* Feed yourself
Enjoy our popular home-cooked Devonshire tea or two course lunch
Refreshments are served as part of every tour.

* Enjoy a learning experience
Find out about alpaca husbandry and the history of our farm.
We are happy to give talks depending on the age range and interests of the group.

* Get involved
Real hands-on experience of alpaca fleece processing

PACA PILLOWS
Our luxurious pillows are 100% cotton ticking filled with pure huacaya alpaca fleece. Superbly soft and hypoallergenic for a perfect night's sleep.

For those who prefer a firmer pillow that minimises the compression that occurs over time with natural fibres, we also produce Paca Composite Pillows: These have either a polyester (medium) or memory foam (very firm) core with a quilted alpaca-filled outer sleeve.
Pure alpaca: $86 (incl. freight within Australia!)

Paca Composite: $80 (incl. freight within Australia!)

Alpaca and llama stud Farm Cottage industry Gift shop Tea and lunch tours Llama trekking Camping

* See what we produce
Inspect the variety of alpaca products we manufacture as part of our cottage industry
Our small gift shop showcases items for sale or order.
Also check out our range of home-made jams, jellies and chutneys. A wide variety for sale, including our Devonshire-style strawberry jam, all containing locally-produced ingredients.

Other things to see and do ...

* Meet the rival native tribes
Ginge, Whitey, Fatty and Long Cat are always a hit with the kids.
Our llamas, Willie and Aladdin, and their alpaca friend, Whalon (who thinks he's a llama) are always happy to greet you - especially if you're bearing food!

* Chill out
Relax and have a chat in pleasant, tranquil surroundings.
Visitors are welcome to stay as long as they wish after their tour is over.

* Keep the kids amused
Kids love to play in our wide open spaces, feed the alpacas and climb our heritage camphor laurel tree (under strict adult supervision, of course!).

* For that special occasion ...
Make your special occasion even more special!
We can cater for birthday parties, Xmas get-togethers or other special events.
. Call us to discuss your requirements.

Alpaca and llama stud Farm Cottage industry Gift shop Tea and lunch tours Llama trekking Camping

VISITS
Morning tea, lunch and afternoon tea tours are available seven days a week BY APPOINTMENT ONLY. We cater for individuals, families and groups of up to 44 people for tea tours and 32 for lunch tours.Please note: We are a commercial farm with pre-planned work schedules. For this reason, we are rarely available to greet unexpected visitors and CANNOT accept same day bookings.

MORNING & AFTERNOON TEA TOURS
Small groups/families (up to 8 people)
Bookings must be made at least 24 hours in advance and must be for a specific number of people.Our charge is $7.50 per person. This is based on the number of people you book for, NOT the number on the day, so please ensure your numbers are accurate.
Large groups (9 to 44 people)
Bookings must be made at least 3 days in advance. Any change in numbers must be reported at least 24 hours in advance. Our charge is $7.50 per person. This is based on the final number you report to us, NOT the number on the day, so please ensure your numbers are accurate.

LUNCH TOURS (min. group size 4)
Small groups/families (4 to 8 people)
Bookings must be made at least 3 days in advance and must be for a specific number of people. Our charge is $15.00 per person. This is based on the number of people you book for, NOT the number on the day, so please ensure your numbers are accurate.
Large groups (9 to 32 people)
Bookings must be made at least one week in advance. Any change in numbers must be reported at least 3 days in advance, Our charge is $15.00 per person. This is based on the final number you report to us, NOT the number on the day, so please ensure your numbers are accurate.

Cardiff alpacas is a family-run farm situated on Harwood Island in the picturesque Clarence Valley of northern New South Wales.

On our 57 hectare property we also breed llamas and grow sugarcane and soy beans.

If you have ever shopped for alpaca products, you will know how expensive they can be. At Cardiff Alpacas we aim to make the goods we sell more affordable by manufacturing from our own fleece and marketing direct to the public.

