The first time I saw a wild deer was while driving through Alpine National Park. I was totally shocked, I had no idea there were wild deer in Australia! You can imagine my surprise and excitement. I’ve seen about four in total now, and each sighting feels so special. One of them was a baby deer, and I couldn’t stop thinking about it for a whole week, haha. After that first encounter, I discovered there was a deer and emu farm nearby, and I was beyond excited to check it out. The Red Stag Deer and Emu Farm is set on a stunning 70-acre property with beautiful alpine views.

This animal experience here was super memorable and affordable! Entry is free, so you can wander around and say hi to all the animals. For the best experience, buy some food to attract them up close. A half bucket costs $5, and a full bucket is $10. And it’s not just deer and emus, you can also feed and interact with ostriches and goats!

My tip: visit right when they open at 10am. I did this, and all the animals were hungry and eager to greet me. I was the only visitor for about 20 minutes, so I got all their attention. As more visitors arrived, the animals started to relax and weren’t as keen to come over for food. Oh, and watch out for the ostriches, they’re not as calm as emus and use their long necks to push in line and grab all your food, so keep an eye on them, haha. The farm has also grown to include a restaurant, function center, gift shop, and farm stay accommodation. If you’re interested in trying something unique, the restaurant offers a menu featuring venison, kangaroo, and emu meat, if that fancies you.