Bubbletent family glamping at Mirumiru in Tenterfield

If you want to up your game in the cool parent stakes, then take your kids for the ultimate camping holiday: Bubbletent family glamping at Mirumiru in Tenterfield.

Apart from being very insta-worthy, a holiday at Mirumiru Bubbletents in Tenterfield is good for the family’s soul. It’s all about warm conversations around the campfire, spotting shooting stars together from the comfort of the transparent bubbletents, hanging out in trees (literally – the kids’ bubble tent is suspended between two gums!) and exploring all that the New England region has to offer.

Mirumiru Bubbletents in Tenterfield is located just over the border in New South Wales, but up in the high country, your family will feel like it’s a world away.

Glamping at Mirumiru Bubbletents in Tenterfield

Owner Cathryn Van Der Walt and her family are avid travellers and enthusiastic stargazers. These combined passions sparked the mum of three’s idea to import French-designed and manufactured bubbletents for families to stay in on her 15-acre property in rural Tenterfield.

The result is one of Australia’s most unique and family-friendly glamping locations. Far away from the city’s polluting lights, it’s possible to soak up the expansive Milky Way from your comfy bed in the bubbletent (no deflating air mattresses in sight!) or from the provided telescope while sitting alfresco on the deck, underneath the limitless night sky.

It’s not just the city’s blinding lights you’ll feel far away from – you’ll also trade the big smoke’s hustle and noise for the sweet sounds of birdsong, the comforting murmurings of farm animals and these calming rural views.

 

Facilities at Mirumiru Bubbletents in Tenterfield

Nothing has been overlooked at this campsite. There are two bubbletents which each sleep two adults – aptly named Thunderbolt and Moonlite after two infamous bushrangers that used to roam the area.

The Thunderbolt campsite also features a mini-bubble tent suspended in the trees and can sleep up to three children in “glam-swags” (a mattress and cosy sleeping bag). The main tent is set on a deck, with chairs and a table, an outdoor shower/bath, and a camp kitchen with all crockery, cutlery, utensils and a camp stove.

Tea, coffee, hot chocolate and marshmallows are all provided, and a designated campfire area with a grill plate provides your cooking space. Inside the tent is a cooler/esky for perishables.

If you wish, you can add a pizza package to your booking, and indulge in locally-made-from-scratch pizza, cooked at your leisure in a portable pizza oven. There is also a BBQ pack and a breakfast spread that you can add on when booking.

Oh and don’t worry – there’s no need to dig a hole for number ones and twos. Inside a separate room in the bubbletent is a Swedish-designed composting toilet, which is quite a marvel in itself, and a sink for handwashing.

Sunday at Mirumiru – stay at a Queenslander Farmhouse

If there’s no way you can convince your family to camp, even in the luxury of a bubbletent, there is another option on this beautiful property. Sunday at Mirumiru is a full-sized traditional Queenslander with soaring ceilings, VJ walls and painted wooden floors throughout. Fully renovated in 2020, she now has newly insulated walls, ceilings and original wooden floors but has retained her history with decorative windows, fretwork and original Queenslander features. Sunday offers guests the chance to stay in 3 bedrooms and a traditional sleep-out area, dining room, lounge room, renovated kitchen, renovated bathroom and separate toilet. There is a fully enclosed front and back deck with sliding windows to keep you warmer in winter and cooler in the warmer months with plenty of natural ventilation.

The back deck has an outdoor table and chairs and provides an all-year-round outdoor dining option that is undercover. Sunday’s dining room has been fitted out with a large wood-fired heater that keeps the house toasty warm. And the outdoor firepit has comfortable seating for 8 and is a great location for a sundowner or toasting marshmallows (dependent on fire restrictions). Marshmallows are provided for the kids as well as a bottle of Granite Belt wine for the grown-ups. The house is perfect for larger groups celebrating anything from Christmas in July to milestone birthdays. Families are welcome to bring their kids’ bikes (the internal roads are a perfect private bike track), soccer balls, frisbees and binoculars for bird watching.  

Activities at Mirumiru Bubbletents in Tenterfield

Mirumiru Bubbletents are conveniently located just a short drive from the historic township of Tenterfield. It is here, in the Sir Henry Parkes School of Arts, that the now famous federation speech was given in 1889. However, it wasn’t until sometime later (and after Sir Henry Parkes’ lifetime) that the federation of the nation was formalised.

Also located in this interactive museum is a beautifully restored picture theatre, showing all the latest flicks, including family favourites. And there is a cute cafe located in the courtyard with friendly staff and yummy food.

While in town, you can follow a history trail around the main streets (pick up a map at the tourist information centre) and check out the colonial architecture and heritage treasures like the Tenterfield Saddler (which inspired Peter Allen’s song of the same name). You can even try on Peter’s red dancing shoes, which sit on display among a trove of memorabilia.

There is also a cork tree worth checking out – the oldest in Australia – planted by a traveller who brought the specimen from England in a jam jar in 1861. It’s still going strong. If you want to eat out in the village, Bad Manners serves up delicious gluten-free treats and good coffee in an outdoor cafe with a fenced children’s play area. The Potting Shed is also a family-friendly cafe with a charming ambience. 

Boonoo Boonoo National Park

Renowned Australian poet, Banjo Patterson, is said to have frequented the Tenterfield area and purportedly proposed to his sweetheart at the lookout over Boonoo Boonoo Falls.

Boonoo Boonoo National Park is one of six national parks in the region, all with family-friendly bushwalks, waterholes and picturesque picnic locations. Our picks to visit are Boonoo Boonoo, which offers a short walk to a view over spectacular falls and rock pools, and Bald Rock National Park, which allows you to safely climb the largest exposed granite monolith in Australia, opening up to 360-degree views of the surrounding countryside. 

Making the most of your stay

Water is supplied at Mirumiru Bubbletents for the shower/bath and bathroom sink, but you will need to bring extra water for cooking, washing up and drinking. You may also want to download one of the many star gazing apps available for amateur astronomers, to help you navigate the night sky. Mobile phone coverage at Mirumiru is strong and reliable. Bring cash for the many farm gates you’ll pass selling their homegrown and harvested goods, including Mirimuru’s neighbour – Wild Hedges Honey.

Which season is best to visit?

All of them, but for different reasons! Tenterfield experiences four distinct seasons.

In winter, there is the chance of seeing snow, even on the property, thanks to the area’s elevation of 850 metres above sea level.

In Spring, the wildflowers are in bloom, and a visit to one of the nearby national parks will reveal the many varieties and colours of these native blooms.

In summer, you can escape the humidity of the coastal areas, and enjoy the drier and often cooler climate of the New England region.

In Autumn, the village’s tree-lined streets, parks and gardens explode with autumnal colour, making the perfect backdrop for family photos. There is a lot to do in the region, and we recommend you visit the tourist information centre on the main street. Depending on your family’s interests, they can direct you to the best attractions, such as the railway museum for train enthusiasts. 

It’s worth throwing a jumper or two in, even in summer, and it’s an absolute must throughout the rest of the year. But whether you’re under the bed covers with the electric blanket on, soaking up the view and the hot suds in the outdoor bath, or are huddled around the crackling campfire, we guarantee your family will be warm and cosy.

Mirumiru Bubbletents and Sunday Farmhouse are located on Holleys Road in Tenterfield, New South Wales. Please visit their website to find out more or make a booking.