Bell Tent Diaries: River Days and Outback Nights at Outback Almonds

Some places give you a reason to take the slower road. At Outback Almonds, near Wentworth in far-western New South Wales, that road leads to a working family farm beside the Darling River, where Tegan and Tom Douglas welcome guests to spend a little time in their corner of Australia.

There are almonds growing, birds calling and canvas bell tents waiting for the evening. You can explore, learn something about farm life or simply settle into a chair and let the river provide the entertainment.

For this edition of Bell Tent Diaries, we’re visiting a place where the people and the setting are very much part of the stay.

A family farm with room for guests

Outback Almonds is part of Garston Station, which has been in Tom’s family for three generations. The almond planting began with 3,000 trees in 1998 and has grown to around 9,000.

Today, Tegan and Tom share the property with visitors through glamping, camping and cottage accommodation, alongside the everyday work of the farm. Guests can join a farm tour to learn about almond growing, sheep farming and life on the Darling, with morning tea along the way.

Their move into tourism grew from hosting farm events and recognising an opportunity to welcome people for longer. In a profile with Visit the Murray, the couple describe how a few tents during COVID developed into a broader farm-stay experience.

That personal connection remains central. This is somewhere guests can meet the people who live and work on the property, ask questions and get a glimpse of a different daily rhythm.

A comfortable bed beneath canvas

Outback Almonds has three canvas bell tents, offering a mostly off-grid stay with the comforts that make settling in easy.

Inside, queen mattresses on pallet bases are dressed with linen, pillows and doonas. Guests have access to shared hot showers, flushing toilets and an outdoor kitchen, with tables, chairs, crockery and glassware provided.

It’s a setup that leaves room for the outdoor experience. You can wake beneath canvas, make breakfast and decide how much—or how little—you feel like doing that day.

Let someone else organise dinner

Tegan and Tom offer thoughtful ways to make a stay easier, particularly for anyone who would love a break from planning meals.

Guests can arrange groceries ahead of arrival, order a grazing board with local wine or choose ingredients and a recipe for a camp-oven meal. For something special, there are dining experiences among the almond trees or beneath the stars.

Food arrangements require advance notice, so it’s worth asking about the options when booking. Then you can spend less of your getaway making shopping lists and more of it enjoying where you are.

Explore the region—or stay by the river

The property is around 30 minutes from Wentworth and an hour from Mildura, with bitumen access to the gate.

For guests keen to head out, Wentworth offers the meeting of the Murray and Darling rivers, while the Perry Sandhills and Mungo National Park provide further possibilities for exploring the region. Back at the farm, kayaking, walking or reading beside the water might be enough to fill the day.

Tegan and Tom’s affection for the region comes through in the way they talk about hosting. Their invitation is to pause long enough to enjoy it: the river, the farm and the chance to spend time together without filling every hour.

November dates have just opened

If a riverside escape sounds like something you could use before the end-of-year rush, there is a timely opportunity.

Tegan has let us know that November 2026 dates have just opened for bookings at Outback Almonds.

If you’ve looked before and couldn’t find a November date, it’s worth checking again. Whether you’re planning a couple’s getaway or making this part of a longer road trip, contact Tegan and Tom directly to discuss your preferred dates and any meals or experiences you’d like to include.

With only three bell tents, there’s a small collection of stays to choose from—so now is a good time to start planning.