The ducks are not a show. They are pest control, and the parade is simply the commute. Twice a day the flock crosses the lawns on its way out to the vineyard blocks, where it eats the snails, insects and weeds that would otherwise be dealt with by spraying. The estate says the parade runs at exactly nine and exactly twelve, which is worth taking literally, because the whole thing is brief and nobody waits. Watching costs nothing and needs no booking. Around it sits one of the oldest working farms in the country, in continuous use since 1696, with a homestead dated 1773, a tasting room, a restaurant and an art walk of fifteen works set around the property. Pets are not allowed anywhere on the estate, for the ducks.
Twice a day about a thousand Indian Runner ducks come out of their house and march across the lawns to the vineyards, where they spend the day eating snails. Children watch from the grass, close enough to be in the middle of it.
It costs nothing, needs no booking and takes twenty minutes, which makes it one of the easiest wins on this list. Families usually stay on afterwards for lunch or a run around the lawns. No dogs, for the ducks’ sake.
Highlights
- More than a thousand Indian Runner ducks, parading daily at 09:00 and 12:00
- Free to watch, with no booking needed
- The flock works as pest control in the vineyards, eating snails, insects and weeds
- A working farm in continuous use since 1696, with a homestead dated 1773
- An art walk of fifteen works across the estate
- Wine tasting daily and a restaurant for breakfast, brunch and lunch
- Ramps and easy-access points for wheelchair users
Tips
Be on the lawn a few minutes before nine or twelve, because the parade is short and it leaves on time. Watching is free, but the restaurant needs a booking. No pets are allowed on the estate, for the safety of the ducks.