He often talks of his love of riding horses to escape the rat race that is politics when he gets the chance to get to the farm.

While the media loves to paint the Liberal and Opposition leader as a wealthy, Eastern Suburbs silvertail, it's the bush which keeps him grounded and gives him somewhere to gather his thoughts and find himself.

In a special interview with Rural Press last week, Mr Turnbull told of his passion for agriculture, and why it drives his resolve to press the Government for a better job on water reform, the economy and emissions trading.

"Agriculture has a huge place in my heart," Mr Turnbull said.

"It was a great love of my father, and when he was killed 27 years ago I buried him on his place, and he's still there…and I'm still there.

"So it's very important to me emotionally and spiritually I guess."

Mr Turnbull and his wife Lucy have two properties which are now run together.

One near Scone, his father's original property, and another about 45 minutes away towards Murrurundi. Both run sheep and cattle.

He said he's currently got 800 female breeders across the two places, mostly Hereford and Hereford/Angus cross cattle.

"We aim to brand 700 calves a year, we have cross-bred lambs but we're looking to build up sheep numbers over the years."

He said he's not very involved in the day-to-day running anymore, like he used to be, however he was nevertheless discussing farm details with managers even whilst out on the road.

"Lucy and I used to go up there to the farm just about every weekend, but when we bought the other place it became a larger operation, we now have two full-time managers and another part-time employee who work together.

"My father used to go riding in the Snowy Mountains, and I'm so used to riding in steep country, I really love it."