Megan Hewat and Peter Caldwell opened up their farm to the public three years ago and have been welcoming people into the joys of rural life ever since.
Tree Tops Ranch, on the outskirts of Bundalong, offers space to explore and experience some good old-fashioned fun on the farm.
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Peter Caldwell and Megan Hewat with their three children have turned their 12ha block into a hive of rural activity.
“We opened our farm up to the public three years ago,” Peter said.
“It’s been flat out. We can’t keep up with the demand for farm tours, school holiday programs and horse-riding clinics.”
The winter school holidays bring the challenge of shorter, colder and wetter days but people are still eager, donning gumboots and showing up in droves.
“There’s plenty of things for visitors to do — bottle feed the poddy calves, pony rides, tractor rides, patting the big animals, like cows and horses and of course there’s the ducks, chickens, turkeys and goats,” Peter said.
Despite Bundalong being a small town flanked by crops, many kids who visit the ranch come from nearby towns like Yarrawonga and Shepparton and have never experienced whip-cracking, campfire damper or the exhilarating nerves that come with sitting atop a Clydesdale.
“Megan has a horse background. We have great kids’ ponies and work with some youngsters who use horses for rehabilitation purposes,” Peter said.
“I’m not the horse person, I’m just the dad that gets told to hang onto them.”
Horse riding clinics are held year-round with kids coming from as far as Jerilderie to learn the skill and discipline required to ride and care for a horse.
Peter believes Tree Tops Ranch offers kids the opportunity to learn and a cost-effective solution for parents who are not able or prepared to buy their child a horse.
“We love what we do. The reason we started the ranch was so we could be at home with our kids, it’s a great way to spend time with each other.”
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