MOO TO EWE

Welcome to Our Sanctuary

Fall in love with the gentle creatures who have found their forever home amidst the tranquil oasis of Moo to Ewe Farmed Animal Sanctuary.

In a peaceful rural valley in the heart of the New South Wales Central Coast, a cherished collection of over 50 rescued farm animals have found hope, healing and freedom in the lush, green pastures and loving care of this not-for-profit sanctuary. Step outside the busy city limits, deeply inhale the fresh country air, and journey to a special place where animals are ‘Here with us, not for us.’ Touch, hand- feed and delight in heart-warming, up-close encounters with our friendly residents, including cows, goats, sheep, pigs, alpacas, chickens and ducks. Take a small group guided tour to get to know their unique personalities, hear their stories and discover their journey to finding freedom here at Moo to Ewe. You’re sure to make a host of new furry and feathered friends along the way!

To deliver the best possible experience for both our guests and animals, the sanctuary is only open for pre-booked guided small group tours of 6-8 people, for the comfort and safety of all. These calm and thoughtful tours are led by our passionate team of volunteers, who are more than happy to tailor the pace and content of each experience to the needs, interests and abilities of our visitors. These interactive and educational tours last for approximately one-and-a-half to two hours, allowing plenty of time to be present in the paddocks, enjoy animal-led interactions and immerse your senses in the sounds, scents and textures of this peaceful place of refuge.

Tours must be pre-booked and are generally conducted at 11am on weekends (weather permitting). Weekday bookings may be able to be organised upon request. For bookings or enquiries, please visit mootoewe.org , email info@mootoewe.org, or reach out to them on Facebook.

Enter Our Oasis

As you enter the palm tree-lined driveway of Moo to Ewe Farmed Animal Sanctuary, the overwhelming feeling of peace and freedom is almost palpable.

A landscape of lush pastures framed by rolling hills and the soothing green hues of nature unfurl before you. The contented sounds of animals greet you from across the paddock, and the serenade of birdsong lingers in the clean, country air. The leaves of surrounding Liquidambar trees gentle rustle in the breeze, and the crows of welcome from our roosters – Snowy, Cornelius and Jaffa – signal your arrival. Other feathered friends may also join in the greeting. Listen out for the quacking calls from Dilly and Dally (our white-as-snow Pekin ducks), or the hissing-like voices of our black-and-white speckled Muscovy ducks, Tempeh and Jet.

Your friendly volunteer tour guide will also give a happy greeting and make group introductions, while you have an opportunity to hand-feed corn kernels to our chickens from your cupped hands.

Then it’s off to the paddock to meet some of our other friendly residents who now call Moo to Ewe home. During this tour, you’ll be offered a unique opportunity to touch, feed and get up close to the animals – but it’s far from a petting zoo. Here, animals are given the freedom to interact on their own terms, and safety for all is always our priority. We want your interactions to be authentic, meaningful and animal-led – ensuring the best possible experience for both visitors and our residents. You’ll also gain insights into their lives, their complex relationships, and their individual journeys that led them to this loving, family-run haven.

Both insightful and inspirational, this guided sanctuary tour is sure to leave you with a new-found appreciation for these adorable animals, as you experience first-hand the uniqueness and spirit of each creature living in freedom.

Meet The Sanctuary Animals

After farewelling our feathered friends we’ll head out into the paddock. As you walk, feel the fresh green grass beneath your feet, and inhale the organic, earthy scent of the country air.

First we’ll feed the cheeky dorper sheep, who are traditionally used for their meat in the agricultural industry. These lot love snacking on apples, weetbix and carrots, and food donations to help satisfy their appetites are always welcome. Either in the paddock or from your comfort zone behind the fence, you can feel their woolly fleeces. Some of our sheep are shy, but Lacey (our beautiful black-headed girl) and twin sisters Marcie and Sally (both coated in cream) are always keen for a scratch.

You’ll also get to meet the alpacas – our shaggy shepherds of the resident sheep. Tahini is a soft caramel colour, while Tamari is cloaked in a darker shade of brown, like the food seasonings they are named after. Tahini is most likely to come looking for a feed of chaff. He takes his job very seriously, fiercely protecting his flock with some gnarly ninja moves if necessary, so we’ll feed him over the fence.

Then it’s time to wallow about with the pigs. Hear their happy snorts as you approach. Ivy and Boston are wild pigs, with a slimmer frame and longer noses than our standard pig friend, Sunday. All three of our pigs love belly rubs and aren’t shy about flopping down and exposing their bellies for a tickle. If you don’t mind the possibility of getting a little dirty, step into their pen and stroke the muddy crispness of their rough hair, freshly dipped in their muddy wallow. Sunday loves digging holes, while Boston loves zoomies and cuddling up between your legs. Or feel free to feed them apples and carrots from behind the fence.

More Furry Friends

From mud-wallowers to clever climbers, it’s time to meet our gorgeous goats. Although different breeds, Lizzie and Missy are the best of friends. Lizzie is a Saneen goat, bred in the agricultural industry for her milk. Her rescue story is one of inspiration and determination. She has a cream-coloured coat and a long, sweet face. Missy is a much smaller Boer goat, with a brown and white coat, and curled horns under her floppy ears. She is a kind old soul, with a face as gentle as her heart. She finds great joy in playing on the goat playground and loves a good scratch on the backside! Feed our girls and feel the lovely nibble of their lips as they munch their lunch straight from your flat, outstretched palm.

And then there’s our cows, lazing in the sun-drenched paddock, chewing contentedly on their cud. Your guide will point out the cows that most enjoy scratches and interaction. Feel their soft, cuddly fur. Witness their unique personalities, and the complex relationships which exist between the herd. If you’re lucky, you may even get a lick on the hand, and feel the utterly surreal texture of their tongue – rough and gentle, yet strong enough to uproot chunks of grass.

Hear their epic stories of survival before finding refuge at Moo to Ewe. Nalu, our handsome brown and white Hereford, was heroically rescued from near drowning in the floods in 2021. Hope and Ray are some of the sanctuary’s earliest residents, finding their forever home here in 2018, after being rescued by the side of the road in dire need of love and care.

From the feathered to the furry, and the shy to the showy, they’re all part of our precious animal family here at Moo to Ewe. We know you’ll fall in love with them too!

Accessibility

Moo to Ewe is located in the heart of the New South Wales Central Coast, just a one-hour drive from Newcastle and 90 minutes north of Sydney, 10 minutes off the Pacific Motorway exit. Both train and bus services operate in the area. If coming from Sydney by train, please let us know in advance and one of our friendly team will collect you from either the Ourimbah or Tuggerah Stations, on the Central Coast and Newcastle line. From there it’s a quick 10-minute drive to the Sanctuary. Alternatively, buses stop at the end of Palmdale Road, and from there it’s a 20-minute walk to the property entrance. However, we can arrange to collect you from the bus stop with prior notice.

Accessible parking is available onsite with easy access to the entrance. There are gravel paths throughout the property, but close-up encounters in some paddocks require crossing naturally uneven terrain. Wheelchair accessibility is weather dependent. Wheelchair users and guests with limited mobility are encouraged to contact the property ahead of their visit to discuss their needs and determine current conditions. Please note there are no accessible bathroom facilities at the sanctuary. The nearest accessible toilets in the Palmdale Café (a few minutes’ drive down the road), or in Ourimbah or Tuggerah. There is a standard toilet for visitor’s use onsite.

Assistance animals are welcome, and there are plenty of grassy areas throughout the duration of the tour for toileting your animal if required.

If you have small children in your party, please note they may need to be carried while amongst the larger animals.