From Paddock to Patio

As featured in Lawn Solutions Australia Turf Talk magazine July 2026

Nestled in the heart of the South Australian Mallee, just a few paces off the Mallee Highway in Pinnaroo, lies an increasingly popular short stay accommodation that’s anything but ordinary. Dubbed The Bus, this tiny home Airbnb is a lovingly converted Adelaide Metro bus that now serves as a quirky and comfortable country escape for travellers. From solo backpackers to families with energetic kids and pets, guests of all types make their way to this standout stay, and their first impression is often the lawn out front.

For the owners of The Bus at Olivacres, that lawn had to tick all the boxes: hard wearing, low maintenance, drought tolerant and beautiful. To deliver that, they turned to South Australia’s premier lawn grower and supplier, The Turf Farm based right in Pinnaroo itself.

Growing Lawns for South Australia with The Turf Farm

Founded in 2003 by Paul and Tracey Daniel as a diversification from broadacre farming into irrigated lawn production, The Turf Farm has grown into one of South Australia’s most trusted suppliers of premium instant turf, servicing Adelaide, the Riverland, Murraylands, the Mallee, and beyond. From humble beginnings, the family run business is now an accredited Lawn Solutions Australia grower, offering a range of carefully selected lawn varieties suited to the challenging Australian climate. They back their turf with a unique 10 year product warranty and provide personalised support from selection through to post installation care.

The Turf Farm’s range includes classics like Sir Walter DNA Certified Buffalo and Eureka Kikuyu, as well as specialist varieties like RTF Tall Fescue, giving customers local expertise and options for almost any lawn situation. Crucially for The Bus project, their stock list also includes TifTuf Hybrid Bermuda, a high performance couch grass bred for tough conditions.

TifTuf Provides A Lawn for Every Guest

Unlike a typical residential lawn, the grass outside The Bus has seen a huge diversity of visitors. Given its Airbnb use, the lawn needed to withstand unpredictable levels of foot traffic, varied play styles from guests of all ages, pets running and rolling around, and the inevitable wear that comes with short stays and quick turnovers.

At the same time, The Bus owners were clear they didn’t want a lawn that demanded daily fuss. With guests coming and going, they needed a turf that was forgiving when maintenance couldn’t go exactly to plan. A turf that could cope with occasional lapses in watering or mowing without looking tired or patchy. Enter TifTuf Hybrid Bermuda: The Turf Farm recommended and supplied 150 m² of this premium turf to the project, which was installed on 23 December 2025. The outcome has been exactly what the brief required. 

Pinnaroo sits in a semi arid region characterised by hot, dry summers and low rainfall. TifTuf was specifically bred to thrive under these conditions, requiring on average up to 38 % less water than many other warm season turf varieties, while still maintaining a lush, green appearance. This makes it an environmentally sensible and cost effective choice in areas where water is at a premium. 

With The Bus attracting everything from couples lounging outside to families with kids and pets racing about, wear tolerance was critical. TifTuf’s dense growth habit and vigorous stolons and rhizomes give it excellent wear resistance and a rapid capacity to self repair after stress. 

Unlike some turf varieties that require frequent mowing, specialist care or constant watering, TifTuf thrives with moderate maintenance inputs. Once established, it keeps its shape and colour with relatively little fuss, perfect for a holiday rental where ongoing lawn care can vary with guest stays. South Australia’s temperature extremes, from scorching summer heat to chilly winter nights, can be tough on grass. TifTuf’s performance across a range of conditions, with good winter colour retention and rapid green up in spring, ensures that The Bus lawn looks inviting year round. 

While The Bus itself is a story in creative accommodation, it sits within Olivacres Pinnaroo, a broader property that blends rustic charm with modern comfort. The Airbnb listing, a fully converted Adelaide Metro bus nights away from the bustle of city life is a welcome retreat that combines nostalgia with practicality: comfortable sleeping space, proximity to local cafes and pubs, and easy access to the rural charm of Pinnaroo. Guests can enjoy morning coffee beside the lawn, throw a ball for the kids, or let their dogs explore the turf while soaking up quiet country views. The choice of turf might seem like a minor detail, but for an outdoor space exposed to the elements and a wide range of use cases, it’s made all the difference.  

Download the full Turf Talk magazine here

Book your stay at The Bus in Pinnaroo here