When you purchase Cardiff Alpaca products you can be assured they come from well cared for, contented animals that live out their lives in natural, free-range surroundings and graze on high quality improved pastures. Our alpacas are raised solely for their fleece. They are never slaughtered.

FREIGHT INCLUDED within Australia! All prices include freight and GST for Australia customers. Nothing more to pay at the checkout!
For freight outside Australia please e-mail us your requirements. We will obtain the best freight price and e-mail you a pro forma invoice with a simple click-to-pay button.
If you wish to purchase multiple items, we may be able to offer you a freight discount. Please e-mail us before ordering.

Freight charges, over which we have no control, comprise a considerable percentage of the price you pay, particularly on bulk items. If you are able to pick up direct from us, you can save a bundle! e.g. save 23% on a pillow; 27% on a large pet bed.

Alpaca and llama stud Farm Cottage industry Gift shop Tea and lunch tours Llama trekking Camping

PACA BEANIES
Hand-made from pure huacaya alpaca yarn for superb warmth and comfort.
Four times warmer than sheep's wool.
Non-prickly.
Hypoallergenic.
Available in a range of colours (see yarn colour chart, below) or custom striped (up to three colours of your choice or to match your favourite sporting team):
$54 (incl. freight within Australia!)

Double-thickness tube scarf with fringe ends, available in eight colours (see yarn colour chart, below) or stripes (up to three colours of your choice or to match your favourite sporting team).
$79 (incl. freight within Australia!)

PACA KNITTING YARN (6 ball pack)
Knit your own superb alpaca fleece garments. Four times warmer than sheep's wool and no prickling!
All balls 50 grams, 8 ply, superfine.
Available in the colours shown in the chart opposite.
Note: Yarn made from undyed white alpaca fleece is a lovely creamy white colour similar to Old English white.

$108 (incl. freight within Australia!)
(E-mail us for pricing on smaller quantities.)

PACA SOFT TOYS
Grow your own alpaca herd!
Cute, cuddly toy alpacas, handmade from durable synthetic faux fleece fabric, stuffed with pure, hypoallergenic alpaca fleece.
Safe for children (and adults!) of all ages.
Stands approx. 23cm tall.

$49 (incl. freight within Australia!)

PACA SCARVES (approx. 2m in length)
Hand-made from pure huacaya alpaca yarn for superb warmth and comfort.
Four times warmer than sheep's wool.
Non-prickly.
Hypoallergenic.

"Skinny" fashion scarf with fringe ends, available in eight colours (see yarn colour chart, below).
$54 (incl. freight within Australia!)

* Come camping on our property
Can’t get enough of alpacas and farm life?
We offer both powered and unpowered campsites for self-contained campers, caravaners and motor home owners. You can book through Youcamp. Click the link for more details.

Alpaca and llama stud Farm Cottage industry Gift shop Tea and lunch tours Llama trekking Camping

For sale
From time to time we have wethered (castrated) males, whole males young females and older animals available for sale.

Suitable for farms/studs or as pets, lawn mowers or guard animals. All come with full pedigree records.

Please enquire.

Alpaca and llama stud Farm Cottage industry Gift shop Tea and lunch tours Llama trekking Camping

Llead a Llama: llama trekking

In 2019 we are planning to offer family fun in the form of llama trekking. Our mini trekking trail of approximately one kilometre will take you around our 54 hectare property, which contains one of the few stands of natural bushland remaining on Harwood Island.

The trek will be suitable for adults and children of school age (children must be accompanied by an adult).

Our friendly llama, Aladdin, will accompany you on your journey of exploration (map provided) and carry your refreshments (morning or afternoon tea) in his saddle bags.

Cost will be $6.60 per person plus $27.50 llama hire. Your trekking adventure will also include participation in our regular activities, such as alpaca feeding, fleece processing, and a visit to our gift shop.

This activity is currently in the planning stages. If you would like to participate in a trek, please register your interest with us now.

