Trade the cocktail bar for wide-open paddocks and 800kg of Clydesdale. An adults-only morning on a real working farm — something the bride will still be talking about in ten years.
Most hens parties end up at the same bars, the same restaurants, the same places everyone's been a dozen times before. What if you did something genuinely different this year?
At Bulahdelah Clydesdales, we take groups of up to 50 adults out to a real, working Australian farm — home to four extraordinary heavy horses and one extremely opinionated donkey. For two hours, your group feeds, pats, photographs and connects with some of the most impressive animals on the planet. No loud music. No queues at the bar. Just wide-open space, fresh country air and the kind of shared experience that bonds a group of women for life.
This is an adults 18 and over experience only. We designed it that way deliberately — it's a proper occasion for grown women who want something meaningful, not just another night out. Whether the bride-to-be is a lifelong horse lover or has never stood next to an animal bigger than a Labrador, we promise she'll leave with a smile that doesn't quit.
No one stands on the sideline here. Every person in your group gets to feed by hand, pat the horses and take as many photos as they want. Up close and personal — that's the whole point.
Clydesdale horses are extraordinarily photogenic. The feathered legs, the enormous gentle eyes, the working harness on display — your camera roll will look unlike anything from a standard hen's outing.
No nightclub noise. No crowded venue. Just a stunning Mid North Coast property with wide skies, green paddocks and the unhurried pace of a proper country morning. It's good for the soul.
You've been to the spa. You've done the high tea. You've seen the inside of every cocktail lounge in the city. Here's why the farm hits differently — and why groups keep coming back.
In twenty years, no one at that table will be saying "remember that hen's party where we got cocktails?" But they will be saying "remember when Hercules knocked Jess's hat off?" This is the kind of memory that sticks.
The bride-to-be is at every hen's party. She's also at every brunch, every dinner and every cocktail class. Give her something she hasn't already done — an experience that surprises and moves her. That's harder to find than you'd think.
The introverts love the calm. The extroverts love the drama of the working demonstration. The animal lovers are in heaven. And the ones who were nervous about being near horses? They're usually the last ones to leave. Clydesdales have that effect.
You can actually hear each other speak. You can laugh without shouting. You can take in the moment rather than just survive it. A country morning at the farm is a completely different energy — relaxed, warm, connective.
Fresh air, natural light, room to move. Not a function room, not a venue with a minimum spend, not a sticky dance floor. The outdoors is the venue — and it looks spectacular in photos.
There's no pecking order here. The maid of honour, the work friend, the sister-in-law who doesn't really know anyone — they all stand next to the same horse. Animals are the great equaliser. Everyone relaxes.
"We did a hen's party for my sister and I genuinely didn't know what to expect. By the end of the morning the whole group was crying happy tears. Murphy the donkey followed the bride everywhere. It was absolutely perfect."Hen's Party Group · Bulahdelah NSW
Sessions run from 10am and last approximately two hours. Groups of up to 50 adults. This is the format — every step designed to give your group a genuine experience, not just a look from behind a fence.
Your group arrives and gets introduced to Dusty May, Hercules, Jax and Murphy — our four resident Clydesdales and one very opinionated donkey who has decided he's equally important. The introduction is done properly, at the pace of the animals, so everyone feels comfortable from the start. No rushing, no chaos — just the genuine pleasure of meeting animals that are extraordinary up close.
This is the moment that silences a crowd every single time. Watch our Clydesdales put through a genuine working demonstration — horses in harness, moving with purpose and controlled power. These animals were bred to work the land and they are magnificent at it. Cameras come out. Conversation stops. It's the kind of thing you don't forget.
A full, authentic heavy horse harness laid out on display — the leather collar, the hames, the traces, the chains. Touch it. Try it. Learn what it actually takes to hitch 800 kilograms of horse to a plough. Our guides walk you through every piece and what it does. It's a hands-on piece of living Australian history that most people have never seen outside of a museum — and here you can handle it.
This is the heart of the morning — personal time with the horses. Feed them by hand, pat them, stand next to them for photos. Bring carrots if you like (the horses are very enthusiastic about carrots). Take as many photos as you want — there's no time limit on this part. Murphy the donkey also makes himself available for cuddles and will accept treats with great dignity.
The session wraps up with open time — ask questions, linger with the horses, take the photos you missed earlier. Our guides are happy to talk about anything from the history of draught horses in Australia to what Murphy eats for breakfast. No one gets rushed off the property. This is your morning and we treat it that way.
Bulahdelah Clydesdales has been working with heavy horses and welcoming visitors to the farm for over thirty years. This isn't a pop-up attraction or a tourism side hustle — it's a genuine working property with experienced handlers who know these animals inside and out.
Our guides have managed hundreds of group visits, including countless hen's parties and celebration events. We know how to read a crowd, how to pace a session, and how to make sure every person in your group feels comfortable — whether they're standing next to a horse for the first time or have been around them their whole life.
If someone in your group is nervous, that's completely fine. We've seen it dozens of times. Our horses are exceptionally calm and gentle, and our guides are experienced at bringing nervous guests into the experience gradually, at whatever pace feels right. Nobody is ever pressured to do anything they're not comfortable with — but in our experience, nervousness usually gives way to wonder pretty quickly once you're actually there.
The Horses
Four animals, each with their own personality — and every one of them a hit with hen's groups.
Dusty May

