Ladies Day Out Mid North Coast NSW | Bulahdelah Clydesdales

Something Completely Different

Ditch the Long Lunch. Choose Something They'll Never Forget.

You've done the winery. You've done the day spa. You've done the bottomless brunch. This is something none of them have done before — and the moment Dusty May walks towards your group, you'll know it.

Bulahdelah Clydesdales is a genuine working farm nestled in the hinterland of the Mid North Coast, just off the Pacific Highway. Our Clydesdales — Dusty May, Hercules, Jax, and Murphy the donkey — aren't props. They live here, they work here, and they have distinct personalities that reveal themselves the second you're standing next to them.

Our sessions are run personally by our owner, with over 30 years of experience with heavy horses. No scripts, no theme-park atmosphere — just an honest, hands-on morning that leaves every guest feeling genuinely moved. That's what makes it the perfect ladies day out on the Mid North Coast.

Dusty May the Clydesdale horse up close at Bulahdelah

Dusty May — Our Gentle Giant

Why It Works So Well

Three Reasons Your Group Will Love This

We've hosted hundreds of ladies groups over the years. Here's what they all say afterwards.

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The Photos Are Incredible

There is no filter in the world that matches the backdrop of a Clydesdale standing at full height in natural light. Your group will fill their camera rolls — close-ups, wide shots, action — and every single one is stunning. These are the photos people print and frame.

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No Planning Stress

You make one enquiry and we handle the rest. There's nothing to co-ordinate on the day beyond getting everyone to Bulahdelah. The session runs itself from arrival to farewell — our host manages the pace, introduces the horses, and makes sure every person in your group has their moment. Organisers get to actually enjoy the day.

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Everyone Participates

No one is left sitting on the sidelines. Whether your group includes someone with mobility considerations or someone who's never been near a horse in their life, our session is designed so every guest gets to be hands-on. We work at each person's pace. Nobody watches from a distance.

Designed for Groups

Why Ladies Groups Choose Bulahdelah Clydesdales

Lunch comes and goes. This lasts. Here's what separates a morning with us from anything else you could plan on the Mid North Coast.

It's Genuinely Outdoors — Not "Outdoors-Lite"

Fresh air, open paddocks, real farm sounds. The physical experience of being around an animal that weighs over a tonne does something that no indoor venue can replicate. It grounds people, slows them down, and opens up conversations that don't happen over a restaurant table.

It's Something Completely Different

Every group we host tells us the same thing: "We'd never have thought of this." That surprise factor is exactly what makes it so memorable. It's the kind of day that becomes a reference point — "remember when we all went to see the Clydesdales?"

The Horses Make It Personal

Dusty May has opinions. Hercules is the show-off. Jax is curious. Murphy (the donkey) will make everyone laugh within thirty seconds. Each animal has a character, and your group will spend the whole drive home comparing notes about which one was their favourite.

A Real Working Farm — Not a Tourist Attraction

These horses don't live in a purpose-built "visitor experience." They have jobs. The harness on the wall is used. The stories our host tells are the actual history of this land and these animals. That authenticity comes through immediately, and guests feel it.

Groups of 10 to 50 Handled with Ease

We're set up for group visits. Whether it's ten close friends or a workplace team of fifty, the session scales. Larger groups get special rate pricing. The session format keeps everyone engaged regardless of group size.

The Mid North Coast as a Full Day

Bulahdelah is perfectly placed on the Pacific Highway — easy to reach from Newcastle, Port Macquarie, Taree, and the Hunter Valley. Start with us in the morning, then spend the afternoon exploring the beautiful Manning Valley or head south to Myall Lakes. The day writes itself.

What to Expect

Your Two-Hour Session — Step by Step

Sessions start at 10am and run for approximately two hours. Here's exactly how the morning unfolds for your group.

STEP 01

Arrival & Introductions

Your group arrives and is welcomed at the farm gate. We take the time to introduce everyone to Dusty May, Hercules, Jax, and Murphy before any formal activity begins. This is deliberate — first impressions with a Clydesdale matter, and we want every person to feel settled and comfortable at their own pace. Those who've never been near a horse will be amazed at how quickly that changes once they're standing beside one. Tea and coffee are available while everyone settles in.

STEP 02

Live Working Demonstration

Watch our Clydesdales doing what Clydesdales were bred to do. Our host demonstrates the horses in action — moving, responding to commands, working as a team. You'll understand immediately why these animals were the engine of Australian agriculture for generations. The sheer power and willingness of a working Clydesdale is something you simply can't appreciate until you've seen it in person. Questions are encouraged throughout.

STEP 03

Heavy Horse Harness Display

The working harness of a heavy draught horse is an engineering marvel — dozens of pieces, each with a specific function, representing centuries of refinement. Our host walks your group through the full harness set, explaining what each component does and how a working team of Clydesdales was harnessed and managed. This is the kind of living history that disappears a little more every decade, and it's absolutely fascinating even for people with no prior interest in horses.

STEP 04

Meet, Feed & Photograph

This is the moment your group has been waiting for. Time to get close — to pat, to feed, to photograph, and to simply stand next to an animal of extraordinary size and gentleness. Our horses are experienced with visitors and respond beautifully. We guide you on how to approach and interact safely, and then we step back and let the magic happen. This is when the camera rolls fill up. Take your time — there's no rush.

STEP 05

Questions, Conversation & Farewell

The final part of the session is open — questions, stories, a chance to linger with the horses a little longer if the mood takes you. Our host has more than three decades of experience with heavy horses and loves to talk about them. This is often the part of the session that runs longest, because the conversations go places nobody expected. Your group will leave with a full understanding of what Clydesdales are, what they've meant to this country, and why they still matter. Farewells are always unhurried.