PACA PET BEDS
Pamper your pooch or pussycat with a super-soft bed that molds to its body shape.
Durable, protective Oxford Waterproof ticking filled with pure huacaya alpaca fleece. Washable slip cover made from cozy 100% brown cotton corduroy (inner and outer covers illustrated).
Small (approx. 60 x 44 cm)
$70 (incl. freight within Australia!)
Medium (approx. 74 x 60 cm)
$119 (incl. freight within Australia!)
Large (approx. 90 x 74 cm)
$170 (incl. freight within Australia!)

PACA MINI PATCHWORK CUSHIONS
Lovely soft mini cushions filled with pure huacaya alpaca fleece. Washable slip covers feature hand-made patchwork designs.
Size: approx. 30 cm x 30 cm
Sold in pairs
$63/pair (incl. freight within Australia!)

PACA MINI BLANKET
Suitable for use as a baby blanket or lap/knee rug.
Hand-crocheted from pure huacaya alpaca yarn for superb warmth and comfort.
Four times warmer than sheep's wool.
Non-prickly.
Hypoallergenic.
Size 60cm x 90cm (contains 7 balls of yarn!)
$137 (incl. freight within Australia!)

Alpaca and llama stud Farm Cottage industry Gift shop Tea and lunch tours Llama trekking Camping

PACA QUILTS
Alpaca fleece-filled quilts for ultimate warmth and comfort.
Custom-made to order at very competitive prices. Please enquire.
E-mail us

Approximate price guide (does not include freight):
Single: $240
Double: $315
Queen: $360
King: $399

Alpaca and llama stud Farm Cottage industry Gift shop Tea and lunch tours Llama trekking Camping

Waylon and Willie

Aladdin

Olympia

Opal

Oscar (shortly after birth)

Napoleon

Nick

Matilda

Ali

Hannah

Jericho

Phone:

0266464377

or 0401861725 (Kathleen)

or 0439543633 (Rob)

or e-mail us using the form, below:

Morning tea tours
Afternoon tea tours
Lunch tours
Powered and unpowered campsites

available seven days a week BY APPOINTMENT ONLY.
Please see our Visits page for details.

Come and visit us. You're welcome!

What we offer ...

* Meet the natives
Our alpacas and llamas love visitors (especially visitors bearing food)!

* Feed the natives
Get up close and personal with Hanna, Juliet, Matilda, Napoleon, Ashley, Ali, Jericho, Willie the llama and the rest of the crew.

SPECIAL OCCASIONS Looking for a peaceful location in pleasant surroundings for that special event, group outing, Christmas/birthday get–together or family day? Why not picnic and party with pacas? We can provide morning or afternoon tea and/or lunch.Give us a call to discuss your requirements and we will provide you with a quote.

HOW TO BOOKTo book your visit phone 66464377 or 0401861725 (Kathleen) or 0439543633 (Rob) or e-mail us from our Contact page. (Please note that due to the nature of our work, we are not always available to answer the phone, but we do check our messages several times a day and guarantee to get back to you ASAP.)

OTHER USEFUL INFORMATION
What does a tour involve?
Typically, on arrival visitors are served morning or afternoon tea or lunch, after which we give a brief talk on the history of the farm. We then introduce our alpacas and llamas and discuss their characteristics and idiosyncrasies. Visitors can get "up close" and feed the animals if they wish. Following this is a demonstration of the various stages involved in fleece processing, during which we invite our guests to get hands-on experience. On display are examples of our end products (fleece batts, yarn, knitted goods, soft toys, pillows, cushions, bedding, pet beds, etc.) for visitors to inspect and, of course, purchase, should they wish to do so. We also have on sale a selection of home-made jams, jellies and chutneys produced from local ingredients.

