Cherry, Nigel, Brick, and Nippy, four English orphans, move to Tasmania and are taken in by their aunt Jandie, who lives on a farm outside of Hobart. Little Tas the farm boy greets them with great enthusiasm, and after weeks of exploration and fun, Aunt Jandie goes into the hospital, leaving the kids in the care of her foreman and housekeeper, Ma and Pa Pinner. The kids are forced to seek safety in a hidden cave after being subjected to the Pinners' oppressive behavior for a few days, where they establish a home and wait for Jandie to return. The kids stay here despite Pa's persistent attempts to get them back, until Nigel's covert journey to town reveals the Pinners' scheme to flee the farm and defraud Aunt Jandie.
—Michael Ballard