Jetsettersblog

When it comes to memorable holiday photos, it’s hard to beat the “dogs on logs” at the South Burnett’s Old Boyneside farmstay, writes Sue Fuller.

A line up of 28 working cattle dogs posing obediently on logs behind us, provided the perfect backdrop for our family photo. And it wasn’t only the two-year-olds in our group who were completely smitten by the 25 kelpie crosses, two pure bred kelpies and one lovable staffie/Jack Russell cross, Molly who’ve been so meticulously trained by Old Boyneside owner Peter Curtain.

In the 21 years Peter and his wife Moira have been running their popular farmstay, there’s hardly been a visitor who hasn’t jumped at the chance to have their photograph taken with the dogs outside the homestead, which is located a three hour drive north-west from Brisbane.

Peter and his son Tom breed the working dogs as a sideline on the 2,500 hectare property which has been in his wife Moira’s family since the 1920s.

The Curtains are true farmstay pioneers, opening up Old Boyneside for its first farmstay visitors in 1988. Since then, they have hosted thousands of guests from all over the world who come for a taste of authentic life on a working property and warm country hospitality. And after years of experience, it’s a mix that hosts Peter and Moira have got just right.

Peter is a wonderful host as he lets us share some of the day to day jobs and experiences on the property, patiently fielding the two year olds’ excited questions and making the adults laugh with a dry aside.

“Because we’ve done it for so long, we understand what each of our guests may be interested in,” said Peter. “We tailor-make the experiences for every person.”

Twice a day we pile in Peter’s blue ute while the 20-plus working dogs stretch their legs and run beside us. It’s a joyful exercise, with all of us shouting the names of the dogs we’re quickly getting to know. “Molly dog”, as she’s been dubbed by our boys William and Thomas, prefers to ride in the ute.

Our couple of days at Old Boyneside are filled with fresh air, fantastic cooking and new experiences for the little city boys, whose eyes boggle with amazement when Peter patiently shows them farm life.

He teaches them to milk Audrey the house cow – surprisingly successfully, and squirts milk straight into their mouths so they have no doubt where milk comes from.

Under Peter’s watchful eye, the boys feed the chickens, ducks and peacocks and enjoy a ride on the tractor-drawn wagon.

He saddles up a quiet pony for the boys to “ride” – but alas no takers. “I’ll ride a horse, one day soon,” says William. Thomas nods in agreement.

We taste peanuts plucked fresh from the rich red volcanic soil as Peter pulls a plant from the ground to show us its legume roots.

We stop for lunch under the shade of gum trees near the ramshackle one room homestead built on the property in the 20s or 30s. It’s easy to imagine how isolated life must have been back then, as even today the only sound is the wind rustling the leaves.

While we’re out and about with Peter, Moira whips up hearty meals of homemade soups, biscuits, delicious casseroles and freshly-baked scones.

After breakfast one morning, we gather around the slow combustion stove for an impromptu lesson on making scones.

“I once taught a Japanese lady to make scones and she was very keen to make them once she got home to Japan. Maybe the flour is a bit different over there but she emailed me with the message, ‘Oh no Moira – scones of steel’!” she laughed.

Old Boyneside is located on the Bunya Highway, Kumbia approximately three hours’ drive from Brisbane. Cost is $185 per adult per 24-hour period (children four to 12 years half price and children under three free), including all meals (breakfast, lunch, dinner, morning and afternoon tea). All activities and tours are also included except horse riding ($50 per hour).

For bookings please call (07) 4164 4262 or visit www.ozfarmstay.com

For general South Burnett holiday information, visit www.southeastqueenslandcountry.com.au