Morning/Afternoon tea menu
Homemade Devonshire-style scones with jam and cream
Homemade lamingtons
Home-made patty cakes

Tea, coffee, iced water and/or home-made squash

Lunch Menu
Option 1:
Choice of hot soups with crusty bread
Selection of tasty sandwiches.
Trifle or home-made ice cream dessert
Tea, coffee, iced water and/or home-made squash
Option 2:
Cold chicken and seasoning, mini quiches, selection of salads
Trifle or home-made ice cream dessert
Tea, coffee, iced water and/or home-made squash
Option 3 (for small groups, 4 to 8 people, only):
Hot home-made pizza with roast potato wedges and side salad
Home-made ice cream dessert
Tea, coffee, iced water and/or home-made squash

Camping on our property
We have both powered and unpowered sites are available to suit tent, motor home and caravan/trailer campers. Our regular tours are available to campers, along with evening meals, lunches, breakfasts and equipment hire. For insurance reasons, all bookings must be made through Youcamp. Please see our Youcamp site for further details.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Do you cater for all ages?
We welcome visitors of any age, but the full experience we offer is more suited to adults and older children (10+). We are a working farm, not a zoo or theme park. Our alpacas and llamas are friendly, but they are not pets. For safety reasons, we limit the number of young children (under 6) in any group to eight.
Do you cater for people on special diets?
Yes. If you have special dietary requirements (e.g. vegetarian, vegan, gluten free), we will do our best to accommodate your needs, for a small extra charge. Please discuss this with us when booking.

When is the best time of year to visit?

Although we welcome visitors all year round, we recommend autumn and winter months as the weather is more pleasant and the alpacas are more attractive in their cold weather fleece.

Can I just turn up any time?

No. Visits are by appointment ONLY, and you must book at least 24 hours in advance. During busy holiday periods, in particular, we are often booked out weeks ahead.

I booked my visit; why is your gate closed?

This is a livestock farm. If there are animals in the paddock the gate must be kept closed. A closed gate does not mean we are closed for business.

What happens if it is raining on the day of my visit?

We have under-cover facilities for meals and most of the tour.In the event of very unfavourable conditions or heavy rain, we will contact you if it is necessary to cancel.

Do you accept credit cards?

We can process cards via computer, but we prefer cash, cheque or bank transfer, as otherwise we have to charge you a 5% processing fee. We do not currently have an EFTPOS facility.

Do you cater for people with disabilities?

Yes, we have a lot of disabled visitors. Our grounds and farm shop are wheelchair-friendly.

Are toilet facilities available?

Yes, at ground level.

Please use this map to find us. The new road system on Harwood has not yet been mapped by Google or GPS providers.Do not follow your GPS as it will almost certainly get you lost!!

A random collection of interesting facts about alpacas. If you have a question, why not ask us? We will do our best to answer it for you. There is so much to learn about these fascinating animals. We find out something new nearly every day.

