Sunflowers Animal Farm, just north of Busselton in Ludlow, is a brilliant stop for families who want a truly hands‑on animal experience. It’s a relaxed, welcoming farm attraction where kids and adults of all ages can pat, feed and wander among a huge variety of friendly animals, from classic farm favourites to native Aussie icons. Many families easily spend a couple of hours (or more) here, moving between cuddles with baby animals, feeding buckets and unhurried paddock strolls.
One of the biggest highlights for younger visitors is meeting the babies. In pens close to the entrance you’ll often find calves, lambs and joeys, and at set times each day staff run bottle‑feeding sessions. Visitors are invited into the enclosures to get up close, and the animals are generally gentle and used to being handled. Staff do a great job of organising the group so everyone gets a turn and are happy to show children how to hold the bottles and interact kindly with the animals. If bottle‑feeding is on your must‑do list, it’s worth arriving a little before the scheduled session and checking the current times when you arrive, as these can change seasonally.
Once you’ve had your baby‑animal fix, you can grab buckets of feed and head out to explore the rest of the farm.
Sunflowers is home to hundreds of animals, including goats, sheep, cows, ponies, donkeys, pigs, llamas, alpacas, kangaroos, emus, chooks and ducks. Most are very sociable and will wander over to the fence as soon as they see a feed bucket. For many kids, hand‑feeding becomes a game in itself as they work out which animals are the most polite and which are the cheeky characters to watch out for. There are plenty of spots to pause for photos, and the open layout makes it easy to loop back to favourite animals more than once.
The smaller residents have their own special area, with rabbits, guinea pigs and other little critters set up so children can gently offer them food and, with staff guidance, enjoy a cuddle or two. It’s a lovely change of pace if you have younger or more cautious children who prefer quieter interactions to the bustle of the main paddocks. Throughout the farm, the team clearly cares about both visitors and animals: they’re happy to chat, answer kids’ questions and remind everyone about gentle hands and safe feeding.
Practicalities are well covered for families. The farm is easy to find just off Bussell Highway with plenty of parking, and the paths are generally flat and pram‑friendly. There are portable toilets near the entrance, including an accessible option and hand‑washing facilities, which makes it simple to clean up after enthusiastic feeding sessions. Babies under two are free, and general admission is kept straightforward, with optional extras like feed buckets clearly priced so you can budget before you arrive. Because the experience is mostly outdoors, it’s worth bringing hats, sunscreen and a change of clothes for little ones who love getting up close and dusty.
Sunflowers Animal Farm has been a much‑loved South West staple for years, and its newer Ludlow location continues that tradition. With its mix of baby animals, relaxed bottle‑feeding sessions, friendly staff and an impressive variety of creatures to meet, it’s a must‑visit if you’re holidaying around Busselton or Margaret River with kids. Whether you’re introducing toddlers to their first farm animals or giving older children the chance to learn about caring for them, it’s the kind of outing that leaves the whole family with warm, happy memories.
Sunflowers Animal Farm
Address: 129 Ludlow‑Hithergreen Rd, Cnr Bussell Hwy, Ludlow, Busselton WA
Opening hours: Open every day (except Christmas Day), 9am – 5pm (check the official website or social media for any updates before visiting)
Website: https://sunflowersfarm.com
