Less than an hour from Brisbane but a world away from the hustle and bustle is Trevena Glen Farm, one of Brisbane’s best farm experiences. Here kids can get up close and personal with a wide range of animals, can ride a miniature train and enjoy a pony ride and this is where we spent a fun Saturday morning.
After a beautiful drive through the Pine Valley area we reached Trevena Glen Farm, a family owned farm located in Mount Samson. Trevena Glen offers 1-, 2- and 3-hour interactive tours and it is recommended that you book online before you arrive. We booked the 1 hour tour and met our tour guide Marley under the giant fig tree that forms the basis of the adventure playground. But more on that later!
Top tip – We highly recommend hats and sunscreen all around as there isn’t always shade while walking around on the tour.
Trevena Glen farm animals
We were in a small group which was perfect as it meant all the kids could spend loads of time with animals. We started out by meeting Jack the Donkey, who loves to bray loudly and could be thought of as the unofficial welcoming committee!
After meeting Jack we headed for the pig pen where we met siblings Pepper and Freckle. We were able to feed carrots to the massive pigs and watch as they snaffled them down in seconds! Marley showed us how Pepper was able to sit on command – something many of us had never before seen a pig do.
After the pigs we headed to the next area where the alpacas lived. Trevena Glen has 6 alpacas including a Teddy Bear alpaca named Elvis who doesn’t mind being patted. We fed them hay and watched them line up in their natural pecking order (who knew alpacas had a pecking order!). It was funny watching them get grumpy at the youngest one when he started to steal the show and all the food. The kids loved it and we spent quite a bit of time with them.
Next up were the goats, including baby goats. As we walked toward the enclosure we saw the funniest sight ever – goats relaxing on a trampoline! The goats were able to walk up a small ramp to get onto the trampoline, and Marley said that sometimes they would even jump off the ramp and onto the trampoline, causing the ones relaxing on it to bounce in the air! We were able to enter the goat pen and brush the goats who were surprisingly soft!
Cuddles with farm animals
No farm visit is complete without chickens, and so we headed to the chicken pen after the goats. It was great watching everyone patting chickens and pointing out their favourites. Marley even let the kids sit down and hold them and have photos taken. Afterwards we collected the fresh eggs.
From patting chickens we went on to holding guinea pigs. We were able to choose the guinea pig we wanted from a guinea pig menu with names that sounded like ice cream flavours – Mango, Nutella, Taffy and Hazel. We chose Hazel and it was adorable watching all the kids sit with the fluffy animals and hear their tiny squeaks.
Last but not least were the bunnies. Leo the bunny sat patiently while 3 kids stroked his white ears and fur and Marley talked to us about why it’s important to not have bunnies in Queensland. This completed the hour long tour but our family was keen for more!
More fun at Trevena Glen Farm
For a small additional cost we purchased tickets on the miniature train. Children and adults are welcome on the train while it does 2 loops of the main farm area. It is such a fun experience and definitely a must do while you are there. We also did a short pony ride which would be the perfect introductory ride for any kids who are interested in horses or wanting to start to ride. You can also opt for a slightly longer ride for those who are keen.
Adventure playground & cafe
After all that excitement, I opted for a coffee from the onsite cafe and parked myself under the giant fig tree while our daughter ran off to explore the adventure playground. The playground itself is literally built around the tree. To get to the climbing platform and have access to the slide, you climb between the tree roots and up a ladder that is almost inside the tree, like a hidden cave. Such an imaginative idea!
Birthday parties, and more at Trevena Glen Farm
If you are looking for something different for an upcoming birthday, Trevena Glen Farm offers birthday packages that would be a hit with kids. You can choose to have the party in a number of locations (including the pony parlour!) and then tailor the activities to what you like. Have an animal tour, pony rides or both – it’s up to you.
They also offer holiday packages which are perfect for budding farmers or just kids who love animals. The half day Farmer Fun program is 5 hours of learning about animals and includes cleaning and brushing animals, walking the alpacas and learning the basics of horsemanship. This is a great way for kids aged 9 years and above to experience and learn about the farm animals.
If you have a child who is keen on horses and wants to learn about riding, a horsemanship session is a great introduction. During a 30 minute session kids will learn about grooming and saddling a horse, as well as basic riding skills. This session is designed to help kids to become more confident around these majestic animals. (Discover the five benefits of horse riding for kids here)
Trevena Glen Farm is a hidden gem that is well worth a visit. Soak up the fresh country air of the farm and appreciate the mountain views and cuddle lots of adorable animals. There is plenty of parking and enjoy the scenic drive to get there.
Trevena Glen Farm was reviewed by Hayley Mills and her daughter in January 2025.
