Holiday itinerary
Build your Aussie cowboy / cowgirl skills fast on this 7 day Jackaroo / Jillaroo course. Get amongst the action and immerse yourself in all the work in progress on this fully working sheep and cattle farm.
This 6 night / 7 day Boots’n all package takes care of transport for you as it includes return transport from Sydney as well as pre and post course accommodation in Bingara. Spend 5 days/ 4 nights (Sunday - Thursday) on the ranch, all inclusive. Saturday and Thursday evening you will stay in a bed and breakfast in Bingara.
If you are a new rider, then ‘no worries mate’ as you’ll start off nice and easy at your own pace and all horses are ‘bombproof’ to ensure you get familiarised with all of the animals and machinery in no time at all. If you are an experienced rider, there are plenty of zippy horses to suit all riders.
You'll be welcomed on the farm just like one of the family as you learn the skills of a real life Jackaroo / Jillaroo. You'll get lashings of country cooked meals and sleep soundly in station style comfort.
Go learn to ride horses, muster sheep, cattle and horses, get involved in yard work, fencing and whip crack away on this learning holiday experience with a difference.
Suitability
- Suitable for all
- If you have no horse riding experience, you’ll receive private tuition to quickly build your riding skills
- Minimum age 18
Course Start Dates
- All cowboy / cowgirl activities start on Sunday mornings throughout the year
- This 6 night/7 day package includes transport from Sydney on Saturday and your first night in Bingara
- At the end of the course, you’ll spend Thursday night in Bingara before you transfer back to Sydney on Friday
Detailed Itinerary
Please note that ‘Garawilla’ where you’ll be taking your holiday course is a fully working farm and that no week is ever the same as the other. While the core of the program is always covered, the activities and experiences on each course day change subject to jobs needing to be done on the farm so please be prepared to be flexible during your holiday course.
Day 1 - Transfer from Sydney
- On Saturday morning, you’ll transfer from Sydney to Bingara where you’ll spend your first night in a basic hotel in town
Day 2
- 8.30am: Arrival day at the farm and introduction to the farm and horses
- Pick up from the Imperial Hotel in Bingara by your host John, time for some last minute shopping before heading to the farm
- On arrival at the farm, you’ll have a brief announcement by the farm staff, welcoming all new Jackaroos & Jillaroos, you’ll get an overview of the property, preview the week’s Jackaroo /Jillaroo program, an introduction to Aussie horsemanship, Australian stock saddle, whip, saddle bag, quad pot and other Stockman gear (Stockman = the Aussie word for cowboy)
- 11am: Break for Smoko (morning tea) followed by a shoeing demonstration before you meet your horse and saddle up
- 12.30pm: Break for lunch
- 2pm: This afternoon you’ll go for your first ride along the river checking the foals and mares in the paddocks
Note:
- Beginners will have one-on-one instruction to make them feel safe on the horse and to build their horse riding skills quickly
- Experienced riders will enjoy an exhilarating ride with plenty of cantering through the river and learning the Australian way of riding
- 5.00pm: Your first day ends as you transfer to homestead where you’ll kickback after a shower and a good meal to enjoy the country sunset on the wide veranda of the Homestead
Day 3
- 7.30am: Up early to enjoy a traditional Aussie breakfast
- 8.30am: Today is all about sheep
- You’ll have a sheep skills demonstration and will participate in sheep shearing with a shearer (shearing is seasonal and typically takes place in April & September)
- Learn how to shed, fly blown sheep, to sex sheep, learn general sheep maintenance ‘Roustabout’ in the woolshed
- Learn how to pickup fleece, throw the fleece, skirt the fleece, roll the wool, sweep up the locks and all other general duties.
- Learn how to ‘crutch sheep’ (shear the face and bottom fleece), woolshed roustabouting, pressing wool, gear maintenance
- You’ll end with a general explanation of wool, the industry, the different roles and a day in the life of the shearing team
- 10.00am: break for Smoko which is some billy tea & baked damper
- 10.30am: More sheep skills
- Demonstration of working dogs rounding up and penning sheep
- Learn basic livestock handling duties including how to handle sheep in the yards & race
- Learn how to draft & count sheep (don’t fall asleep!)