A visitor meeting one of the Clydesdales at Bulahdelah

30+ Years of Heavy Horses

Experience You Can Feel From the First Minute

There's a particular kind of confidence that comes from over 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, and in the hundreds of small details that make a group visit feel completely effortless.

This isn't a hobby farm that recently added visitors. Bulahdelah Clydesdales has been operating for more than thirty years. The horses have been bred, raised, and worked here. The knowledge runs deep, and it's generously shared.

Your group is not a tour group moving through a script. You're guests on a working farm, hosted by someone who genuinely loves what they do. That difference is everything — and every group who visits tells us they felt it immediately.

30+

Years Experience

Max Group Size

Horses to Meet

2hrs

Full Session

Accessible for Everyone

We're Set Up for All Abilities

We've hosted guests in wheelchairs, with walker frames, and with a range of mobility needs. No one has ever missed out.

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Undercover Seating

Shaded, sheltered seating area for the harness display and any part of the session where guests prefer to be seated.

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Wheelchair Accessible

The viewing and interaction areas are accessible to wheelchair users. The horses come to you — you don't need to navigate rough ground.

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Walker Frames Welcome

We've had many guests use walker frames without any issue. Our session areas are level and well-maintained.

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Portable Toilet Facilities

Portable toilet facilities are available on site for group visits. Let us know your group's requirements when you enquire.

Make a Full Day of It

Bulahdelah Town — More Than Just a Stopover

Bulahdelah sits at the heart of a stretch of Mid North Coast NSW that most people drive straight through — and most people have no idea what they're missing. Once your morning with us wraps up around noon, the rest of the day is wide open.

The Bulahdelah Bakery is a genuine institution. Pull up after the session and you'll find pies, rolls, and baked goods that justify the trip on their own. Grab lunch for the group and find a picnic spot beside the Myall River, just minutes away.

The Bulahdelah Tourist Information Centre sits at the northern end of town and is staffed by locals who know the area deeply. They'll point you towards Myall Lakes National Park, the Grandis (the largest known living flooded gum in Australia), the historic Alum Mountain walk, or simply the quietest, most beautiful river swimming spots you've never heard of.

For groups coming from Newcastle or the Hunter Valley, Bulahdelah is a two-hour drive north on the Pacific Highway — comfortable and straightforward. From Port Macquarie or Taree, it's a comparable distance south. Combine the morning with us with an afternoon exploring the Manning Valley or Myall Lakes and you have a genuinely complete day out on the Mid North Coast.

While You're in Town

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

Questions & Answers

Frequently Asked Questions

Everything your group needs to know before you book.

How many people can come on a ladies 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 to discuss. If your group is smaller, you're still very welcome; we don't have a minimum group size requirement, though the experience is naturally more social with larger numbers. Please note this experience is for adults 18 and over only.

Is it accessible for people with limited mobility?

Yes, absolutely. We've hosted many guests with wheelchairs, walker frames, and a 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, and portable toilet facilities are on site. When you make your enquiry, let us know if anyone in your group has specific needs and we'll make sure everything is in order. The horses are experienced with visitors and are brought to you — you don't need to walk through paddocks or manage uneven ground.

What should we wear?

Comfortable, closed-toe shoes are a must — thongs and heels aren't suitable on a working farm. Beyond that, dress for the weather and for being outdoors. Jeans or comfortable pants, layers if you're coming in the cooler months, and a hat and sunscreen in summer. You will be getting close to large animals, so avoid loose scarves or flowy fabrics that might startle them. Nothing you'd be devastated to get a bit of mud on. Most people are surprised by how accessible and clean the experience is, but it is a real farm — embrace it.

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

Bulahdelah is on the Pacific Highway, making it easy to reach from a wide catchment. From Newcastle it's approximately 2 hours north. From Taree it's around 1 hour south. From Port Macquarie it's about 1.5 hours south. From Sydney it's roughly 3 hours north. The drive up the Pacific Highway is pleasant and well-serviced. Many groups make a day trip of it, combining the 10am session with lunch in town and an afternoon at Myall Lakes or another local attraction. Carpooling is popular — it's part of the fun.

Can we bring food, drinks, or a picnic?

Please get in touch with us when you make your group enquiry to discuss catering and food options for your visit. We want to make sure your experience works perfectly for your group, and we're happy to advise on what works well on the day. Bulahdelah Bakery is just minutes from the farm and is a fantastic option for a post-session lunch in town. For those who'd like to extend the experience, the Myall River foreshore has excellent picnic facilities.

What if someone in our group is nervous around horses?

This is one of the most common questions we get, and honestly, it's one of our favourite parts of the experience. Our Clydesdales are extraordinarily gentle — their sheer size is initially surprising, but their temperament is calm and unhurried. Our host has more than 30 years of experience introducing nervous visitors to heavy horses, and the approach is always at each person's pace. We've seen people who swore they'd stay at the fence end up feeding Dusty May by hand twenty minutes later. Nobody is ever pushed or pressured. The horses do the convincing themselves.

Do we need to book in advance?

Yes — advance booking is essential, especially for groups. We don't take walk-in group visits, and our sessions book up, particularly on weekends and in the warmer months. We recommend enquiring at least 2–4 weeks ahead for groups, earlier if you have a firm date in mind. The quickest way to 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 the details with you personally.

Ladies Day Out
Mid North Coast NSW

Ditch the Long Lunch. Choose Something They'll Never Forget.