Alpacas originate from South America.
There are approximately 300,000 alpacas in Australia.
Although they are “woolly”, like sheep, alpacas are actually members of the camel family.
Alpacas are closely related to Llamas, but are much smaller and have finer, thicker fleece.
There are two main alpaca breeds: Huacaya and Suri. Huacayas are much more common and have fleece similar to sheep, whereas the fleece of suris hangs in dreadlocks.
Alpacas will sometimes spit as a warning or expression of displeasure. They rarely spit at humans, but don’t get in the way when they spit at each other!
When alpacas are nervous they make a humming sound. When angry or upset they will sometimes screech.
The average lifespan of an alpaca is from 15 to 20 years.
Alpacas have a very strong herd instinct. They are likely to fret if kept on their own.
Alpacas have very clean habits. Depending on the size of the field they are kept in, they will establish one or more communal “toilets” (very handy if you want to collect dung to put on your garden!).
Alpacas love to wallow in dust or even mud. They will turn a bare patch of ground into a wallowing hole very quickly! On hot days they will also jump into a stream or water trough to cool off.
Alpacas make great guard animals and will protect more vulnerable animals such as sheep, goats and poultry from domestic dogs, foxes and even dingoes. The more alpacas there are in the herd, the greater their effectiveness will be.
Alpacas are proud, intelligent and alert animals. They have very individual personalities and can be strong-willed, but are easily trained. They make great companion animals and pets, but should not be kept singly.
Alpacas will bond with sheep or goats. They will tolerate horses, but are unlikely to become friendly.
Alpaca fleece is extremely soft and does not prickle like sheep’s wool.
Garments made from alpaca fleece are said to be four times warmer than those made from wool.
Alpacas come in many colours, with additional variations and blends. In Australia there are 12 distinct colour classifications, but in Peru this number extends to 52. At Cardiff Alpacas, all our animals are pure white huacayas.
Alpacas have long toenails that need to be trimmed regularly.
Alpaca teeth are quite different to human teeth and grow more like finger or toe nails. They have only one set of teeth, on the bottom. On the top jaw they have a hard dental pad, and eat by trapping grass between their teeth and the dental pad and nipping it off. Because the are constantly growing, the teeth, especially on older alpacas, may need to be trimmed (ground down) from time to time.
Unlike most other large animals, female alpacas are "induced ovulators" which means it is the act of mating that causes them to ovulate.
In Spanish the male alpacas are called Machos, females are called Hembras, yearlings are called Tuis and babies are called Crias. In the Australia we generally only use the term Cria to describe the babies.
The reproductive lifespan of a female alpaca is approximately 1.5 to 19 years; and 2 to 18 years for a male.
A pregnant female alpaca with spit at a male if he makes amorous advances.
The gestation period of an alpaca is 11 to 11.5 months. Alpacas generally have single births with twins occurring very rarely. Females in good health should produce one cria a year as the female is mated 12 to 14 days after giving birth.
Crias (babies) are generally born in daylight hours and usually between the hours of 7am to 2pm.
A baby alpaca is called a cria.
Crias are weaned between 5 and 6 months of age.
A mature alpaca weighs 60 to 90 kg (132 to 198 lbs) and is 85 to 95cm tall at withers (top of the front shoulder). Crias normally weigh 6 to 8kg (13 – 18 lbs) at birth.
Alpaca are shorn annually, usually in the spring. A yearling alpaca usually cuts about 1.5kg of fleece, adult females about 3.5kg and some adult males have been reported cutting 8.5kg per year.
Alpacas have an annual fleece growth rate of 80 to 150 mm
The average stocking rate for alpacas on good pasture is five per acre.
Unlike sheep’s wool alpaca fleece does not contain lanolin, making it naturally fire resistant, hypoallergenic and less susceptible to static. It is also stronger than wool, in fact it is only second to silk in strength. This means alpaca garments are less likely to stretch than their woollen counterparts.
Alpacas will often sit with all four legs beneath them in a position called ‘cushing’.
Alpaca fibre is warmer than sheep’s wool for a very interesting reason. Like polar bear fur, alpaca fibres have hollows in them which allow for warmth to be trapped. This also makes their fleece lighter.
Alpaca fibre was once reserved for the use of Inca royalty only.
When alpacas get overexcited, such as at treat time, they will occasionally ‘pronk’. This is a run which is characterised by bounding with all four feet in the air (like a springbok). It is HIGHLY amusing to watch.
Alpaca clothes wear well, some garments made of alpaca fibre were found in 2500 year old Peruvian ruins, in surprisingly good condition!
Alpacas and llamas are closely related and can inter-breed, although the offspring are usually sterile. Both are descended from vicunas and guanacos. Alpacas are smaller and more compact than llamas; other distinguishing features are the ears (straight and pointy in alpacas, banana-shaped in llamas) and the tail (straight off the backbone in llamas, slightly lower in alpacas). Llamas normally carry their tails high, while alpacas normally carry theirs low.

The stars of the show!

The Oldies

Jericho
Our stud male, is a dreamer. He is by far our wooliest alpaca, and is sweet-tempered and friendly, except when plotting the demise of a rival llama! He can often be found a little away from the herd, sunning himself or looking off into the distance. It might seem like he’s not paying attention, but rattle the feed bucket and he’ll be there faster than you can say ‘dinner time!’

