Did you know that these highly social animals have their own language and can be eloquent communicators when they are in a talkative mood?

They make the most extraordinary squeals, grunts, clicks and humming sounds!

Something else you may not know is that Australia produces the finest quality alpaca fibre in the world and much of comes from the Upper Lachlan Shire.

Our cold winters and warm, dry summers provide perfect conditions for producing that lovely soft, silky fleece, so sought after by the fabrics industry.

At the last official count our region was estimated to be home to more than 6,000 alpacas.

If you've ever wanted to meet some alpacas and learn more about them, the Alpaca Farm Experience at Crookwell offers you the perfect opportunity.

It's a wonderful activity for both adults and kids.

You get to hand feed and interact with these highly intelligent South American camelids, while learning all sorts of interesting information about their origins, biology, complex social structure and care.

This activity also includes a talk on alpaca products and the Australian alpaca industry.

From raw fibre to finished product, it's a fascinating story.

So whether you just want to get close to one of the most adorable creatures on the planet or you want to get some cutting edge information on the current state of the industry from an alpaca expert, this is definitely one for the bucket list.

Be sure to bring your camera, alpacas are unbelievably photogenic!