Pontiac Farm Tour – Day Trip From Ottawa & Gatineau

This countryside day trip trades city sights for yaks, ostriches, alpacas, and cider in the Pontiac area. The mix is unusual: you are not spending seven hours at one farm, but moving through several small agricultural stops with a guide, lunch, and tastings built in.

I like the small maximum of 14 people, which should make the animal visits easier and keep the day from feeling like a bus tour. I also like the food element, especially cider tasting, apple pie, and a full lunch at Coronation Hall. The main drawback is the fixed, non-refundable booking policy, plus the fact that poor weather can affect the schedule.

Key points to know before booking

• Four very different farm stops: See yaks, ostriches, apples and cider, then alpacas in one day.
• A highlight for animal lovers: The alpaca visit includes close contact and petting, with baby alpacas especially memorable.
• Lunch and tastings are included: Plan on a full lunch, cider tasting, apple pie, and additional food samples during the day.
• Transportation from Ottawa and Gatineau: Pickup details are sent by email, usually within a 10-minute window about 45 minutes before the 9:00 a.m. start.
• Small-group format: The vehicle carries no more than 14 people, with an air-conditioned interior.
• Weather matters: The tour requires good weather and can be moved or refunded if conditions are poor or the minimum number of bookings is not reached.

Why this farm day is different from a standard Ottawa outing

Ottawa has plenty of museums, monuments, and formal sightseeing. This trip gives you a different view of the region, one based on working farms, local food, and direct contact with animals.

The four stops also keep the day moving. You are not asked to make one farm visit carry the entire experience. Instead, each place supplies a different subject: yak farming at Ferme Pure Conscience, ostriches at Ferme Ostribee, cider and lunch at Coronation Hall, and alpacas at Les Alpagas de Willow Lane.

That variety matters if you are traveling with children or with a group that has mixed interests. One person may care most about the animals, another about cider and apple pie, and another about seeing rural Quebec outside the city.

The day lasts about seven hours, beginning at 9:00 a.m. The listed price is $85.89 per person. That is a fair package price if you value included transportation, a guide for the full day, admission at each stop, lunch, tastings, and snacks. It would be less attractive if you mainly wanted a quick farm visit, since much of the value comes from having the whole route arranged for you.

Leaving Ottawa or Gatineau with a small group

Pickup is offered from Ottawa and Gatineau, with the exact details sent by email before the tour. You receive a pickup time, usually within a 10-minute range about 45 minutes before the main 9:00 a.m. start, along with advice on what to bring and what to expect.

That advance message is useful because pickup coverage can depend on your accommodation. If you are unsure, send the operator your address, accommodation name, or a map screenshot and ask them to confirm.

The air-conditioned vehicle is an important part of the package. This is a full day with several rural stops, so arranging your own car would add driving, parking, and route planning. The small-group limit of 14 people should also make the ride more manageable than a large coach excursion.

Still, this is not a private tour. You will follow the group’s schedule, and the total time at each farm is set in advance. If you like stopping at every farm stand or spending an entire afternoon with one animal, this format may feel brisk.

Ferme Pure Conscience and the yak visit

The first stop is Ferme Pure Conscience, where you receive a guided tour of a sustainable yak farm. The visit lasts about one hour, and admission is included.

Yaks are not the first animals most people expect to see near Ottawa, which gives this stop its appeal. The farm offers a chance to learn about an unusual type of livestock while seeing how a sustainable operation works. The focus is not only on looking at animals from a distance. Special treats are part of the visit, adding a small tasting element to the farm tour.

The one-hour length is sensible. It gives you enough time to see the farm and hear about its work without making the animal stop feel drawn out. Bring practical footwear and clothing suited to a farm setting, as the experience is built around being outdoors and close to agricultural operations.

This is a good opening stop because it sets the tone for the day. You are not simply looking at scenery through a vehicle window. You are meeting people connected to local farming and seeing an operation with a clear sustainable focus.

Ferme Ostribee and the ostrich stop

Next comes Ferme Ostribee, an ostrich farm with about 45 minutes set aside for the visit. Admission is included.

The shorter stop suggests a focused farm visit rather than an extended tour. You will have time to see what the farm offers and get a look at an animal operation that is far from ordinary. Ostriches are the kind of subject that can hold a child’s attention, but adults may also enjoy the novelty of seeing how a specialized farm functions.

Because the stop is only 45 minutes, keep your expectations realistic. This is one piece of a busy day, not an all-afternoon farm program. The advantage is variety. You get a quick, memorable encounter and then move on before the pace slows.

The exact activities at Ferme Ostribee are not specified, so you should not book this expecting a particular feeding or handling session. The confirmed plan is an ostrich farm visit with admission included.

Coronation Hall brings lunch, cider, and apple pie

Coronation Hall is the food-centered stop, with about one hour scheduled for a tour of the traditional cider mill, lunch, cider tasting, and apple pie. This is likely to be the day’s most complete stop because it combines a working agricultural story with a proper meal.

I like the way this break changes the rhythm. After two animal-focused visits, you sit down to eat and taste local cider. The apple pie adds a simple pleasure, and the cider mill gives context to what is in your glass. This is more satisfying than simply pulling over at a shop for a rushed snack.

The one-hour schedule includes several elements, so the timing may feel full. You should expect a compact visit rather than a slow meal with lots of free time. If you have dietary restrictions, the supplied details do not specify alternatives, so ask the operator before booking.

The location is also described as a tea room and gift shop. That gives you another way to use the stop, though the information provided does not promise a set amount of shopping time. The included food and tasting are the main reason to look forward to it.

