Moar Gut Family Nature Resort in Großarl is promoting a slower style of family holiday, with childcare, dining and practical essentials handled within its Austrian Alps setting.
The five-star resort calls the concept a stillcation: a break that replaces tightly packed itineraries with unhurried days and fewer decisions. Rather than touring several destinations, families remain in one place, using its farm, spa, pools and seasonal activities as their holiday unfolds.
Located around 70km from Salzburg in the Hohe Tauern landscape, Moar Gut has 46 family suites and two double rooms. An organic farm, small-animal enclosure and full-service riding stable connect the property to its rural surroundings, while 110 employees support its family-focused operation.
Family travel can involve extensive packing, advance reservations and daily searches for activities that suit different ages. At Moar Gut, equipment for babies is already available, meals are included and supervised childcare operates throughout the week.
Childcare from babies to teenagers
At the centre of the resort is the Natur Kinderhof, a two-storey children’s space covering more than 1,000 square metres. Built with natural materials such as wood and linen, with details in sheep’s wool, it contains separate areas for babies, toddlers and older children.
The indoor facilities include bright childcare rooms, an art studio, workshop and reading corner. There is also a theatre and cinema, doll’s kitchen, climbing equipment and a ball pit filled with 40,000 golden balls. Parent-and-child rooms provide shared space for families who do not want to use supervised care throughout the day.
Moar Gut’s childcare programme runs from 9am to 9pm, seven days a week. Babies are accepted from their 30th day, although care needs to be arranged in advance. Activities range from painting and crafts to nature sessions and visits to the adjoining farm.
Older children can feed animals, bake bread, churn butter or join tractor and pony rides. Teenagers aged 10 and above have a separate corner beside the gaming room and climbing hall, along with programmes led by a dedicated supervisor.
Parents can spend several hours together without organising each part of the children’s day. Families can also move between supervised and shared activities rather than following a fixed schedule from morning until evening.
Baby equipment reduces the packing list
Moar Gut’s stillcation begins with the practical details that can make travelling with a baby cumbersome. Its baby facilities include Bugaboo pushchairs, cots, baby carriers and monitors, alongside highchairs, changing tables, rain covers and footmuffs.
Nappies and wipes are available in public areas, while swimming nappies can be collected from reception. Baby car seats and equipment such as a Baby Brezza bottle maker can also be arranged, subject to availability.
The Baby Bar is stocked with formula, purées, jars and other baby food. The kitchen prepares fresh baby meals each day, removing another task from parents travelling with infants or children beginning to eat solid food.
Full board covers breakfast, lunch, an afternoon buffet and dinner. Adults can choose from six-course evening menus featuring Austrian dishes alongside vegetarian and vegan choices, while children have dedicated buffets at lunch and dinner. Drinks are available during the day, although alcoholic options are excluded from the standard arrangement.
Breakfast runs from 7.30am until 10.30am, and homemade cakes and desserts are served during the afternoon. Allocated tables for breakfast and dinner give families a consistent place to eat without arranging reservations for every meal.
Indoor activities for wet-weather days
The resort’s activity spaces are designed to keep a mountain holiday moving when the weather changes. Indoors, children can use a climbing and bouldering hall, trampoline hall, sports hall and exergaming room. An indoor riding arena allows equestrian activities to continue beyond fine summer days.
The panorama indoor pool includes a separate baby and toddler area heated to 34C. The main indoor pool and 25-metre outdoor pool are heated to 32C, while a natural bathing lake offers a cooler alternative in summer.
Seasonal activities extend beyond the buildings. Summer brings hiking, cycling, tennis and climbing, with guided family walks including a weekly trip to the Moar Gut Alm at almost 1,700 metres. A two-kilometre panoramic trail also has an archery course.
The riding programme starts with pony leading from age three. Children aged four to six can take play-based lessons, while lunge lessons are available from age six.
In winter, an on-site practice area has snowmaking, a rope lift, magic carpet and children’s carousel. Ski lessons begin at age three, with shorter introductory sessions available for two-year-olds. The main valley gondola is 3km away, connected to the property by a free private shuttle.
Spa time for parents
While children are in supervised care, adults can use the resort’s Nature Spa, book a treatment or join a Reformer Pilates class. The adults-only wellness area includes saunas and an ice fountain, separate from the family pools and activity halls.
The arrangement allows parents to read beside the pool, exercise or spend time in the spa without coordinating separate babysitting. It also leaves room for families to regroup for meals, farm visits or time outdoors later in the day.
A Baby Spa extends the wellness programme to younger guests through baby swimming and floating, yoga and massage. The sessions keep activities close to the accommodation, without requiring daily journeys elsewhere.
A family resort developed from an Alpine farm
Moar Gut remains operated by the Kendlbacher family, whose history at the property spans four generations. The site developed from a working dairy and arable farm, adding holiday apartments in 1980 before moving towards family rooms during the 1990s.
Its first supervised children’s playroom opened in 1996, followed by the original children’s farm in 2002. Moar Gut received its fifth star in 2018 and subsequently added its riding arena, expanded spa and current Natur Kinderhof. A Baby Spa opened in 2024, when 30 suites were also renovated and new spaces for teenagers were introduced.
The resort is around one hour by taxi from Salzburg Airport. St. Johann im Pongau railway station is approximately 16km away, and private transfers can be arranged. Guests can check in from 4pm and must check out by 10am, with free underground parking available for those who drive.
