Below are two exciting 4-night itineraries for staying at The Homestead. We've included 'relaxed vs active' options so that you can choose a stay which best suits your holiday aims and ability. These itineraries can be used as the basis of your stay, swapping out activities based on the weather and avalibility. The Relaxed option is first, followed by the Active.
Relaxed 4-night Itinerary
Day 1
- Arrive at Wooleen station for check-in from 2 pm
- Unpack and settle yourself into your room. Enjoy a cup of tea, coffee or other refreshment and take some time to familiarise yourself with the self-drive maps, walk-trails and visitor guide.
- Start your holiday with a gentle 2.3km walk along Trail #1, starting at the steam engine outside the main grid. Learn about the different plants, history and conservation innovations at Wooleen. Finish your walk looking through the museum.
- Return to the homestead to freshen up and enjoy pre-dinner canapes or a game or billiards with the other guests. Choose your wine from the cellar and join Frances and David Pollock for dinner.
Day 2
- Enjoy breakfast in the kitchen. A continental breakfast is available from the island bench between 7.30am and 9am. Or place your order for some fresh Wooleen eggs and bacon.
- Take your car and head off for a self-drive adventure around the southern attractions. Speak with the Wooleen Team about how to access The Lake, Yewlands Pool, Shearing Sheds remains or even the Repeater Tower.
- Meet in the kitchen to enjoy a buffet lunch with your other fellow guests at 12.30pm.
- Grab a good book or magazine and relax in the atrium or garden for an hour or two.
- Join David Pollock on the guided sunset tour departing between 3.30-4pm (check the departure time on the day) where you’ll learn about Wooleen Station conservation and rehabilitation efforts.
- Return to the homestead with enough time to freshen up and join Frances and David for dinner
Shearing Shed Kitchen build in 1922 by Aly Couch
Day 3
- Enjoy breakfast in the kitchen. Continental breakfast is available from the island bench between 7.30am and 9am. Or place your order for some fresh Wooleen eggs and bacon.
- Embark on walk trail #2 and complete the 2km loop and learn more about the different plants, history and conservation innovations at Wooleen.
- Take a drive to the Murchison River and explore Gradagullya Pool. If it’s a wet year, enjoy canoeing down the 500m pool. Alternatively take a walk along the banks and enjoy the ancient gum trees and birdlife.
- Meet in the kitchen to enjoy a buffet lunch with other fellow guests at 12.30pm.
- Grab a good book or magazine and relax in the atrium or garden for an hour or two.
- Explore some of the Wooleen buildings by grabbing a copy of the ‘Wooleen Architecture’ booklet. Visit the blacksmith shop, museum, old stables and killing pen.
- Drive to the Sharpe Family Memorial and walk up the sand dune. Learn about the Sharpe family history and then enjoy sunset from the viewing platform.
- Return to the homestead to freshen up and enjoy pre-dinner canapes or a game or billiards with the other guests. Choose your wine from the cellar and join Frances and David Pollock for dinner.
Eucalyptus along the banks of the Murchison River
Day 4
- Enjoy breakfast in the kitchen. Continental breakfast is available from the island bench between 7.30am and 9am. Or place your order for some fresh Wooleen eggs and bacon.
- Go for a drive to Murchison Settlement where you might grab a coffee or an ice-cream. Visit the Murchison Museum and stroll around the wheel-chair friendly botanical walk. Visit Errabiddy Bluff and outcamp, 1km north of the settlement, and read the interpretive panels.
- Head back to Wooleen Station to enjoy a buffet lunch with other fellow guests at 12.30pm.
- Grab a good book or magazine and relax in the atrium or garden. It’s your last day, so take the time to enjoy your surroundings or re-visit a favourite place you discovered whilst you were here.
- Grab a drink and enjoy sunset from the old steam engine at the front of the homestead tonight.
- Freshen up and enjoy pre-dinner canapes or a game or billiards with the other guests. Choose your wine from the cellar and join Frances and David Pollock for your final dinner.
Day 5
- Enjoy breakfast in the kitchen. Continental breakfast is available from the island bench between 7.30am and 9am. Or place your order for some fresh Wooleen eggs and bacon.
- Sadly it's time to head home. Grab any last-minute gifts or keepsakes and settle your bill.
- We ask you to aim for our 10am check-out time.
- Don't forget to talk with team members about your travel plan. If you need assistance with roads and routes to your destination, just ask us.
Active 4-night Itinerary
Day 1
- Arrive at Wooleen station for check-in from 2 pm
- Unpack and settle yourself into your room. Enjoy a cup of tea, coffee or other refreshment and take some time to familiarise yourself with the self-drive maps, walk-trails and visitor guide.
- Start your holiday with a gentle 2.3km walk along Trail #1, starting at the steam engine outside the main grid. Learn about the different plants, history and conservation innovations at Wooleen. Finish your walk looking through the museum.
