⛺️ Tents, Camper Trailers, Caravans, RVs, Buses
🐶 Dogs allowed
🚻 Composting toilet (BYO toilet paper)
🚿 Open-air shower & bath
💧 Drinking water
🔥 Camp fire
👕 Washing Machine
⚡️ Generators allowed
📶 Telstra reception
🚗 2WD & Big Rig access
〰️ Slippery when wet (guests are asked to leave before rain or wait it out)
❌ Closed during the hot months (approx. November – March)
Click here for Carinya Station campsite bookings.
History of Carinya Farm Station Stay
Carinya Farm Station Stay all began quite a few years ago when some friends asked if they could come and stay at the station and help out. Of course, they were more than happy to oblige.
Up until the end of 2018, camping on the property for free was in exchange for a bit of help around the place.
In 2019, the owners moved to taking bookings through HipCamp and charging a small fee of $11.10 per night (per camp). The most notable reasons for the change are to stop people purely using their private property as a Free Camp and to also ensure that all campers are now covered by insurance while staying at Carinya Station.
Also available was camping by the house dam with one powered site on offer with a drop toilet (BYO toilet paper).
Since then the Carinya Station Farm Stay camping experience has grown into what it is today, with powered sites, glamping tents and over 300 acres of open camping area.
Carinya Station Photos
Carinya Station Location
| CARINYA STATION FARM STAY | |
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| Address | Ridge Road, Lightning Ridge NSW 2834 |
Although your digital maps are fantastic, you don’t want to be stuck in the Outback with a dead device or no reception. Always remember to preload all of your maps before heading out of service. It’s also wise to have a good old paper map on hand as well. Hema have a great range of state and regional maps.
CARINYA STATION ESSENTIALS
More of Lightning Ridge
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What a great place to camp and learn about farming. It’s such a great deal for only $11.10 with amenities like a flushing toilet and showers. Do the farming chores get assigned or do you get to choose what you would like to help out with?
It’s pretty good value and definitely a unique experience. You can choose whichever tasks you’d like to do and you can do as much or as little as you like.
Carinya Station looks like such a fascinating place! I’m moving to NSW in a few months – would love to check this out next year!
Ohh nice! If you ever get into the Outback, definitely put Lightning Ridge on your list.
This sounds like a cool way to have a farm experience, which would be new to me. It also would be a good way to get to interact with locals which is part of why I love to travel. Can you pick your job? I would love to gather eggs.
Hanging out with the locals is definitely a great reason for travel. Yes, you can pick as few or as many jobs as you like – there’s no pressure.
Love this! The ultimate Australian outback getaway. Looks like the perfect place to connect with nature and family.
I heard great things about Lightning Ridge and I’ve seen some spectacular photos of sunset and sunrise… This camp would be the true experience of the Australian outback!
Lightning Ridge is great. Staying on a station out there really is the epitome of true, blue Aussie outback. Any sunset over the plains of the outback is second to none.