Less than an hour from Melbourne, Wilindi Estate offers families the chance to slow down, stay among the animals and discover the heartwarming story behind a very special Mornington Peninsula property.
There are some family getaways where the accommodation is the destination – and then there are places where it is the people, animals and stories behind the property that stay with you long after you leave.
We were recently invited to spend some time at Wilindi Estate in Tyabb, at the gateway to the Mornington Peninsula, and discovered a beautiful little pocket of country life less than an hour from Melbourne.
Set across 10 picturesque acres, Wilindi Estate is home to modern country cottages, peaceful gardens, paddocks filled with horses and a wonderfully social collection of farm animals. But what makes this place particularly special is the story and purpose behind it.
At the centre of it all is Farmer Mim – Miriam Heatherich – whose love for animals, children and education has helped shape Wilindi Estate into much more than simply somewhere to spend a weekend.
A property with purpose
Wilindi Estate is also home to Herd Harmony, Miriam’s equine rescue organisation.
Over the years, Miriam has worked with vulnerable children as well as animals, and those two passions now come together on the property. Herd Harmony has rescued horses from difficult circumstances, including abandonment and the slaughter pipeline, with veterinary, dental and farrier care forming part of the often lengthy process of restoring the horses to health.
It is easy to admire a beautiful horse grazing in a paddock. What guests may not immediately see are the hours of care, patience, rehabilitation, training, feeding and trust-building that have gone into getting that animal to the point where it feels safe again.
That story gives a stay here a very different feeling.
This isn’t a farm where animals have simply been placed around the property for visitors to look at. They are very much part of the Wilindi family, and their individual personalities quickly become apparent.
There is a genuine sense that everything has grown organically from Miriam’s love of the animals and her desire to give them the best life possible.
Meeting Farmer Mim and the animals
One of the absolute highlights for our kids was our private farm tour with Farmer Mim.
And while feeding animals is always going to be exciting for children, this was much more than that.
Mim encouraged the kids to slow down and actually listen to the animals – to watch their body language, notice how they responded and understand that interacting with an animal isn’t simply about walking up and patting it.
It was such a simple concept, but something the kids really took on board.
They began noticing just how social the animals were. They could see which ones came over for attention, which were curious, how they communicated and how comfortable and happy they appeared around people.
There were plenty of favourites.
Tim and Tam the goats had the kids laughing with their personalities, while Willow and Wilber the pigs were impossible not to fall in love with.
Then there are the beautiful horses, each with their own story, and chickens happily roaming around the property.
For our kids, even something as simple as collecting freshly laid eggs from the chickens became one of those wholesome little holiday moments they talked about afterwards.
They were able to get close to the animals, learn about their care and hear some of the rescue stories behind the horses.
And that’s really the magic of the experience.
The children thought they were simply having fun on a farm. In reality, they were also learning about compassion, patience, animal behaviour, responsibility and trust.
Staying in the Cottage
We stayed in Poplar Cottage, one of three self-contained cottages at Wilindi Estate.
The first thing we noticed was just how spacious and thoughtfully designed it was.
Poplar is a two-bedroom cottage accommodating up to six guests, with a private fenced garden and terrace. Inside, there is a lovely balance between a contemporary country stay and the character you would expect from a farm property, with modern comforts alongside vintage and antique-inspired touches.
The master bedroom features a high raked ceiling, velvet queen bed and one of my favourite details – a gorgeous porthole-style window with a built-in reading seat looking towards the garden.
There is also a separate bunk room for the kids, a well-equipped kitchen, comfortable living space, dishwasher and outdoor barbecue area.
For families, having that extra room makes such a difference. You’re not all squeezed into one hotel room, the kids have their own sleeping area and there is somewhere comfortable to relax once everyone settles down for the night.
Our cottage also had something particularly important about its design: Poplar Cottage is fully wheelchair accessible and DDA certified.
Extra-wide doors and hallways, a roll-in shower, grab rails, shower seating and an accessible toilet have been incorporated into the cottage, allowing Wilindi Estate to also provide respite and rehabilitation stays.
What we liked was that the accessibility features didn’t make the accommodation feel clinical. It still felt warm, modern and homely.
It is clear that considerable thought has gone into making the property welcoming to different families and different needs.
Plenty for kids to enjoy without leaving the property
One of the things we loved about staying at Wilindi Estate was that there was plenty for the kids to enjoy without needing to constantly jump in the car and head somewhere else.
