Girls Day Out NSW

Something Genuinely Different

The Girls Day Out Nobody's Done Before — and Nobody Forgets

You've done the winery tour. You've done the day spa. You've done the high tea and the sunset cruise. Everyone has. This is something your group has never experienced — and the moment they're standing beside a Clydesdale that weighs over a tonne, you'll know you got it exactly right.

Bulahdelah Clydesdales is a genuine working farm tucked into the hinterland just off the Pacific Highway, home to Dusty May, Hercules, Jax, and Murphy the donkey. These aren't display animals. They live here, they work here, and they have personalities that come through the second you're close enough to see their eyes.

Our sessions are run by our owner, who has more than 30 years of experience with heavy horses. The result is something rare: an activity that is outdoors, active, deeply photogenic, entirely hands-on, and accessible to every single person in your group — regardless of age or mobility. That's what makes it the ultimate girls day out in NSW.

Dusty May the Clydesdale mare at Bulahdelah Clydesdales

Dusty May — The Star of the Show

Female Groups Love Her

Meet Dusty May

She's a Mare. She Knows It. Your Group Will Adore Her.

Ask any group that's come through which horse was their favourite and the answer is almost always the same: Dusty May. She's our mare — the only girl in the paddock — and she absolutely knows she's the star of the show.

Dusty May has a presence that's hard to describe until you experience it. She's curious, expressive, and impossibly beautiful. Female groups connect with her instantly, in a way that goes well beyond the novelty of being near a large animal. There's something about her composure and her quiet authority that people respond to deeply.

She also takes the most extraordinary photos. The depth in her dark eyes, the feathering on her legs, the sheer scale of her — every image is frame-worthy. Many guests tell us they'd come back just for more time with her. She feeds by hand, she takes her time with each person, and she makes every single one of them feel special.

She is, by any measure, the perfect centrepiece for a girls day out in NSW.

Why It Works So Well

Three Reasons Girls Groups Choose This

We've hosted hundreds of groups over more than 30 years. Here's what they all tell us made the difference.

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The Photos Are Extraordinary

There is no filter, no studio backdrop, and no photographer that creates what you'll capture naturally here. A Clydesdale at full height, in golden morning light, with your group — that image doesn't exist anywhere else. Every phone fills up in the first ten minutes. These are the photos people print, frame, and post. Dusty May in particular photographs like she was born to do it. She basically was.

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Effortless to Organise

You make one enquiry and we take it from there. There's nothing to co-ordinate on the day beyond getting your group to Bulahdelah. The session runs itself — our host manages everything from arrival to farewell, introduces each horse personally, and ensures every guest gets their moment. Organisers get to actually enjoy the day, not manage it. That matters.

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Everyone Gets Involved

Not everyone will arrive as a horse person. That's fine — in fact it's often better. Nervous first-timers almost always end up the most captivated. Our session is designed so every single guest participates, regardless of experience, confidence, or physical ability. Nobody watches from the sidelines. Our host has 30+ years experience reading a group and calibrating the pace. Everyone gets their moment.

Designed for Groups

Why This Is the Best Girls Day Out in NSW

Lunch fades. This doesn't. Here's what separates a morning with Dusty May and the team from every other activity option you're looking at.

It's Genuinely Outdoors

Fresh air. Open paddock. Real farm sounds and smells. The physical experience of being near an animal this size does something that no indoor venue can replicate. It slows people down, opens up conversations, and creates a kind of presence in the moment that most adult group activities never achieve. People arrive switched on and connected to their phones. They leave a little more themselves.

Nobody Has Done It Before

Every group we host tells us the same thing: "We never would have thought of this." That surprise factor is exactly what makes it so memorable. It becomes a reference point — "remember when we all went to see the Clydesdales?" The Bullahdelah Bakery stop and the drive through the hinterland are part of the story too. The whole day is a story.

Dusty May Makes It Personal

A Clydesdale isn't a prop. Dusty May in particular will look your group in the eye. She'll pick a favourite and lean into them. She'll take a treat from a hand she trusts and ignore one she doesn't. She is a personality, and interacting with her is a genuine exchange. That's what creates the kind of memory a long lunch simply can't manufacture.

A Real Working Farm

Bulahdelah Clydesdales has been operating for over 30 years. The horses have been bred, raised, and worked here. The harness on the wall is the actual working harness. The stories our host tells are real stories about real animals on this real piece of land. That authenticity comes through from the first five minutes, and it's what guests come back to when they're describing the day to someone who wasn't there.

Groups of 10 to 50 Handled with Ease

Whether it's a tight group of ten friends or a workplace day out with fifty colleagues, the experience scales properly. Larger groups get special rate pricing and a session format that keeps everyone engaged. No one gets lost, no one waits too long for their turn. We've run large groups for many years and the logistics are completely sorted.

NSW-Wide Catchment, Easy Drive

Bulahdelah sits on the Pacific Highway — straightforward to reach from Sydney (3 hrs), Newcastle (2 hrs), Port Macquarie (1.5 hrs), Taree (1 hr), and the Hunter Valley (under 2 hrs). Many groups make a full day of it, combining the 10am session with the Bulahdelah Bakery, a picnic at the Myall River, and an afternoon at Myall Lakes. The drive home is always full of conversation.

