This family and pet-friendly self-catering accommodation just outside Tulbagh has literally everything you need for a comfortable and relaxed farm stay.
Where is it?
De Opstal Farm, Tulbagh Road (about 5km out of the town of Tulbagh)
Why stay there?
This family and pet-friendly self-catering accommodation just outside Tulbagh has literally everything you need for a comfortable and relaxed farm stay. Thanks to the owners going the extra mile by providing all sorts of extras, all you need to do is pitch up with your clothes, your swimming costume (for the Jacuzzi) and your braai supplies!
How much does it cost?
R400 per adult for two nights or more, children: 7-15 years pay R190 per night, children 2-6 years pay R90 per night and children under the age of 2 years stay for free.
Can I take my dogs?
Yes, well-behaved dogs are welcome by prior arrangement. There are no other dogs and the property is enclosed, but the cottage itself is not entirely enclosed, which means your dogs can go meandering fairly far if you don’t keep an eye on them.
Can I take the kids?
Yes, children will love the huge lawns to run and play on and cots and baby toiletries are supplied. There are geese on the property so you will need to keep a watchful eye.
Contact details
Telephone 082 577 6801, https://themilkshed.com
At The Milkshed, absolutely everything has been thought of to make your stay as relaxed as possible – right down to an array of luxurious toiletries in all the bathrooms and a selection of breakfast cereals in the kitchen cupboard. To be honest, I have stayed in five-star accommodation and haven’t gotten as good value as you get at this charming farm-stay just outside Tulbagh!
The Milkshed really was once a milk shed and opened in 2003 with only one bedroom. Today there are three en-suite bedrooms that sleep up to seven people. One bedroom has a queen-sized bed, the second a double bed and the third has a king-size bed with an additional single bed in an alcove. The bedroom with the single bed has a separate en-suite bathroom, while the other two have an open-plan bathroom. My room had both a bath and a shower, with the bath having a lovely view over the grounds. All the bedrooms have air conditioning and panel heaters and bedding and towels are provided.
The best part for me was the huge array of Avon toiletries – I had a bath and tried nearly every soufflé, scrub and body wash! There’s also bath bubbles, shower gels, body creams, sunscreens and face cloths. I could’ve left my toiletry bag at home!
There’s also a cosy lounge with a fireplace (wood and firelighters supplied) and DSTV – no need to bring your own card. The comfortable couches are perfect for sinking into at the end of the day with a book and a glass of wine!
The kitchen has everything you could think of and by that I mean everything! There’s loads of cutlery, crockery and glasses, along with pots, pans and casserole dishes. But what really impressed me was all the added extras – there were no less than five different breakfast cereals to choose from, muffins, packets of crisps and biscuits, snack bars and different varieties of tea and coffee. Plus you’ll find milk and fruit juice waiting for you in the fridge. This has to be only self-catering spot I have been to where half your day’s meals are supplied! To top it off, the top drawer in the freezer is a giant ice bucket, complete with a cute little scoop! Which I have to admit is an idea I am thinking of using at home as it’s so convenient.
There’s a huge entertainment room with a large built-in braai, again with every kind of tong, prong and poker, along with piles of wood. The eight-seater pub style table soon becomes the focal point while you are here as it’s the perfect spot to gather over breakfast or a braai, as well as being a sunny spot to sit with your laptop. On that note, good WiFi is provided, but don’t take advantage of this kindness by downloading large files and movies. There’s also DSTV in the entertainment room if you feel the need to watch something.
To be honest, you will probably just want to be utterly idle while you are here, but there is a large lawn that’s perfect for games and you can also go for a walk (or a morning jog as my friend did) in the neighbourhood. Plus there’s a Jacuzzi under a cover that you can enjoy, day or night.
It won’t take you longer than ten minutes to get into Tulbagh and surrounding wine farms, so you can also explore the area with ease.
Pets at The Milkshed
The Milkshed is pet-friendly by arrangement and they welcome well-behaved dogs. Tino had a ball sniffing around the grounds, drinking fresh water from the stream that runs in the front of the cottage, scratching his tummy on the carpet in the kitchen and napping in his basket in the braai room. As he is older, he didn’t wander too far, but his friends who are much younger and more energetic had a great time escaping the perimeter of the cottage and even managed to go missing for an hour! The cottage itself has an unfenced section which they soon discovered and took themselves off for a farm adventure. They didn’t get too far, but it’s worth noting that dogs (and children) can go wandering. The main property is enclosed so they won’t end up on highway or in Tulbagh, but it is large so it could take a while to find them!
Overall, The Milkshed is a really lovely spot to escape the city and the owners, Frank and Adele Oschmann, are wonderfully friendly and accommodating. So leave your shower gel and your Corn Flakes at home, pack your clothes, your dogs and your kids and head out to The Milkshed for a truly relaxing stay. It really is a home away from home.
Published November 2019 | Hosted by The Milkshed/Tulbagh Tourism