CHEYENNE WILDERNESS RETREAT

Host: MIKE WHITNEY

Cheyenne Wilderness Retreat is perched on the edge of the Oxley Wild Rivers National Park and Wilderness Area. This is a unique part of Australia's bush, wild, rugged...magic ... and safe for all the family.

Your hosts Burgh & Sue Bloomfield make sure that your farm stay holiday starts the minute you arrive. You can relax in comfortable accommodation with a peaceful garden setting or settle in a hammock in the gazebo right on the edge of the gorge. You might like to warm up with an easy walk over the lovely cleared farmland. As you can see from these photographs, Cheyenne is an outdoor photographer's dream.

Farm Activities

Mike’s discovering Cheyenne Wilderness Retreat - a farm stay where guests can get in and get involved with all the farm activities … or just relax in a hammock overlooking the rugged National Park. 

Children (and adults) love their stay at Cheyenne where they can mingle with and learn all about how to care for the many and varied farm animals. There is nearly always a baby animal around of some sort to cuddle and helping milk the cow is always popular as is feeding the chickens and searching for their eggs. The pet goat and pig quickly win the hearts of the children who save them tidbits from their table. 

For those who enjoy bush walking, Cheyenne is a real treat. The views around the farm itself are magnificent and you can stroll for hours without crossing the boundary fence with many easy walks for legs old and young. For the serious bushwalker - You can follow the ridge top or take the spectacular 15 km walk down into the river valley. You take the short route down 500 metres (over 1500 feet) into the gorge, then follow the rock strewn stream for several kms to a quiet clearing. Enjoy a peaceful snack then attack the long slow climb back up the saddle. 

There is usually plenty of wildlife and some very unique Australian flora. For bird watchers, at the right time of year, Cheyenne offers a special treat.

Cray bobbing, fishing in the dam and an orienteering course are included in the list of fun activities. All this is capped off by the unique opportunity of spotlight viewing the colony of cute little rare and endangered Brush Tailed Rock Wallabies.  

Camp Fire Dinner

At Cheyenne your stay includes a unique camp fire oven dinner. Burgh has built a beautiful gazebo right on the edge of the gorge overlooking the Blue Mountains valley – and this is the where they do the camp fire dinner.

The campfire usually kicks off at about 3pm, with the logs left to heat and smolder. Once they’re hot and ready to go, they add the deliciously marinated legs of lamb that Sue prepares. Then at about 8pm guests gather for dinner in the gazebo. It doesn’t get much better than freshly cooked leg of lamb with vegies and spuds. 

Accommodation

Cheyenne provides two accommodation options. Guest can choose between the original Garden Cottage or the new Homestead Wing. Both cottages are fully self contained and comfortably furnished. The Homestead Wing, set in the lovely Homestead gardens, is a relatively new addition, and provides comfort and privacy for 4 guests. It has two bedrooms, kitchen and living area along with private bathroom, shared laundry and there’s a spacious verandah that wraps around.

The Garden Cottage sleeps 6 guests comfortably. It has a kitchen, dining area and separate sitting room complete with the warmth of a slow combustion wood heater (which is fully enclosed within a child proof frame). 

More Information
Cheyenne Wilderness Retreat
Winterbourne Road, Walcha
Telephone: (02) 6777 9172
www.cheyenneretreat.com

Farm stay holidays start from $140 per person. This includes your accommodation, meals and activities.  

Prices correct as at 03/03/07