When travellers descend on Australia, most make for the country’s biggest hitters: the beaches of Sydney; the cafés and culture of Melbourne; and the surfside charm of Perth. But the vast Down Under has plenty of surprises for those willing to venture a little further. Hidden just outside the country town of Mansfield, some three hours by car from Melbourne, BullerRoo Luxury Farmstay brings designer chic to the wide open spaces of Australia’s countryside. After three pandemic-enforced years apart, two friends and I checked in for the ultimate girls’ weekend.
While this stay was complimentary, all thoughts and opinions are our own.
Review of BullerRoo Luxury Farmstay in Australia
Property: BullerRoo Luxury Farmstay
Address: 177 Melba Road, Mansfield, Victoria 3722, Australia
Accommodation: BullerRoo Luxury Chalet and Stone Creek Cottage
Style: Contemporary luxury farmstay / Australian country retreat
Setting: 24-acre pygmy goat farm in Victoria’s High Country
Location: Barwite Valley, approximately 15 minutes from Mansfield
Sleeps: BullerRoo Chalet up to 5; Stone Creek Cottage up to 6
Family-friendly: Yes, although the Luxury Chalet is not generally suitable for children under six
Pets: Not permitted
Facilities: Private rooftop terrace, BBQ, fireplace, fully equipped kitchens, Wi-Fi and private parking
Best for: Couples, families, mountain escapes, skiing trips, nature lovers and romantic getaways
Approximate price: From A$595 per night for BullerRoo Luxury Chalet and A$375 per night for Stone Creek Cottage, with rates varying by dates and occupancy.
Setting the scene
Located in the King Valley, a sublime slice of nature in Victoria’s High Country, BullerRoo is the brainchild of Ed and Vickie van der Hoeven. The former expats—she’s British, he’s Dutch—met in Lombok, fell in love with Australia, and discovered their dream property here in 2003. After taking over the 24-acre farm, complete with truly unparalleled views of the Barwite Valley and its own river, the pair decided to transform it into their home—and luxe holiday accommodations so swish they landed on the radar of Visit Victoria, the local tourist office.
Country strong
15 minutes outside the town of Mansfield, BullerRoo is perfectly positioned to offer guests the best of this lush countryside. The property is often fully booked during winter by ski bunnies who want to hit the slopes of Mount Buller—Victoria’s premier alpine destination—which is some 30 minutes away.
If you didn’t know that you needed pygmy goats in your life, you do now
But you don’t even have to leave to enjoy a taste of farm life. As well as offering gorgeous accommodations, BullerRoo is a pygmy goat stud farm, a fact that will delight guests young and not-so-young alike. Vickie and Ed are eager to get guests involved with feeding the collection of rambunctious miniature pygmy goats and pet alpacas—though be warned, you’ll need a firm hand with the greedy little animals. Watching the animals frolic and get up to all sorts of amusing antics, it’s clear that they’re a bunch of happy little Vegemites—one assumes that BullerRoo’s sustainable land management and ethical animal husbandry have something to do with that.
The landscape, though, is what captivates. From here, guests have breathtaking views across the Barwite Valley, Broken River, and sprawling farmland, a vivid picture of foliage, wildlife, and tranquillity that’s sure to fire up the imagination. On a summer day, sunlight renders the landscape in rich shades of lush greens, earthy browns, and vivid ochre; by night, the stars sparkle across the pitch-black sky, putting on a dazzling display. Golden hour, though, is the real treat as the sky turns fiery shades of orange and red and sets the farmland below ablaze in colour.
A stay with style
BullerRoo now consists of two separate accommodation options, including the charmingly colonial-style Stone Creek Cottage that breathes Australian country life in every detail. But we check into the Luxury Chalet, a two-bedroom designer apartment inspired by the luxe ski chalets of Europe.
Get comfy in the bedrooms
A tradesman who’d worked on many buildings in the surrounding area, Ed helmed the creation of BullerRoo’s buildings, appointing Melbourne-based DCS Design, to execute his vision. The result is an architecturally-forward, contemporary building that offers a vivid juxtaposition against the rural landscape.
Arriving guests pull into the carport, then walk up a flight of stairs to access the apartment. So, from its second-floor vantage point, the Luxury Chalet offers jaw-dropping 180-degree panoramas across the countryside through floor-to-ceiling windows. Words simply don’t do the views justice—walking into the living room rendered this normally verbose writer entirely speechless.
Upon recovering, I notice the careful attention to detail that has created such a magnificent bolthole. There are the timber floors and ceilings and a rustic stone feature wall that evoke the rural location. A French cast-iron stove—which burns real wood!— offers heating through the winter months.
The stylish design continues into the bathrooms
Then, there’s the French-inspired wall décor, and the designer furnishings—a huge sectional sofa and handcrafted “cattle yard” dining table. My favourite part, though, is the fully functional kitchen that comes stocked with local coffee from the Mansfield Coffee Merchant and is an absolute delight to whip up dinner in.