A close visit with the alpacas at Willow Lane

The final listed stop is Les Alpagas de Willow Lane, with about one hour devoted to the alpacas. You can get close to the animals, pet some of them, and spend time observing their behavior.

This is the stop most likely to become the day’s favorite, especially for families and animal lovers. Baby alpacas are a particular highlight, and the chance to pet the animals makes this more personal than a simple viewing area.

The visit also works well as a final stop. After seeing large and unusual farm animals, the alpacas offer a gentler finish. You may want to keep your phone ready for photos, although the supplied details do not promise any particular photo setup or animal encounter.

As with any animal visit, the exact level of contact can vary. You are told that petting is included, but the description does not promise that every animal will be available at all times. Follow the guide’s instructions and treat the animals calmly.

What is included, and what that means for value

The $85.89 per-person price includes more than transportation. You receive:

• Transportation from Ottawa and Gatineau
• An air-conditioned vehicle
• A guide for the entire day
• Admission at all four stops
• Lunch
• Healthy snacks at the lookout
• Cider tasting and apple pie at Coronation Hall

The included guide is important because the route covers several separate farms. A guide keeps the timing together, explains what you are seeing, and handles the practical side of moving between stops.

Brandon is one guide associated with this experience, and the available description presents him as enthusiastic and entertaining. He also provides recommendations for time in Ottawa and Quebec City, which can be useful if this tour falls early in your trip. Do not treat that extra advice as a formal sightseeing service, but it can help you plan the rest of your visit.

The food inclusion improves the value. Lunch alone would not justify the price, but lunch combined with cider, apple pie, snacks, admission, and round-trip transportation makes the cost easier to understand. You are paying for a full day of coordination as much as for the individual farm visits.

The pace, timing, and group size

The scheduled visits add up to about three hours and 45 minutes:

• One hour at Ferme Pure Conscience
• 45 minutes at Ferme Ostribee
• One hour at Coronation Hall
• One hour at Les Alpagas de Willow Lane

The remaining time covers driving, pickup, meals, transitions, and the lookout snack. That is why the total day lasts around seven hours even though the formal stops take less than four hours.

This is a useful point to understand before booking. You will spend a meaningful part of the day in the vehicle, but the travel is what links the different farms. If you want a single long farm visit, choose something more focused. If you like a changing program and do not mind road time, the schedule makes good sense.

The maximum group size of 14 is a strong feature. It should be easier to hear the guide, ask questions, and move through smaller farm spaces than it would be with a large group. It also means the tour can feel social without requiring you to organize a private vehicle.

Who should book this day trip

I would recommend this experience to you if you want rural scenery and local food without renting a car. It is particularly well suited to:

• Families looking for hands-on animal encounters
• Couples who want an easy countryside day
• First-time visitors seeking something beyond Ottawa’s main sights
• People interested in farms, cider, and regional food
• Small groups that prefer a guided route and included transportation

The mix of stops helps families, but the day is not described as a children-only activity. Adults can enjoy the cider mill, tastings, and the unusual farm settings just as much.

You may want to skip it if you dislike fixed schedules, are looking for a private tour, or prefer museums and urban sightseeing. The cancellation terms also require care: the booking is non-refundable and cannot be changed for any reason. The operator can offer a new date or a full refund if bad weather forces cancellation, or if the minimum number of bookings is not met, but that protection does not apply to a personal change of plans.

Practical advice for a smoother day

Book ahead if your dates are limited. This experience is often reserved about 52 days before the tour date, which signals that last-minute availability may not be dependable.

Read the pickup email closely. The message includes the pickup time, useful tips, suggested items to bring, and what to expect. If your accommodation is not clearly covered, contact the operator before the morning of the tour.

Wear practical clothing for farm visits and prepare for changing conditions. The tour requires good weather, and some of the appeal comes from spending time around animals and agricultural sites. A small bag for personal items is sensible, while the included snacks and lunch mean you do not need to plan a full day of food.

The tour is offered in English. Confirmation is received when you book, and most people can participate. The experience is near public transportation, though the main convenience is the provided pickup from Ottawa and Gatineau.

Should you book the Pontiac Farm Tour?

Book this tour if you want a well-organized countryside day with unusual animals and local food rather than another city excursion. The best reasons are the four-stop variety, the close alpaca visit, the yak farm, and the meal with cider and apple pie.

I would be more cautious if weather is uncertain, your plans may change, or you want plenty of unscheduled time. For a fixed $85.89, the package gives you transportation, a guide, admissions, food, and a small group, making it good value when you use all of those features. If that sounds like your kind of day, reserve early and treat it as a relaxed rural outing, not a quick attraction visit.

FAQ

How long does the Pontiac Farm Tour last?

The tour lasts approximately seven hours and begins at 9:00 a.m.

Where does the tour provide pickup?

Transportation and pickup are offered from Ottawa and Gatineau. Your exact pickup time is sent by email before the tour.

How many people can join the tour?

The maximum group size is 14 people.

Is lunch included?

Yes. Lunch is included, along with a healthy snack at the lookout.

What farms and stops are included?

The day includes Ferme Pure Conscience, Ferme Ostribee, Coronation Hall tea room and gift shop, and Les Alpagas de Willow Lane.

Is cider tasting included?

Yes. The Coronation Hall stop includes a cider mill tour, cider tasting, lunch, and apple pie.

Can I cancel for a refund?

The experience is non-refundable and cannot be changed for any reason. If the operator cancels because of poor weather or because the minimum number of bookings is not reached, you will be offered a different date or experience, or a full refund.