JOHNS RIVER, NSW
Where Big Social Dogs Come to Holiday
Your holiday is better when they are having one too
Forget traditional boarding kennels. Big Dog Farm Stay is a genuine country getaway designed especially for sociable dogs who love the company of other dogs.
Set amongst the beautiful Mid North Coast countryside, our guests share large open paddocks — so they enjoy plenty of space to run and explore, new friends, personal care and endless farm adventures.
There are no long days spent waiting in a kennel here. We want every social dog to feel like they've come on holiday too — with freedom, enrichment, attention and plenty of time outdoors with their mates.
NOT SURE YET?
Come for a meet & greet or a trial day
Bring your dog out to the farm, meet Ollie in the welcome yard and see the paddocks for yourself. Many families do a single trial day before their first holiday booking so everyone feels relaxed on drop-off day.
Where big social dogs have their holidays
First 50 farm-stay guests: a free bandana for your dog and a Big Dog cap for you! Book now
READY WHEN YOU ARE
Plan your dog's farm holiday
Our booking calendar updates live as requests come in. Check your dates, pick the season that suits you, and send a request in just a few minutes.
NEXT FREE DATES
- 14 Oct – 12 Jan 20277 of 10 spaces free
Live from our calendar — 91 of the next 91 days still have room.
Base
Most of the year.
No minimum stay
$60
per night
Holiday
School holidays and long weekends.
2 night minimum
$78
per night
Peak
Christmas (20 Dec–28 Jan) and the full Easter weekend.
3 night minimum
$98
per night
More Farm Stay.
Less Boarding Kennel.
We deliberately do things differently. Big Dog Farm Stay is about creating a home-away-from-home experience, with smaller guest numbers so we can get to know every dog and give them the individual care and attention they deserve.
Whether they're racing around the paddocks, exploring the farm, playing with friends or simply finding a sunny spot to relax, every stay is designed to feel like an adventure.
Open spaces to explore
Acres of safe, fully fenced country to run, sniff and roam all day.
Loving care & attention
Every guest is cared for personally — never a kennel line-up.
Daily adventures & enrichment
Making new friends, playing, running and enjoying our beautiful open space.
Daily social highlights
Photos and videos shared on our socials every day so families can see their dog having loads of fun.
Safe, secure & clean
Clean kennels, comfortable beds and a safe, secure space to settle in at night.
A friendly, social group
Small guest numbers, supervised play and a sociable group matched on size and play style.
SMALL NUMBERS. BIG PROMISE.
Only 10 dogs stay at any one time
We deliberately keep our guest list small so every dog gets our full attention. Big Dog Farm Stay is not interested in compromising safety over income — with 10 dogs we can offer our full commitment to making sure your loved one absolutely has the best farm holiday ever.
It's a real selling point over traditional boarding kennels. Don't lock your dog up — let them have the holiday of a lifetime.
A HAPPY FIT FOR EVERYONE
Is a farm stay right for your dog?
Big Dog Farm Stay is an open-paddock holiday, which means our guests spend their days out in the paddocks together as one small, friendly group. Dogs who love the company of other dogs absolutely thrive here.
Because of that, our farm suits social dogs — every breed, every shape, every size. It isn't the right holiday for dogs who are reactive or uncomfortable around other dogs, and that's no reflection on them at all. Plenty of wonderful dogs simply prefer their own space, and they deserve a style of care that suits them.
Not sure where your dog sits? Give us a ring or come out for a trial day — a relaxed morning on the farm tells us both far more than any form ever could.
We are all about fun
Not cages. Not concrete. Not boredom.
MEET OUR 2IC
Chief Welcome Officer
Ollie
Ollie is our 2IC and he takes the job very seriously — he meets every new guest in the welcome yard and makes sure they feel safe, happy and right at home.
We can't wait to meet you!
WHERE THEY SLEEP
Tucked up and settled in
Our dogs sleep in clean kennels at night, all tucked up in bed at the same time, settling in on comfortable beds and up and awake nice and early to enjoy their mornings running free with their friends.
Happy dogs.
Happy humans.
"Our 9 month old Kelpie had a great time chasing balls, making new friends and exploring over the weekend. We are very appreciative of Kim & Tim’s patience with Kruze antics and loved the updates. Will definitely use Big Dog Farm Stay again."
"Our 12 year old Labrador, Rosie had an absolute blast at Big Dog Farmstay. She really loved getting to play with other big dogs and was so beautifully looked after that she didn’t want to come home. I highly recommend Big Dog Farmstay and Rosie will definitely be a return guest, so we can relax and enjoy our own holiday knowing that Rosie is so well looked after."
"Duke has stayed at the farm a number of times now and absolutely loves it. He’s always so excited to arrive and very obviously misses the farm and his friends when he gets home! It’s so comforting knowing he’s having his own little holiday and being cared for like one of their own. Duke’s already excited for his next little holiday in two weeks!"
"Kim and Tim are amazing! Ollie becomes Chuck’s best buddy. Personal attention and happy Chuck, great atmosphere and lovely place for your fur babies ❤️"
"I would recommend Big Dog Farm Stay. My dogs were there for 4 days. No anxiety or stress. Tim and Kim are very welcoming to the dogs and their humans. I was updated every day with photos and information. I wouldn't hesitate to use Big Dog Farm Stay again. Thank you for looking after my dogs so well."
Stayed with us? A few words from you helps other families find the farm.
Leave us a reviewPerfectly Located for Your Journey
We're conveniently located on the Mid North Coast, right near the Pacific Highway between Sydney and Brisbane, making drop-off and collection an easy stop when you're heading away.
Prefer us to come to you? Home pick-up is available within 50km for $40.
FIND US
Easy to find, right on the Pacific Highway
Johns River, NSW 2443
We're halfway between Sydney and Brisbane, a couple of minutes off the highway — an easy stop on your way through. Exact address and gate directions are sent with your booking confirmation.
- Pacific Highway turn-off
- 2 min
- Laurieton / Camden Haven
- 15 min
- Port Macquarie
- 35 min
- Taree
- 35 min
- Wauchope
- 40 min
- Forster
- 1 hr 15 min
You enjoy your holiday.
We'll make sure your dog enjoys theirs.
Book online any time — availability and rates update live.