- Return to the homestead to freshen up and enjoy pre-dinner canapes or a game or billiards with the other guests. Choose your wine from the cellar and join Frances and David Pollock for dinner.
Day 2
- Enjoy breakfast in the kitchen. A continental breakfast is available from the island bench between 7.30am and 9am. Or place your order for some fresh Wooleen eggs and bacon.
- Grab the maps and instructions to complete the 10(or 20)km Breakaways hike(or bike) trail.
- If you’d like to take your time to explore, discover or meditate along the way, order a packed lunch the night before so you’ve got the freedom of time. Meet in the kitchen to enjoy a buffet lunch with your other fellow guests at 12.30pm.
- Grab a good book or magazine and relax in the atrium or garden for an hour or two.
- Join David Pollock on the guided sunset tour departing between 3.30-4pm (check the departure time as they vary through the season) where you’ll learn about Wooleen Station's conservation and rehabilitation efforts. At the end, enjoy a beverage whilst admiring the sunset from Budara Rocks
- Return to the homestead with enough time to freshen up and join Frances and David for dinner.
Wooleen Station sunset tour. Credit Nic Duncan
Day 3
- Enjoy breakfast in the kitchen. Continental breakfast is available from the island bench between 7.30am and 9am. Or place your order for some fresh Wooleen eggs and bacon.
- Embark on walk trail #2 and complete the 4km loop to the picnic table and learn more about the different plants, history and conservation innovations at Wooleen.
- Take a drive to the Murchison River and explore Gradagullya Pool. If it’s a wet year, enjoy canoeing down the 500m pool. Alternatively, take a loop walk around the perimeter between the gum trees.
- If you’d like to take your time to explore, birdwatch or meditate at the river, order a packed lunch the night before so you’ve got the freedom of time. Meet in the kitchen to enjoy a buffet lunch with other fellow guests at 12.30pm.
- Grab a good book or magazine and relax in the atrium or garden for an hour or two.
- Explore some of the Wooleen buildings by grabbing a copy of the ‘Wooleen Architecture’ booklet. Visit the blacksmith shop, museum, old stables and killing pen.
- Drive (or maybe even bike?) to the Sharpe Family Memorial and walk up the sand dune. Learn about the Sharpe family history and then enjoy the sunset from the viewing platform.
- Return to the homestead to freshen up and enjoy pre-dinner canapes or a game or billiards with the other guests. Choose your wine from the cellar and join Frances and David Pollock for dinner.
Canoeing along the Murchison River
Day 4
- Enjoy breakfast in the kitchen. Continental breakfast is available from the island bench between 7.30am and 9am. Or place your order for some fresh Wooleen eggs and bacon.
- Grab your car and take a self-drive route around the southern areas of the station - visit The Channel, Yewlands Pool and the old Shearing Shed remains. Anywhere along the way you can park up and enjoy some walking, photography and birdwatching.
- Meet in the kitchen to enjoy a buffet lunch with other fellow guests at 12.30pm.
- Consider taking a drive to Murchison Settlement where you might grab a coffee or an ice-cream. Visit the Murchison Museum and stroll around the wheel-chair friendly botanical walk. Visit Errabiddy Bluff and outcamp, 1km north of the settlement, and read the interpretive panels. Climb the bluff if you're up for one last challenge!
- It’s your last day, so take the time to enjoy your surroundings and re-visit a favourite place.
- Grab a drink and enjoy sunset from the old steam engine at the front of the homestead tonight.
- Freshen up and enjoy pre-dinner canapes or a game or billiards with the other guests. Choose your wine from the cellar and join Frances and David Pollock for your final dinner.
Day 5
- Enjoy breakfast in the kitchen. Continental breakfast is available from the island bench between 7.30am and 9am. Or place your order for some fresh Wooleen eggs and bacon.
- Sadly it's time to head home. Grab any last-minute gifts or keepsakes and settle your bill.
- We ask you to aim for our 10am check-out time.
- Don't forget to talk with team members about your travel plans. If you need assistance with roads and routes to your destination, just ask us.
Other options to consider
- Drive to the Murchison Settlement, 38kms away, and enjoy lunch or an icecream. Visit the Murchison Museum which collects, preserves, and maintains displays of items relevant to the history of the district. The museum also features a herbarium of rangeland plant species.
- 1km north of Murchison Settlement if Errabiddy Bluff and Outcamp. This landmark can be seen from distances of over 30km. Have a picnic or partake of the great challenge of scaling the bluff. Abundant wildlife is in this area.
- Chat to Frances or the team about designing your own hike. Multiple options exist by following fencelines, roads and pipelines to join up in a circuit.
- Read the 'Flora and Fauna' register to find the latest sightings of wildflowers, birdlife and more and head off to these hot-spots.
- Talk to us about visiting some extra places, Billy Tea Lookout is a popular favourite and the Telstra repeater tower.
- Bring some pastels or watercolours along and chat to the team about places you can go for some quiet relaxation and painting.
Yewlands Pool during wildflower season
