Welcome to Forest Gate Farm in the picturesque Adelaide Hills in South Australia. So close to the city, yet secluded. We offer comfortable self contained B&B cottage accommodation with a unique ambience; bringing together the very best of the McLaren Vale wine district, the Kuitpo Forest and country living.

Forest Gate Farm is a small cattle property nestled alongside the beautiful Kuitpo forest; ideally situated close to K1 winery and many other boutique McLaren Vale wineries where many visitors attend for private weddings, as well as the more usual cellar door visits. It has been catering for Bed and Breakfast visitors for over twenty five years. The historic Cottage itself was built of stuccoed daub and stone about one hundred and thirty years ago and is listed on the council heritage register. Over many years it has been carefully renovated in the style of the age and crafted into two entirely separate and private entities, each with a separate name (Walnut and Farmer's), separate private facilities, separate gardens and separate entrances. The only shared space being the private off street visitor parking area.

Walnut Cottage, strictly for couples, is usually available from March to December, with peak season being late Autumn through Spring when the forest is at its most attractive for damp misty morning walks or evening strolls before dinner. The  skylit master bedroom in Walnut, (queen bed with goosedown quilt) and the private bathroom (mood light and rainwater spa bath) are an integral part of the original cottage structure, and there is also a new section for easier living which comprises a fully equipped kitchen, a dining area (seating four in case of guests), and a lounge with an excellent log combustion fire for those long winter nights when you just want to snuggle up on the settee and watch a movie whilst you sip port. A feature of the new section is the cypress matchboard (see pix of Walnut interior) which was milled from several 100 year old trees which once grew in the front garden of the property.

All the gardens at Forest Gate are Xeriscape; which means they are specifically planted to species of flora which can withstand the ravages of a harsh Australian climate with only natural rainfall. They transform every year with the coming of the Autumn rains as thousands of flowering bulbs make their appearance through the thick mulch and burst into leaf and then flower, whilst the deciduous trees and shrubs begin to change colour and prepare for the coming winter. On warm and balmy days, guests are encouraged to take breakfast or morning tea outside in their private area with the many Australian native birds, or wander throughout the remainder of the gardens and see how the food is produced on a real working property. Evening meals can often be prepared for guests in advance of their arrival if requested when a booking is made, and most if not all the food is organically grown if that is important to guests.

Advance bookings for accommodation are essential and those guests wishing to ride the Kidman Trail or just trail ride in the area will need to book our recently completed stables well in advance at the time they book their cottage.

For bookings or enquiries regarding availability of Walnut Cottage please telephone 08 8388 3941 or go to our booking enquiry form.

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