- Learn how to drench sheep
- Learn how to identify sheep sexes, breeds, age and health
- Learn all general sheep maintenance & care including woolshed roustabouting, pressing wool, back lining and treating fly blown sheep
- 12.30pm: A well earned lunch break
- 2.00pm: After lunch you’ll help out with the sheep
- You’ll help out at the farm station woolshed & do some yard work
- You’ll learn to pen & drench sheep in race (a substitute water for drench)
- Participate in drafting sheep with a shearer
- Check for fly blown sheep with a shearer
- Learn how to muster sheep back into paddocks
- 5.00pm: After a full day you’ll go back to the homestead and enjoy some free time before dinner and some evening entertainment
Day 4
- 7.30am: Up early again today for an Aussie breakfast
- 8.30am: Today you’ll learn all about cattle mustering
- Learn how to work cattle on horseback
- 10.00am: Smoko break for some billy tea & baked damper
- 10.30am: Learn to muster cattle into yards
- 12.30pm: Lunch
- 1.30pm: After lunch you’ll take part in some cattle yard work
- Learn how to work with cattle in the yards including drafting cattle and how to force cattle up the race
- Learn safety & precautions when working with cattle in yards including gates, movements around yards and cattle temperaments
- Check cattle tags and cattle records
- You may have a chance to do some cattle pregnancy testing, recording weights, drenching, inoculating and cutting out cattle on horseback
- At the end of your day you’ll muster the cattle into a new paddock
- 6.30pm: Return to the homestead for some free time before tonight’s dinner and evening entertainment
Day 5
- 7.30am: Aussie breakfast
- 8.30am: Today you’ll learn a stockman's skills
- Learn about horse health care, maintenance, diet, behavior, history, farriering, dental and more
- Feed and check on the horses
- You’ll help out with farriering, drenching horses, caring for sick or injured horses, replacing any lost shoes, dentistry, horse gentler
- 10.00am: Take a well earned Smoko break
- 10.30am: Ride around the farm station checking fences, clear and repair “pop holes” and damage caused by kangaroos, pigs and vermin
- 12.30pm: Take a break from riding for lunch
- 2.00pm: Learn fencing skills this afternoon
- Learn how to build a stock proof fence
- Learn how to dig holes and position posts, strainers, stays
- Learn how to spin wire and strain a fence
- Learn use of fencing equipment including spinner, fencing pliers, drill and strainers
- Learn how to repair a fence including damaged “pop holed” fence
- Learn how to hang a gate and how to repair a flood block
- At the end of the day you’ll pick up firewood and build a campfire
- 6.30pm: Again you have some free time before dinner and this evening’s entertainment
Day 6
- 7.30am: Up early on your last day for breakfast
- 8.30am: Today you’ll learn more about handling the horses
- Learn how to approach young horses, their behaviour and thinking patterns and safety aspects in handling a young horse
- 10.00am: A Smoko break with billy tea & baked damper
- 10.30am: You’ll learn how to break and start a young horse as you get a horse to trust you through the use of games
- You’ll then introduce your horse to gear and tack
- 12.30pm: Take a well earned break for lunch
- 2.00pm: This afternoon have some fun as you ride and swim with the horses in the river
- 5.00pm: Your 5 day action packed activity holiday will end with some well earned farewell beers with other local Stockmen at the pub in Bingara
- You’ll stay at a basic hotel in Bingara tonight before you leave for Sydney the next morning
Day 7 - Friday transfer to Sydney
- You'll leave Bingara at 8.23am on Friday morning, arriving back in Sydney around 5pm
What Will I Learn?
- Mustering sheep, cattle and horses
- Yard work
- Fencing & yard building
- Whip cracking & roping
- Handling foals
- Working dogs in action
- Aussie style horse riding
- Work in progress
- Swimming with the horses
- Sheep shearing (seasonal)
Accommodation on the Farm
- Accommodation is included for 4 nights
- All Jackaroo and Jillaroos will have the run of the place
- You’ll stay in an authentic farmhouse with kitchen, separate showers and toilets, lounge room with TV, three bedrooms and wide open verandas
- Check-in on Sunday morning and check-out Thursday afternoon
Pre and Post Jackaroo/Jillaroo Course Accommodation
- This package includes Saturday and Thursday night in a basic hotel in Bingara
- You’ll stay in a dorm room with shared facilities
- Breakfast is included
Meals on the Farm
- All meals are included and are home cooked by your hosts
- Vegetarians are catered for, please put any special dietary requirements into the special request box at the time of booking
- Water is provided but we recommend you bring soft drinks/beer/wine if you would like to drink this during the week
Pick-Up And Drop Off Information
- This course includes return transport from Sydney by train and bus, full details will be printed on your course voucher
- Your train leaves Sydney at 10.05am and arrives into Bingara at around 6.30pm on Saturday
- You will return to Sydney at 8.23am, arriving at Sydney train station at around 5pm on Friday
What To Bring
- Towel
- Sun Hat
- Swimmers (yes people can swim with their horse in the river!)
- Sunblock
- Old clothes (can be purchased at Second Hand Store in Bingara on Mon morning)
- Phone card (there is a phone available in Homestead)
- Camera to capture your cowboy / cowgirl adventures
Please note that most things including drinks can be purchased in Bingara on Mon morning. Your host John will take everyone around for last minute shopping when you meet Sunday.
Certification
- Upon completion of the Jackaroo Jillaroo program you will receive a certificate
- This certificate recognises your participation in our program
Post Course Jobs
- If you fall in love with Jackaroo / Jillaroo life the school offers job guidance and will advise what jobs may be available to you
- You can apply for a job after your first day on the course
- You are not guaranteed employment but the school will help introduce you to potential employers
- You may also be invited to stay on and work at the farm in return for board and lodgings with typical compensation around $100 per week
Get more from your holiday, have fun and experience life as a Jackaroo / Jillaroo on a real working farm in Australia. Take home your cowboy / cowgirl skills that will stay with you long after your holiday is over and who knows, you may end up putting them into practice with a job on the farm.