Farm animals, flowers in bloom, fresh BBQ cafe fare and live music on the lawn – what’s not to love about The Farm at Byron Bay? Owned by the same team as Sydney beach-side institution Three Blue Ducks in Bronte, this vibrant and rustic barn venture is a much-welcomed addition to Australia’s favourite coastal town.
Located on the turnoff to Ewingsdale road, a few minutes outside of central Byron, this modest property is a burst of rural delight, where you get to saunter through somebody else’s farm – even have a picnic in the grounds – and not feel like you’re being an intrusive creep. The vibe is relaxed, it’s rustic and unpretentious, but it’s also full of life and you can sense the care that is taken in the upkeep of the grounds and the creatures living within them.
After taking a wander around the property to say hello to the blissfully filthy pigs, laying in their muddy earthen bath, or the nearby chickens pecking at scattered feed, you enter the main barn house building through the produce store, packed with local foods and gifts from the Northern Rivers region. Also within this building of wood and tin you’ll find Bread Social, an artisan and bio-dynamic bakery, also using local ingredients for their sourdough, croissants and other buttery baked treats.
The restaurant spreads out onto a huge outdoor deck with a view over the farm. And it’s by Three Blue Ducks so the produce is local (indeed much is grown on the property), sustainable and seasonal. We stayed vegetarian in our food choices, opting for vibrant salads (one with Byron Bay haloumi) and some sweet potato chunks on the side. We opted for a glass of wine each, but given its Byron Bay you can choose a variety of drinks with chai, matcha, kombucha and cacao if that’s more your thing.
It’s a good idea to plan on spending half a day here. You can even purchase one of their picnic hampers and spread out on the lawn if it’s a sunny day. And let’s face it, it usually is in Byron Bay…
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