Lions Club Outing NSW

Why This Outing Works

The Real Deal — Not a Tourist Trap

Planning a Lions Club outing that genuinely means something to your members takes more than booking a lunch or a winery tour. Your members are community-minded Australians who value history, hard work, and authentic experiences. That is exactly what Bulahdelah Clydesdales delivers.

These are working Clydesdales on a working property — the same heritage heavy horses that built colonial Australia, ploughed the paddocks, hauled the timber, and drew the brewers' drays through the streets of Sydney. Watching them work, handling their harness, and standing alongside these extraordinary animals is a living connection to the story Lions clubs have always worked to preserve and celebrate in their communities.

With more than 30 years of experience hosting group visits, we know how to run a session that is informative, relaxed, and memorable for every member of your club — from the most active to those who need a little more care getting around.

Bulahdelah is an easy day trip from Newcastle, Port Macquarie, Taree, Forster, and the Hunter Valley — well served by coach and ideally located for a Mid North Coast run day.

Coach group arriving at Bulahdelah Clydesdales — Coach groups welcome — dedicated turning and parking area on site.

Built for Groups Like Yours

Why Lions Club Members Love This Visit

Lions International was founded on the idea of service, community, and fellowship. This outing speaks directly to those values — here is how.

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Australian Heritage, Hands-On

The Clydesdale breed is inseparable from the story of European settlement in Australia. Working with these horses was once the foundation of the farm, the town, and the economy. Your members will handle the leather collar, hames, and traces that once powered a nation — not behind glass in a museum, but in their own hands.

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Community & Fellowship

Lions meetings are built on conversation and connection. An outing to Bulahdelah Clydesdales gives your members a shared story that carries back into every meeting, every newsletter, and every conversation for months. It is the kind of outing people still mention two years later — "remember when we fed that big horse?"

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A Working Property, Not a Theme Park

There are no ticket kiosks, no costumed guides reciting scripts, and no gift shop selling plastic horseshoes. This is a genuine family property where the horses are exercised, trained, and worked every day. That authenticity is something your members will recognise and respect immediately.

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Comfortable for All Ages

Many Lions Club members have been in the movement for decades. We have hosted groups across a very wide age range and know how to run a session that moves at a comfortable pace — with undercover seating, accessible facilities, and plenty of time to sit, watch, ask questions, and simply enjoy the animals and the setting.

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Brilliant for Club Photography

Every Lions branch produces newsletters, Facebook posts, and annual reports. A visit to Bulahdelah Clydesdales gives your photographer extraordinary material — members alongside a 700 kg draft horse, handling 150-year-old style harness, laughing with the world's most opinionated donkey. These images will do excellent service for your recruitment too.

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Pairs with the Town of Bulahdelah

Bulahdelah itself is a beautiful stop on the Pacific Highway with genuine character — the Tourist Information Centre, the famous Bulahdelah Bakery, cafes, and river views. Many groups build a full day around the town and the farm, making the run from anywhere on the coast an easy and rewarding day out for the whole club.

Your Visit, Step by Step

The 2-Hour Group Session

Sessions run from 10am and are structured to give every member something to see, touch, and take away. Here is exactly what to expect.

Arrival & Introductions

Your coach pulls into our dedicated group parking area. Members are welcomed, given a brief safety orientation, and introduced to the property and its history. There is undercover seating available from the moment your group arrives — nobody is left standing in the sun while the group gets settled. This is a relaxed, unhurried start designed to let everyone orient themselves at their own pace.

Live Working Demonstration

This is the centrepiece of the visit. You will see our Clydesdales working as they were bred to work — responding to voice commands, moving with purpose, demonstrating the power and precision that made this breed the backbone of Australian agriculture. Our host explains the history of the breed in Australia, how working horses were managed on stations and farms, and what modern working horse enthusiasts are doing to keep this knowledge alive.

