We buy some nice organic grown produce from these people and have toured the property also, met the alpacas, and visited the crafts store there where you can buy doonas, sleeping bags, hand-woven scarves, knitwear and raw fleece.
Alpacas have seductive large eyes and long lashes and although tractable, are aloof animals not keen on cuddles and petting the way well handled goats, sheep or horses can be. All the same it was great fun to see the set up and be close to these lovely quiet creatures.
The Australian alpaca industry has passed the phase of being an odd fringe enterprise. Now there are pedigree studs and common to see them at agricultural shows. Certainly alpaca have come to be appreciated because they can thrive in conditions where sheep have poor fodder and they are not destructive like goats. There is an off shoot industry of provision of herd guards for sheep. Whereas the sheep are inclined to panic, an alpaca is believed to stand its ground and fight a fox or dog.
The fibre is lovely. I have a soft light warm alpaca wool vest which washes well and comes up every time looking new. I can recommend both alpaca products and visiting Blue Moon.