Fleur

Our oldest female.

Juliet
Juliet is easy to pick out of the herd because her fine facial features resemble those of her guanaco ancestors. She has a thin face, big eyes and long, luxurious eyelashes. She is an excellent mother and has raised some fine crias.

Jahna (Dumpty)
Dumpty is so called because she’s quite round and chubby, and very, VERY fond of her food. She is usually friendly and approachable, but can get quite grumpy when the younger pacas annoy her.

Hannah
Definitely our cleanest alpaca. While not entirely averse to decadent dust wallowing behaviour, she is very lady-like and always seems to be several shades whiter than any of her peers. Hannah has the sweetest nature and the best fleece of all our girls.

Felicity (AKA Bluey and One-eye)
One of our older girls. Quite gentle and tractable. She acquired her nicknames as a result of contracting conjunctivitis in her right eye, which required regular applications of bright blue terramycin spray.

Jalanda

Ali (Cree)

Ashlea

Anya
Anya is the youngest of our original herd; she is extremely feisty, and quick to spit at the other alpacas if she feels they’re getting between her and whatever it is she wants.

The 2015 crop

Lilliput May (Lil)

(Mother: Felicity, Father: Galaxy) Lil was the first live cria born on our property, and the only 2015 alpaca that we still have. Distinguished by her long ears which she often flattens when in a determined mood.

The 2016 crop

Matilda

(Mother: Ali (Cree), Father: Jericho). One of our biggest females and a great favourite with visitors due to her sweet, friendly nature.

Misty

(Mother: Ashley, Father: Jericho) cute black points (nose, mouth and toenails). Often to be seen charging across the paddock in a very determined manner.

Marie

(Mother: Jubilee, Father: Galaxy)

Myrtle

(Mother: Hermione, Father: Galaxy)

The 2017 crop

Napoleon

(Mother: Ashley, Father: Jericho) The visitors' favourite. He is cute, friendly, cuddly and incredibly woolly, like a shaggy sheepdog. Destined to be our next stud male.

Nick

(Mother: Jalanda, Father: Galaxy) Nick is a good-natured wethered male whose fleece grows uncontrollably.

Nova

(Mother: Felicity, Father: Galaxy) Possibly our wildest ever baby, Nova is now settling into a much more sedate adolescence.

Nymph

(Mother: Hermione, Father: Galaxy)

Nancy (Nan)

(Mother: Hannah, Father: Galaxy)

The 2018 crop

Oscar
(Mother: Topaz, Father: Jericho) Oscar is our miracle baby: born to Topaz who was way too old to have a cria, he was orphaned at six weeks, but survived unassisted. A very hardy little fellow, easily distinguished by a slightly pinkish-fawn tinge to his fleece.

Olympia
(Mother: Juliet, Father: Galaxy) Olympia has been a feisty, confident girl from the day she was born.

Opal

(Mother: Jahna (Dumpty), Father: Galaxy)

Onyx
(Mother: Felicity, Father: Galaxy)

Oprah
(Mother: Hannah, Father: Galaxy)

The Llamas (and friend)

Willie

Our stud male

Aladdin

Our big, goofy pack llama is a good-natured wethered male.

Waylon

Waylon is a wethered male alpaca who has lived most of his life with llamas and thinks he is one. He has been Willie's companion from a young age.

More to come soon ...

Feedback Form

Alpaca and llama stud Farm Cottage industry Gift shop Tea and lunch tours Llama trekking Camping

Phone:

0266464377

or 0401861725 (Kathleen)

or 0439543633 (Rob)

or e-mail us using the form, below:

*required field

Autumn is a great time to visit us!
Book now for a March 2019 tour.

Site last updated:
30/1/2019

Name*:
E-mail*:
Message:

What we offer ...

Autumn is a great time to visit us! Book now for a March 2019 tour.

Autumn is a great time to visit us!
Book now for a March 2019 tour.