Heavy Horse Harness Display

Members are invited to handle genuine working harness — the leather collar that sits on the horse's shoulders, the hames that carry the load, the traces that run back to the implement or vehicle. You will understand, physically and immediately, just how much engineering went into the pre-mechanical farm. Our host explains each component, how harness was fitted, how it was maintained, and the craftsmen who made it. This section reliably prompts the best questions of the whole visit.

Meet, Feed & Photograph

The horses come to the group — or the group comes to the horses, depending on the day. Members are able to hand-feed, stroke, and photograph our Clydesdales up close. This is the moment every visitor remembers. Dusty May, Hercules, Jax, and Murphy are accustomed to group visits and are relaxed, gentle, and completely at ease with people of all ages. Murphy the donkey also makes his opinions very clearly known throughout.

Questions & Open Interaction

The final part of the session is deliberately unstructured. Our host takes questions, shares stories, and lets members spend time with the horses in their own way. For some this means more photos. For others it is a long conversation about working horse history or a first-hand account of what it was like to work with horses in the pre-tractor era. We never rush this part — it is often where the most memorable moments happen.

The Horses

Four Clydesdales. One Very Opinionated Donkey.

Dusty May, Hercules, Jax, and Murphy are not rescue horses kept for show. They are worked regularly, well-conditioned, and trained to be comfortable around large groups of people. Each has its own personality — and your members will work that out very quickly.

Dusty May is the quiet achiever — patient, beautiful, and completely unrattled by a crowd of admirers. Hercules is exactly what his name suggests. Jax is the curious one who will investigate everything you are carrying. Murphy the donkey considers himself the centre of the entire operation and will make sure you know it.

Generations of knowledge and genuine care sit behind every horse on this property. When your members stand beside a Clydesdale for the first time, they almost always go quiet for a moment — the sheer scale of the animal is something that photographs simply cannot convey.

This is not a petting zoo. It is an education in Australian working heritage, delivered by animals that are still doing the job their breed was built for.

Access & Facilities

Everyone Is Welcome Here

Lions Club groups span a wide range of ages and abilities. We have designed our group visit setup so that every member — regardless of mobility — has full access to the experience.

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Wheelchair Accessible

The property is accessible for standard wheelchairs. Members in wheelchairs are able to participate fully in all parts of the session — including the harness display and the meet-and-feed. Surface conditions depend on the season; please mention wheelchair requirements when you enquire so we can confirm current conditions.

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Walker Frames Welcome

Members who use walker frames are very welcome and well catered for. The session is paced to allow comfortable movement and there is no requirement to stand for extended periods. Please let us know when booking if any members use mobility aids so we can have appropriate seating positioned throughout.

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Undercover Seating

Covered seating is available throughout the visit. Members who prefer to watch from a seated, shaded position can enjoy the full working demonstration and harness display without needing to stand. We are conscious that a Mid North Coast summer day can be warm, and comfort is not an afterthought here.

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Coach & Bus Parking

We have a dedicated turning and parking area for coaches and large buses. Your driver can safely manoeuvre a full-size coach on-site and remain parked for the duration of the visit. This is confirmed — no reversing on narrow country roads.

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Portable Toilet On-Site

A portable toilet is available on-site for group visits. Please advise us of your group size when booking so we can confirm facility adequacy for your numbers.

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Groups Up to 50 People

Our standard group session accommodates up to 50 visitors comfortably. If your club is larger, please contact us — we may be able to accommodate larger groups by arrangement or split the visit across two sessions.

Session Pricing

Straightforward, Honest Pricing

No hidden charges, no per-activity add-ons. The price covers your full two-hour group session including the working demonstration, harness display, and meet-and-feed.

Adults

$70

Per adult visitor.
Full 2-hour session included.

Children

$40

Per child visitor.
Aged 10 and above.

Under 10s

FREE

Children under 10 are free.
No booking charge.

Special Rate

Enquire

Groups of 10 or more receive a special group rate. Contact us with your numbers for a tailored quote.

