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Alpacas here also double as therapy animals
Ed Sheeran doesn’t like singing. Even worse, he looks positively repulsed when I try to coax an ‘I’m in love with your shape…’.
When the three return, they are mainly interested in the brown paper bag in my hand. That includes their snacks (a mixture of seeds, grains and chopped hay, grass and straw) that they eat out of my hands, leaving me exhausted. These are the stars of Mountainview Alpaca Farm at O’Reilly’s Kanungra Valley Vineyards in Queensland. Here are 40 alpacas in various shapes, sizes and colors; With countless people and a wide variety of hairstyles from mullets to messy, windswept locks. And everyone has a quirky name (Tim Tom, Pancake, Jeff looks very businesslike) that fits their personality.
Their snack is a mixture of seeds, grains and chopped hay, grass and straw.
Despite their superstar status, , these gentle animals will walk with you and allow you to pet them as long as you provide them with a steady supply of snacks, neck rubs and hugs. Their big blueberry-like eyes light up every time they grab a snack, followed by a happy humming sound.
Crumpet was entrusted to walk me. Two-and-a-half years old and five feet tall, he is almost as tall as me if he holds his head respectfully. And at 60 kilograms, he was slightly heavier than me. Hence, even though I hold the saddle, I feel myself being pulled along and taken for a walk. Crumpet has a supermodel walk in stilettos, is as lazy as he is lovable and likes to stop every few minutes to check on his friends.
“Here, they’re between three weeks and 12 years old. The younger ones watch and learn,” says Tamil Mani, general manager of O’Reilly’s Kanungra Valley Vineyards, which has owned this alpaca farm here since 2017. It started as a temporary arrangement in 2017 when Cyclone Debbie hit local businesses, including Mountainview. . Alpaca Farm. “They wanted to keep their alpacas here until they could repair and get their place again. So we did. But after two months, when the alpacas went back, we started getting calls from our clients inquiring about them,” explains Tamil. “This time, we approached them and they decided to lease part of our land and keep their alpacas here,” he said.
Of the 90 alpacas in total, only 40 are on the O’Reilly stage. The rest are trained by alpaca farmers at another location 10 kilometers away. Farmers bring alpacas for walks and human interaction. “By the time the animal is three weeks old, farmers can tell if they are suitable for working with humans,” he says.
Healing animals
Alpacas are also therapy animals. On weekdays, organizations that work with the disabled or those with special needs bring them in for a session with these friendly animals. Alpaca Walks started in 2018 as part of a fundraising program for people with cancer. Given their popularity, they became a permanent fixture, Tamil. Now, alpaca walks have become a travel trend, especially in the UK, the Netherlands and Canada… and these animals are famous enough to have their faces on mugs, t-shirts and many other things.
There are guidelines to follow when walking alpacas
Before you travel, remember that etiquette is involved. Before taking one of them for a walk, a trainer introduces the alpaca and instructs the client on how to pet, where to pet, how to feed and how far to walk, among other details. They keep a sharp eye on both the alpaca and the client. “If they don’t follow the rules, we will take the alpaca away from them,” says the Tamil, suggesting that these animals should be treated gently and with care and respect. “Sometimes they kick or spit if they’re not happy, but that hasn’t happened yet,” laughs Tamil.
Crumpet now wanders over to join Patch and Poncho, who are distracted by the picnic baskets of visitors wading in the creek between their walks. Handing over the reins to the crew, I head out into the pasture with my hamper (full of cheese, cold cuts, bread, salad and cutlery), thoughtfully joined by the O’Reillys. A light music band plays, wine paddles are brought out, it’s a glorious sunny day.
In the distance three prim looking alpacas line up for a photo shoot with the very excited bride and groom.
Picnic by the Creek
Grape news
O’Reillys Canungra Valley Vineyards opened in 1998. It was started by the current CEO, Shane O’Reilly. Interestingly, the whole of Kanungra was requested to help plant the vines on the 13 acres of the vineyard. Strings. “We’ve had subscriptions ever since,” says Tamil. Every January and February, people still come at 5 am to harvest the vines.
The total property is 18 acres and includes the site of a 165-year-old house called Killowen. “This dwelling was moved to this place 39 years ago in four separate pieces and assembled overnight,” says Tamil.
Weekends can easily see 2,000 footfalls, and on special occasions like Mother’s Day, it reaches 4,500. There are events held throughout the calendar year, including daily wine-tasting sessions. The Longest Lunch of the month is one of the most anticipated. It takes place by the creek, where a long table is set up for 300 people and everything served is locally sourced.
O’Reilly’s Canungra Valley Vineyard is an hour’s drive from the Gold Coast and Brisbane. For details, log on to www.oreillys.com.au
The author is in Australia at the invitation of Tourism Australia.
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