What to Expect

Your Two-Hour Session — Step by Step

Sessions begin at 10am and run for approximately two hours. Here is exactly how the morning unfolds for your group.

STEP 01

Arrival & Welcome

Your group arrives and is welcomed personally at the farm gate. Before anything formal begins, our host takes the time to settle everyone in and make the first introductions — to the property, the horses, and the day ahead. Tea and coffee are available while guests find their feet. This first ten minutes matters: it's where first-time horse visitors begin to relax, and it sets the tone for everything that follows. No script. No rush. Just a genuine welcome to a genuine working farm.

STEP 02

Live Working Demonstration

Watch Dusty May, Hercules, and Jax doing what they were bred to do. Our host demonstrates the horses in action — moving under instruction, working as a pair, responding to voice and lead. This is the moment when the sheer scale and quiet power of a working Clydesdale truly registers. Camera phones come out immediately, and rightly so. The demonstration is accompanied by a running commentary on the history and heritage of heavy horse working in Australia — accessible, fascinating, and told by someone who has lived it.

STEP 03

Heavy Horse Harness Display

The working harness of a heavy draught horse is a remarkable piece of engineering — dozens of components, each with a specific function, refined over centuries of agricultural use. Our host walks the group through the full harness set with each piece explained in context. This part of the session consistently surprises people the most. It's not what they expected, and it's absorbing. The harness on display at Bulahdelah is not a museum piece — it is the actual working harness used on this farm. That detail matters, and you can feel it.

STEP 04

Meet, Feed & Photograph

The heart of the morning. Your group gets up close — to pat, to feed by hand, and to photograph to their hearts' content. Dusty May tends to take centre stage with female groups. She feeds gently from the hand, stands still for photos, and has an instinct for the person in the group who needs a bit more time. Murphy the donkey arrives at some point during this stage and the atmosphere shifts immediately — he is genuinely hilarious company. Our host is right there throughout to guide each interaction and make sure every person has as much time as they want.

STEP 05

Questions, Stories & Farewell

The session closes with open time — questions, lingering with the horses, conversation that has nowhere else it needs to be. Our host has 30 years of stories about Dusty May, Hercules, Jax, Murphy, and every group that has come through this gate before yours. This part of the morning often runs long, because nobody quite wants to leave. Farewells are always unhurried. Your group departs having experienced something genuinely rare — and the drive away is always full of the best kind of conversation.

Jax the Clydesdale at Bulahdelah Clydesdales NSW

30+ Years of Heavy Horses

Experience You Can Feel From the First Minute

There is a particular kind of confidence that comes from more than three decades working with heavy draught horses. You'll sense it from the moment our host starts talking — in the way the horses respond, in the way the session flows without effort, and in the hundreds of small details that make a large group visit feel completely effortless.

This isn't a hobby farm that recently opened to visitors. Bulahdelah Clydesdales has been running for over 30 years. The horses have been bred, raised, and worked on this property. The knowledge is deep and it's generously shared with every group that comes through the gate.

Your group isn't a tour group moving through a script. You're guests on a working farm, and the person hosting you genuinely loves what they do. That distinction is everything — and every group tells us they felt it from the first five minutes. It's why they come back, and why they send their friends.

30+

Years Experience

Max Group Size

Animals to Meet

2hrs

Full Session

Accessible for Everyone

We're Set Up for All Abilities

We've hosted guests in wheelchairs, on walkers, and with a wide range of mobility needs. Nobody has ever missed out on the experience.

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Undercover Seating

Shaded, sheltered seating throughout the session for guests who prefer to be seated. The horses come to you — there's nothing you can't experience from a seated position.

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Wheelchair Accessible

Our interaction areas are accessible to wheelchair users. Level surfaces, wide access, and a host who understands how to include everyone in every part of the session.

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Walker Frames Welcome

We've had many guests use walker frames without any difficulty. Session areas are level and well maintained. Mobility aids are no barrier to a full, hands-on experience.

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Portable Toilet on Site

Portable toilet facilities are available on site for all group visits. Mention any requirements when you make your enquiry and we'll have everything in order.

Make a Full Girls Day of It

Bulahdelah Town — The Perfect Second Stop

Your session wraps up around noon, and by that point your group will be hungry, buzzing, and ready to extend the day. Bulahdelah township is five minutes from the farm and it's genuinely worth the time — this is not a highway service stop, it's a real country town with things worth doing.

The Bulahdelah Bakery is the first stop for almost every group. Locally made pies, fresh rolls, cakes, and coffee — and a crowd of locals that gives the place exactly the atmosphere you'd hope for. Grab lunch for the group and head to the Myall River foreshore, just minutes down the road, for a picnic in a setting that's genuinely beautiful.