Make a Full Day of It

Bulahdelah Town — Worth the Stop

Bulahdelah is one of the most appealing small towns on the entire Mid North Coast run. Your members will enjoy having time in town before or after the farm visit.

The Famous Bulahdelah Bakery

This is a genuine institution. The Bulahdelah Bakery is known across the Mid North Coast for its pies and baked goods, and it draws travellers off the Pacific Highway specifically for the stop. Coach groups regularly factor in a bakery stop as part of the run — allow at least 30 minutes, particularly on weekends.

Tourist Information Centre

Bulahdelah's Tourist Information Centre is an easy stop with good facilities, local information, and a chance for members to stretch their legs after the coach run. It sits in a pleasant part of town with the Myall River nearby — always appreciated for a walk or a quiet sit in the sun.

Easy Coach Access from the Pacific Highway

Bulahdelah sits directly on the Pacific Highway corridor, making it a natural stop for groups running between Newcastle and the Mid North Coast. The turn-off is straightforward and well-signposted, and the coach journey into town is simple even with a large vehicle.

Plan Your Full-Day Run

A typical Lions Club day from Newcastle or the Hunter Valley might run: morning departure, Bulahdelah Clydesdales session at 10am, bakery and town stop for lunch, afternoon return. From Port Macquarie or Taree the logistics are equally straightforward. Contact us and we will help you plan a timetable that works for your group.

Common Questions

Questions From Group Organisers

If you are the person putting the run together for your Lions branch, here are the answers to the questions we hear most often.

How many people can the session accommodate?

Our standard group session runs comfortably for up to 50 people. If your Lions branch is larger than that, please call us on 0434 523 344 before booking. We may be able to accommodate larger groups by splitting into two sessions or by alternative arrangements depending on the date.

Is the property accessible for members with limited mobility?

Yes. The property is accessible for wheelchairs and walker frames. Undercover seating is available throughout the session so members who cannot stand for extended periods are fully included in everything. Surface conditions on a working farm can vary with the weather, so please mention any specific access requirements at the time of booking and we will confirm the current situation and make any necessary arrangements.

Is there parking for a full-size coach?

Yes, absolutely. We have a dedicated coach and bus parking area with sufficient space for a full-size coach to turn and park safely on-site. Your driver does not need to wait off-property. This is one of the practical things we have specifically set up for group visits — your driver is welcome to stay parked for the full duration.

How long does the session run?

The session runs for two hours, starting at 10am. This covers the full five-part program: arrival, working demonstration, harness display, meet-and-feed, and open Q&A time. We structure the session so it moves at a relaxed pace — there is no sense of being rushed through. Two hours is generally the sweet spot for a group visit: substantial enough to feel like a real experience, without exhausting members who have already had a coach journey.

What should members bring or wear?

Comfortable, closed-toe shoes are strongly recommended — this is a working property. Casual clothes are fine. A hat and sunscreen are sensible on a warm day, though undercover seating means nobody is exposed to full sun throughout the visit. Members are welcome to bring cameras or use their phones for photographs during the session — especially during the meet-and-feed portion. There is no dress code, no required equipment, and nothing to carry. Just arrive.

Can we extend the visit beyond two hours?

Extended visits may be possible depending on availability and the nature of your group's interests. If your club has a particular historical or agricultural interest that you would like to explore in more depth, please discuss this with us when you enquire. We are happy to have a conversation about what might be possible. Call 0434 523 344 or use the Group Enquiry form and note your interest in a longer session.

What is the group pricing and how do I book?

Standard pricing is $70 per adult, $40 per child (10 and over), and free for under 10s. Groups of 10 or more receive a special group rate — contact us to discuss your numbers and we will provide a quote. To make a group booking, either call 0434 523 344 or submit a Group Enquiry online. We will confirm your date, organise the pricing for your group size, and provide any information your members need before the day.