Hercules

Jax

Murphy
Straightforward pricing. No hidden fees. Groups of 10 or more — ask us about our special group rate.
Groups of 10 or more? We offer a special group rate — fill in the group enquiry form and we'll get back to you with pricing and available dates. A lot of hen's parties come in at 10 to 20 people, so it's worth asking.
Everything you want to know before you book. If your question isn't here, just call us on 0434 523 344.
Comfortable, casual clothes and closed-toe shoes — that's really all you need. You'll be outdoors on a farm, so leave the stilettos at home (the horses appreciate it too). There's no dress code beyond that. Some groups go all-out with matching outfits and sashes, which looks fantastic in photos. Layers are a good idea in cooler months as mornings on the Mid North Coast can be fresh. Sunscreen and a hat are always sensible from late spring through summer.
Bulahdelah sits on the Pacific Highway on the Mid North Coast of NSW — a natural stop on the drive north. From Sydney it's approximately a three-hour drive, making it a very manageable day trip for a hen's party group. From Newcastle it's around two and a half hours. Port Macquarie is about an hour and twenty minutes south. Plenty of groups combine the visit with a night away in the area, which turns the whole thing into a proper hen's weekend.
Yes. We've designed the property with accessibility in mind. The site is wheelchair accessible, walker frames are completely welcome, and we have undercover seating available for anyone who needs to sit comfortably while watching the demonstration. A portable toilet is on site. If anyone in your group has specific needs, just let us know when you enquire and we'll make sure everything is set up properly for the day. We want every person in the group to have a great time.
Just yourselves, your cameras and maybe a bag of carrots — the horses genuinely love them. Everything you need for the experience is provided on the day. There's no obligation to bring food or snacks, though some groups like to make a day of it and plan something for after. If you do want to bring carrots or other horse-safe treats, feel free — it makes the feed session even better and the horses will remember you fondly.
For food and drinks on the property, please contact us directly and we'll let you know what works for your group. Some groups like to bring a little something to make the day feel more celebratory, and we're happy to chat through options. Just give us a call on 0434 523 344 and we can talk it through before you book.
This comes up all the time and it's never a problem. Our guides are experienced at working with people who haven't spent much time around large animals — and our Clydesdales are exceptionally calm, well-handled horses. We introduce the group to the animals gradually and nobody is ever pushed to do anything they're not comfortable with. In our thirty-plus years of experience, nervous guests almost always end up being the ones most reluctant to leave. The gentleness of these animals is genuinely disarming — you really have to experience it to understand it.
We can comfortably host groups of up to 50 adults. Most hen's party groups run between 10 and 30 people, which is a great size for the session format. Larger groups are very welcome — just let us know the approximate number when you make your enquiry so we can make sure everything is set up to accommodate everyone properly. For groups of 10 or more, ask about our special group rate when you submit your enquiry.
The earlier the better, particularly for weekends and popular times of year. Hen's party groups tend to book in advance once a date is set, so we'd recommend reaching out as soon as you have a rough idea of when you'd like to come. Give us a call on 0434 523 344 or use the group enquiry form and we'll confirm availability and get your date locked in.
Planning a group event takes work. Here's everything you need to know before the day so there are no surprises.
The property is wheelchair accessible and walker frames are welcome throughout. Undercover seating is available for the working demonstration and throughout the session, so guests who need to sit can see and participate from a comfortable position.
A portable toilet is on site. If you have any specific accessibility requirements not covered here, please call us and we'll talk it through.
Sessions begin at 10am and run for approximately two hours. Please aim to arrive a few minutes before the start time so the session can begin promptly for the whole group.
Groups of 10 or more are eligible for our special group rate — include your group size in the enquiry form and we'll confirm pricing with your booking details.
"I've been to a lot of hen's parties and this was honestly the most original thing anyone has done. The whole group was feeding horses by hand within five minutes. The bride cried — in the best possible way."Hen's Party Guest · Bulahdelah Clydesdales NSW
Call or text us to check your date and discuss your group. We'll make sure the bride-to-be has a morning she'll never forget.