There are also two well-appointed bedrooms—the master room even features barn doors—to fit up to five people, and a snug rooftop terrace on which guests can enjoy relaxed sundowners or barbecues. The one spacious bathroom offers a serene, spa-like ambience and locally-produced, all-natural bath amenities—the lack of a bath is the only thing guests could fault here.
Beyond the farm
You’d be forgiven for giving into the urge to hole up in BullerRoo’s Luxury Chalet for the entirety of your stay. But you’d be doing yourself a disservice if you didn’t take the chance to explore Victoria’s High Country. Mansfield itself has plenty to offer, with quaint architecture, cute boutiques, breezy cafes, country pubs, and more. But, you’d be well-advised to simply jump in the car and see where the wind takes you.
There are plenty of wineries in the region, and while each offers an indulgent cellar-door experience, it’s worth stopping in for a meal, too. Ahead of my arrival, I reached out to Ed for some local recommendations, and he booked us dinner at Delatite Winery—they have a new degustation menu—and lunch at Chrismont Wines, his personal favourite. Both are delightful and remind me exactly what makes Australian cuisine so good—high-quality ingredients deftly handled by a creative chef and sprinkled with a touch of local magic.
Within striking distance is the aforementioned Mount Buller, as well as the quieter, calmer Mount Stirling. And, if you’re up for a little adventure, you can follow in the footsteps of famous Aussie outlaw Ned Kelly at Powers Lookout, then bask in the majesty of nature at Paradise Falls.
Of course, BullerRoo offers plenty of ways to explore, too. In partnership with local outfit Global Ballooning, they offer hot-air balloon rides—one can confidently assume that the views are unbeatable—and you can even take a trail ride amongst the undulating hills by horseback.
Getting there and getting around
BullerRoo is around 15 minutes by car from Mansfield and is best reached by driving, particularly because the property is rural and many of the region’s attractions are spread across the High Country.
For international visitors, Melbourne Airport is the main gateway, with Mansfield several hours’ drive north-east of Melbourne. Hiring a car is the most practical option, allowing you to explore the High Country at your own pace and travel up to Mount Buller. BullerRoo has private parking, with the Luxury Chalet offering its own undercover carport.
Once at BullerRoo, having a car is strongly recommended. Mansfield provides the nearest concentration of shops, restaurants and services, while Mount Buller, wineries, walking trails and other High Country attractions require transport. If visiting during winter, check current road and weather conditions before travelling to Mount Buller, as alpine conditions can affect access and snow-chain requirements.
For a ski trip, BullerRoo offers a different experience from staying in the Mount Buller village itself: you’ll have the space and privacy of a luxury country retreat, but you’ll need to drive to the mountain each day. Mt Buller also operates resort entry, parking and transport arrangements for visitors travelling into the resort during the snow season, so these should be checked before setting off.
Frequently asked questions: BullerRoo
BullerRoo is a luxury farmstay rather than a conventional hotel. The property has two independent accommodation options: the contemporary BullerRoo Luxury Chalet and the colonial-style Stone Creek Cottage, set on a 24-acre working farm.
Yes. The Luxury Chalet is particularly well suited to couples, with a private rooftop terrace, fireplace, expansive valley views and a secluded rural setting. The property also offers romantic extras such as arrival hampers, Champagne breakfasts and tailored experiences.
Yes, particularly the Stone Creek Cottage, which can accommodate up to six guests across three bedrooms. The Luxury Chalet sleeps up to five but is generally not suitable for children under six unless agreed with the owners in advance.
Yes. The Luxury Chalet was specifically designed around its views, with floor-to-ceiling glazing looking towards Mount Buller, Mount Stirling and the surrounding High Country. The rooftop terrace provides another vantage point for taking in the landscape and stars.
Yes. BullerRoo is in Mansfield’s High Country and is positioned close to the access route for Mount Buller. It is a good option for travellers who want to combine a ski or snowboarding trip with a luxury rural retreat, rather than staying in the resort village itself.
The property is approximately 15 minutes from Mansfield, making it close enough to access the town’s restaurants, shops and supplies while retaining a rural setting.
Yes. Kangaroos are regularly seen around the property, and the farm is also home to miniature pygmy goats and alpacas. Guests can meet the animals if they wish, although BullerRoo advises guests to take care around the working-farm environment and local wildlife.
No. BullerRoo’s appeal is its rural setting, views and outdoor space, rather than resort-style facilities. In warmer months, guests can enjoy the surrounding High Country and local waterways.
Two or three nights works well for a short High Country escape, while four or five nights gives you more time for skiing, hiking, cycling and exploring Mansfield and the surrounding region.
The verdict
We were only at BullerRoo for two nights, but that’s more than enough to fall entirely under the spell of this special place. Between the welcoming hosts, the stellar accommodations, and the easy majesty of this jaw-dropping natural landscape—not to mention all the food, wine, and adventures available nearby—it’s a weekend of unfettered delight.
Before we left, Vickie and Ed kindly organised a Champagne breakfast filled with humongous local pastries, fresh fruit, decadent tartlets—and a bottle of Veuve, naturally—and spent a full hour chatting with us before we drove off. On a high, I’m already plotting the moves I need to make to return to BullerRoo in winter.
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