Along with visiting the animals, collecting eggs and exploring the property, families can also make use of the on-site swimming pool and children’s playground.
On a warm day, the pool is such a lovely bonus – especially after a morning spent exploring the farm – while the playground gives younger children another space to burn off some energy.
It really adds to that relaxed family-holiday feeling. Parents can slow down, the kids have space to play, and there is no pressure to fill every hour of the day with activities.
Between the pool, playground, farm animals, private tours and open country surroundings, Wilindi Estate feels like somewhere children can simply enjoy being kids.
Other ways to stay
Wilindi Estate has two additional accommodation options, making it suitable for everything from a couple’s quiet midweek break to a family weekend away.
Maple Cottage is another spacious two-bedroom cottage, sleeping up to five guests, with its own fenced garden, kitchen and outdoor area.
For couples or smaller families, Harmony Cottage is the cosier option. Sleeping up to three guests, the studio cottage sits incredibly close to the paddocks and hen house, with views across to the horses.
There is something lovely about waking up somewhere and immediately remembering you are in the country – hearing the animals, looking across the paddocks and not having to rush anywhere.
A midweek stay would be particularly lovely for parents wanting a quiet reset, while weekends offer plenty of opportunity to combine the farm stay with exploring the Mornington Peninsula.
More than an overnight stay
Wilindi Estate has been designed to encourage guests to actually experience the property rather than simply sleep there.
The private farm tour can include meeting the rescue horses and hearing their stories, grooming and learning about horse care, visiting the goats and pigs and collecting eggs from the chickens.
Farm-tour booking fees help support Herd Harmony Equine Rescue, giving families another reason to feel good about booking the experience.
There are also seasonal extras available, including a cottage-side fire experience complete with firewood and marshmallows – the sort of addition that would make a winter stay particularly cosy.
And because the property is positioned at the beginning of the Mornington Peninsula, you don’t have to choose between a farm holiday and a Peninsula getaway.
You can have both.
Exploring around Tyabb and the Mornington Peninsula
We used Wilindi Estate as our base and headed out to explore several nearby family favourites.
For families with younger children, Dinosaur World Somerville is an easy addition to the trip. The outdoor attraction is a fun stop for dinosaur-loving kids and easy to incorporate into a day exploring the local area.
Tyabb itself is also brilliant if, like us, you enjoy hunting for vintage and unusual finds.
We spent time browsing Tyabb Packing House, a huge historic complex filled with antiques, retro pieces, collectables and old wares, and The Vintage Shed, another treasure trove for anyone who loves vintage furniture, homewares, clothing and quirky pieces.
It’s the kind of place where you can easily lose track of time wandering through and seeing what you might uncover.
Another lovely stop is Benton Rise Farm at nearby Tuerong. Families can stop for a coffee, browse local Mornington Peninsula produce and enjoy another taste of country life before heading home or continuing further down the Peninsula.
And of course, you are perfectly positioned to explore the Peninsula’s beautiful beaches, coastal walks, wineries, farm gates, cafés and family attractions if you’re staying for more than one night.
Sometimes the simple experiences are the best ones
What stayed with me most about Wilindi Estate wasn’t one extravagant attraction.
It was watching the kids wander around the farm. It was collecting eggs. Meeting Tim and Tam. Laughing at the pigs.
Standing quietly near a horse and learning that sometimes the best way to connect with an animal is to stop, watch and listen.
And it was hearing the stories behind animals that had once experienced hardship but are now safe, cared for and surrounded by people.
There is an enormous amount of work behind a property like this – from maintaining ten acres and running the accommodation to caring for the animals and continuing the rescue work – yet as a guest, what you experience is an overwhelming sense of calm.
For Melbourne families looking for something a little different, Wilindi Estate makes a beautiful weekend escape, midweek reset or base for exploring the Mornington Peninsula.
With modern family accommodation, an on-site swimming pool and playground, private animal encounters and plenty to discover nearby, there really is enough here to make the property part of the holiday – not simply somewhere to sleep.
But more importantly, you’re staying somewhere with heart.
For our kids, getting to know Farmer Mim and her beautiful animals was easily the most memorable part of our stay.
More info visit wilindiestate.com
Our stay at Wilindi Estate was hosted. As always, all experiences and opinions shared are our own.
Melbourne with Kidz (MWK) 
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