Farm Stay Story — “A Sunrise Among Friends”

I’d been craving a break from screens and deadlines — something simple, something real. When I pulled up to Tiny Rescue Retreat by Tiny Away in rural Victoria’s Campaspe Shire, I wasn’t sure what to expect. What I found was one of the most unexpectedly beautiful escapes I’ve ever had.

The tiny house itself was tiny in size but enormous in heart — rustic and cosy, with gentle morning light spilling in through the windows and a quiet stillness that felt like a warm hug. The air smelled of fresh hay and cool country wind.

But what truly made my stay unforgettable weren’t the walls of the retreat — it was the residents. Over 200 rescued animals call this farm home. Sheep wandered like gentle philosophers, goats greeted me with curious eyes, and pigs like Porshy and her friend Dozer (who’s blind but full of character) welcomed me into their peaceful routines.

One morning, before the sun even crested the canola fields, I wandered down to “Piggy Lane” just as feeding time began. There was something quietly joyous about watching these animals — many of whom had known hardship — greet each day with simple, earnest delight. I sipped my coffee, their soft grunts and bleats mingling with birdsong. It reminded me how restorative calm can be when you let go of hurry.

At dusk, I settled by the firepit as the sky turned gold, and the sheep gathered nearby like old friends. I thought about how few places left feel authentically alive — where you can just be present with earth, wind, animals, and the slow passing of hours.

Leaving was bittersweet. I carried home a sense of peace — and a handful of photos — but the deeper gift was the reminder to slow down, open to little acts of compassion, and reconnect with nature’s rhythm.