From there, the day is yours. Myall Lakes National Park is on the doorstep — pristine lakes, beaches, and bushland that most people from Sydney and Newcastle have never explored. The Grandis (Australia's largest known living flooded gum) is a short detour and absolutely worth it. The Manning Valley is another option south.

From Sydney it's about 3 hours north on the Pacific Highway. From Newcastle, around 2 hours. From Port Macquarie or Taree, 1 to 1.5 hours south. The drive is easy, the highway is well serviced, and many groups carpool — which means the conversation starts before you even arrive.

While You're in Bulahdelah

Bulahdelah Bakery — legendary local pies and rolls
Myall River foreshore — perfect picnic spot after the session
Myall Lakes National Park — pristine coastal lakes and beaches
The Grandis — largest known living flooded gum in Australia
Alum Mountain Walking Track — views across the valley
Bulahdelah Tourist Information Centre — friendly local knowledge
Tea Gardens and Hawks Nest — 30 minutes east on the coast
Forster-Tuncurry — 45 minutes north on the coast

Questions & Answers

Frequently Asked Questions

Everything your group needs to know before you book your girls day out in NSW.

How many people can come on a girls day out session?

We can comfortably host groups of up to 50 guests in a single session. For groups of 10 or more, we offer a special group rate — contact us directly to discuss details. There is no minimum group size, though the experience is naturally more social and energetic with larger numbers. Please note this experience is for adults 18 and over only. We do not host school groups.

How far is Bulahdelah from Sydney, Newcastle, or Port Macquarie?

Bulahdelah is on the Pacific Highway, making it accessible from a wide catchment across NSW. From Sydney it is approximately 3 hours north. From Newcastle, around 2 hours. From Taree, about 1 hour south. From Port Macquarie, approximately 1.5 hours south. From the Hunter Valley, under 2 hours. The drive is straightforward and well serviced. Many groups make a full day of it — morning session with us, lunch at the Bulahdelah Bakery, and an afternoon at Myall Lakes or along the coast. The day writes itself.

Is it accessible for guests with limited mobility?

Absolutely. We have hosted many guests with wheelchairs, walker frames, and a wide range of mobility considerations, and nobody has ever missed out on the experience. Our interaction areas are level and accessible. Undercover seating is available throughout the session. Portable toilet facilities are on site for group visits. The horses are brought to you — you don't need to navigate rough paddock ground. When you make your enquiry, let us know if anyone in your group has specific accessibility requirements and we will have everything in order for your arrival.

What should we wear?

Closed-toe shoes are essential — thongs, sandals, and heels are not appropriate on a working farm. Beyond that, dress comfortably for being outdoors. Jeans or casual pants, layers in cooler months, and a hat and sunscreen in summer. Avoid loose scarves or flowy fabrics that could startle the horses. Nothing you'd be heartbroken to get a little mud on. Most guests are pleasantly surprised by how accessible and well-maintained the session areas are, but it is a real farm — lean into it. The more relaxed and comfortable you dress, the more you'll enjoy the morning.

What if some of our group are nervous around horses?

This is one of the most common questions we receive, and it is genuinely one of the things we do best. Our Clydesdales — and Dusty May in particular — are extraordinarily gentle. Their size is initially surprising to many people, but their temperament is calm, slow, and unhurried in a way that the largest thoroughbred never is. Our host has more than 30 years of experience introducing first-time and nervous visitors to heavy horses, and the approach is always at each person's own pace. Nobody is pressured or put in an uncomfortable position. We've had guests who arrived certain they'd stay at the fence end up hand-feeding Dusty May within twenty minutes. The horses do the convincing themselves — we just facilitate the introduction.

Can we take photos? Will the photos actually be good?

You absolutely can take as many photos as you like throughout the session. And yes — the photos will be genuinely extraordinary. Clydesdale horses are photogenic in a way that most people don't anticipate. Dusty May in particular has a quality in front of a camera that no amount of planning creates — she's simply stunning to photograph. The natural morning light, the farm setting, and the scale of the animals create images that stand up to any professional session. Many guests tell us they have never had better photos of themselves in their lives than the ones taken here. Bring a charged phone and expect to use every bit of the storage.

Do we need to book in advance?

Yes — advance booking is essential, particularly for groups. We do not take walk-in group visits, and popular dates book out, especially on weekends and through spring and summer. For groups, we recommend enquiring at least 2 to 4 weeks ahead, and earlier if you have a firm date in mind. The quickest way to check availability and secure your date is to call us directly on 0434 523 344 or submit a group enquiry through our website. We'll confirm availability and talk through all the details personally — there's no automated booking system, just a real conversation.

Is this suitable as a hens party or birthday celebration?

Yes, and it works beautifully for both. We've hosted numerous hens parties and milestone birthday groups over the years. The session has all the ingredients that make a celebration memorable — shared experience, extraordinary photos, lots of laughter (Murphy sees to that), and a genuine story to take home. If you're planning a hens party or a special birthday group, let us know when you enquire and we can discuss options. The Bulahdelah Bakery for a post-session celebration lunch with a view of the river is a popular combination. Adults 18+ only, no school groups.