Spookwood Estate

28/09/2026

The little chicks are out exploring and learning to fly...

12/09/2026

It's been a busy month or so with guests at Spookwood! The amazing reviews make it all worth it.

08/09/2026

Some new team members joined the Spookwood Crew this week.

06/09/2026

What is a weekend at Spookwood like?

👣 Long walks and exploring
🐣 Collecting eggs or meeting the chicks
🐐 Feeding the goats
🦚 Finding peacock feathers
🔥 Campfires and roasted marshmallows
🍷 Wines on the balcony
🚜 Tractors
⛺️ Playing in the dirt
🎲 Games nights

If you are looking for a chance to disconnect from city life and reconnect with nature and the simple life, book now!

https://www.airbnb.com.au/rooms/684506389956058168?unique_share_id=d67e8df9-c912-4469-874c-469af3833638&viralityEntryPoint=1&s=76

16/08/2026

Know anyone that would be able to help Caretake in September?

HELP: We are chasing Caretakers from now until October 1st.

If you know anyone please let them know to message us or email [email protected].

11/06/2026

Our recent guests made the most of their time at Spookwood...

❌️️ Disconnecting from technology
✅️ Spending time exploring nature,
✅️ Hanging with the animals,
✅️ Getting dirty,
✅️ Campfires,
✅️ Enjoying the great outdoors!
..and they loved it so much they are coming back!

Ready to disconnect and reconnect? Book now and see what all the fuss is about.

06/06/2026

Checking out the new digs...

Finally moving the goats to their new paddock. Milky has now become super friendly and loves pats and hand feeding almost as much as Susie!

15/05/2026

Still on the hunt...

HELP: Our brand new caretakers (who arrived last week) have had to race off today due to a family emergency.

We are now chasing Caretakers from now until August.

If you know anyone please let them know to message us or email [email protected].

02/05/2026

HELP: Our brand new caretakers (who arrived last week) have had to race off today due to a family emergency.

We are now chasing Caretakers from now until August.

If you know anyone please let them know to message us or email [email protected].

29/04/2026

Want healthier kids?

Book a winter stay at Spookwood and get them playing in the dirt and mud, interacting with the farm animals and disconnecting from technology.

The science says you should...

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/18P9vNebB1/

Playing in the dirt may be one of the healthiest things a child can do.

In a remarkable study from Finland, researchers transformed ordinary daycare playgrounds by replacing gravel and asphalt with pieces of natural forest floor, including moss, leaf litter, sod, and low vegetation. After just 28 days, children who played in these biodiverse environments showed measurable changes in their skin and gut microbiota, along with improved immune markers in their blood. The findings suggest that regular contact with natural microbial life may help train the immune system early in life.

The study adds strong support to the “biodiversity hypothesis,” which proposes that modern urban living reduces our exposure to beneficial environmental microbes, potentially contributing to the rise in allergies, asthma, and autoimmune disorders. Instead of seeing dirt, moss, and leaf litter as mess, this research suggests they may actually be part of the biological foundation children need for healthier immune development.

What makes this especially important is how quickly the changes appeared. In only four weeks, the children exposed to the rewilded play yards developed more diverse microbial communities and higher levels of regulatory T-cells, which help the body control inflammation and prevent excessive immune reactions. It is a powerful reminder that nature is not just something children enjoy — it may be something their bodies genuinely depend on.

Source: Roslund, M. I., Puhakka, R., Grönroos, M., et al. (2020). Biodiversity intervention enhances immune regulation and health-associated commensal microbiota among daycare children. Published in Science Advances by the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS).