The Farm

Tom and Emma Lane grew up on farms, in Australia and England respectively. When the husband and wife settled on a farm in Federal, a small town 25 minutes outside of Byron Bay, the plan was to be self-sufficient.

They bought chickens, ducks, pigs and lambs, and grew about 60 per cent of their own food. One day their eldest daughter, Matilda, who was three years old at the time, went missing briefly somewhere on the farm. The couple spun into a mild panic until they found her in the veggie garden picking and eating green beans, and subsequently realised other kids and adults could be sharing this experience.

That thought inspired them to create The Farm in 2015. The 80-acre paddock-to-plate operation is one of the most popular destinations in the Byron Bay area, with constant crowds. It’s an all-encompassing place where barefoot hippie kids run by cosmetically plumped influencers posing for selfies with farm animals.

The big draw here is a convivial all-day eatery run by Three Blue Ducks. In the morning it brews excellent Single O coffee and offers a short breakfast menu covering toast, granola, bacon and egg rolls and other staples. If you’re after something you can eat with one hand while you wander around farm, hit neighbouring bakery The Bread Social (which also has a Tweed Heads location) for a croissant, scroll, doughnut, bagel, lemon tart or other treat.

At lunch and dinner Three Blue Ducks switches over to elevated bistro fare such as oysters, kangaroo carpaccio and stracciatella with seasonal fruits, plus substantial proteins like lamb shoulder, steak and porchetta. Much of the produce comes from the neighbouring paddocks and nurseries, of course. With beer and wine on tap, the big airy shed and enormous umbrella-covered patio is also just a good place for a relaxed drink.

Before or after, exploring the big property is a must. Free tours are held several times a day, but outside of that you’re also welcome to wander at your own pace and look at the chickens, pigs, cows and crops. Other things on site include a rustic timber playground, Poppy and Fern florist, Wormticklers Nursery, Baylato gelateria and a produce store also run by Three Blue Ducks. This is an easy place to while away an entire day.