Blackwood Park Cottages

Arrival at Blackwood Park means a gravel drive through the Meander Valley, past paddocks of alpacas and sheep, to a cluster of six cottages set on a working farm near Mole Creek. The land has been settled since the 1800s, and the main house dates to 1870. Pioneer Cottage, the original building on the property, is a one-bedroom farmstead restored from the late 19th century. Hobbit Cottage occupies a converted milking shed, tucked away from the others. Ariel Cottage is built in solid sandstone, newer than the rest but styled to match. Guests wake to a breakfast hamper of local bread, jam, and bacon, then set out. Cradle Mountain, Mole Creek Caves, and the Great Western Tiers escarpment are all within a short drive, along with vineyards, cheese makers, and a chocolate factory strung along the Deloraine road. Back on the property, there are chickens and ducks to feed, sheep to help move between paddocks, and a glasshouse for picking herbs and vegetables. It is a working farm, not a demonstration of one. The gardens are manicured; the paddocks are not. Check-in details and cottage size vary by booking.