10 Wide Bay Burnett farms that are benefitting from agritourism
Lifestyle changes brought on by Covid have pushed many farmers to explore new ways of getting the most from their land. Here are 10 farms within a few hours drive of Brisbane that are pulling in the money from their fabulous side hustles:
Bundaberg
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In recent years there has been a push back against the typical holiday experience, as many Queenslanders opt for more traditional overnight stays compared to the stock standard hotels of the past.
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This pushback, combined with the lifestyle changes wrought by the Covid pandemic, has fostered a rise in farm stays, as farmers look for ways to bring in extra revenue.
While some farm stays range from simple and rustic accommodation in a relaxing, rural environment, others offer hands-on educational opportunities.
Here are some of the most impressive farms stays on offer across the Wide Bay and Burnett:
Splitters Farm, Bundaberg
Since purchasing the 160 acres (65ha) that is Splitters Farm in 2017, Carly Clark and her husband Ash began forming ideas on what the future of the land could be.
After starting with a small mob of cattle, the duo decided to begin running farm tours in 2018 amid rising running costs and a strangling drought.
“Visitors were coming out weekends to bottle feed lambs, pigs and goats however, the story behind the animals and why we were bottle feeding so many babies was getting lost in all the excitement,” Mrs Clark said.
She and her husband saw the opportunity to provide an educational opportunity for those who had never experienced life on the land.
The pair now run and manage the popular farmstay seven days a week, offering tours, accommodation, picnic hampers, weddings and other functions on top of the continuous care of the diverse mob of animals on the farm.
“The evolution of Splitters Farm has enabled us to now work full-time in the business,” Mrs Clark said.
“I think people appreciate that by visiting our farm they are making a difference by contributing to the health and wellbeing of our animals.”
River Run Farm Camping
River Run Farm Camping is a boutique farm camping location set alongside the Mary River, in the heart of the Antigua landscape near Maryborough.
When Michelle Russo and her family moved onto the land in 2015, they saw it as an opportunity to offer something fresh to their community while working from home.
While the family is still overcoming the devastating fallout of Covid on the tourism industry, River Run remains a long-term project for the family.
More than 20 sites cover the 84 acre (34ha) farm stay, where guests are encouraged to enjoy the fresh waters of the Mary River as well as local wildlife.
Bunya Red Farms
The decision 17 years ago to make a lifestyle change and be closer to family pushed Allan and Mandy Evans to settle on the 160 acres (65ha) in the Bunya Mountains that would become Bunya Red Farms.
After watching their children grow and leave home, the pair spent time travelling the country and enjoying the various farm stays across that nation, which would ultimately serve as the inspiration for their own future farm stay.
After planting their first caper plants half a decade ago, the Evans have worked hard to promote their caper crops across restaurants, food festivals and boutique shop fronts.
When the pandemic closed those outlets, the decision was made to offer the farm stay experience to keep the farm alive.
Bunya Red Farms currently offers a rustic camping experience, with shower and bathroom amenities available on their farm alongside powered camping sites.
The pair are looking to a future where they can add more permanent accommodation facilities for both workers and travellers, but say running the current set up keeps them busy on top of farm tours and the everyday work which comes with caring for the land.
Passchendaele Farm
Ken and Carolyn Stone, owners of the 5000 acres (2023ha) that makes up Passchendaele farms could be considered one of the region’s farmstay pioneers.
The land was initially founded by Mr Stone’s grandfather in Mervyn Bassingthwaighte after his return from the First World War.
“After Mervyn returned from World War I he was keen to remember his fallen comrades, so he named his property after the Battle of Passchendaele in Belgium in which he fought in 1917,” they said.
Since bringing the farm stay concept home to their farm in 1998, the pair have spent more than two decades educating travellers on the realities of farm living.
Guests are welcome to join them during their farming activities, from mustering cattle to collecting eggs.
Guests also have a range of accommodation options available to them, from a 1924 cottage, to powered camping sites.
Mrs Stone said the farm stay provided a constant income during their toughest farming years when droughts impacted the grazing opportunities for their cattle.
Cedar Brae Farm Stay
With rolling green hills and fresh farm laid eggs, Cedar Brae Farm stays is the classic country experience.
Owned and operated by Pam and Mike a short 15 minutes outside of busy Gympie on Cedar Pocket Road, the pair made the decision to diversify their small hobby farm 7 years ago.
“It’s too lovely a spot not to share,” Pam said.
The pair spend much of their time working to provide the best stay for their guests, who come from across the globe to visit their property.
Guests are encouraged to interact with the various animals on the property including alpacas, cows, chooks, guinea fowl and Sam the Kelpie.
The self contained home with a classic country theme overlooks the dam where guests are also encouraged to canoe and kayak and to tee off over the water.
Carlton Farms
Three kilometres outside Hervey Bay, Carlton Farms offers a relaxing country experience only a stone's throw from the bustling city centre.
The idea came to owner Judy Anne two years ago, after experiencing own farm stays during travels throughout Australia.
Since then the fourth generation cattle farm has offered numerous camping opportunities for travellers interested in seeing the both sides of Hervey Bay.
“It’s only a very small part of our farm but we enjoy the travellers and sharing our beautiful Hervey Bay and Fraser Island with people from everywhere,” Ms Anne said.
The 150 acre (60ha) farm feels set apart from the busy city life, with creeks, gullies and native trees adorning the property.
Lacey’s Creek
This dairy turned cattle farm has a long history with the farm stay ideology, with local legends claiming the original German settlers rented out rooms to travellers as far back as the 1890s.
Lacey’s Creek has undergone many changes since those days, and now resides in the hands of Ryan Cunningham and his wife Jessica, who took over the property in 2018.
After working hard for the better part of a decade the Cunningham’s made the move to buy the land with a focus on preservation and restoration.
“We both fell in love with the near-original state of the homestead and wanted to do something to preserve the unique history of the area,” Mr Cunningham said.
“Along with a passion for heritage architecture we both are interested in sustainable practices and worked hard to preserve and re-use as much as possible for the original house.”
Luck was on their side, and they finished much of the restorations needed for the property’s 1920’s farmhouse in 2019, just before Covid impacted much of travel industry.
Since then, the pair have also diversified into a winery, and said this willingness to expand has kept the farm alive.
“It really helps keep us viable, a lot of smaller guys like us are really struggling with the cost, the income from the farm stay has allowed us to repair much of our fencing, invest in better water-saving options as well as generally maintain the heritage timber houses,” Mr Cunningham said.
“Diversified income sources are the only way small guys like us can really keep going.”
Susan River Homestead
The Susan River Homestead is known to many in the Maryborough region, and is famous for its horse riding experiences.
The 1660 acre (671ha) farm has 90 horses available for twice daily rides through the droughtmaster cattle property.
Since operation began in January 1978, the farm has expanded its accommodation from 16 ensuite rooms to include 60 powered camping sites.
Guests are encouraged to make use of the amazing features of the property, including tennis courts, swimming pool and a 17 acre (7ha) purpose built lake ideal for water sports.
Monthly night horse rides under a full moon are also available for those braver guests looking for a unique riding experience.
Bunyip Springs
In the heart of the South Burnett you will find Bunyip Springs, a cosy farm stay experience offering hands-on farming experiences.
Guests can stay in any one of the three cottages on the property and are encouraged to partake in the morning and afternoon activities, which include milking cows, gathering eggs and an introduction to horse riding.
Since buying the property 23 years ago with her late husband, Kathy Hall has turned the 620 acre (251ha) cattle property into a local icon, with guests making the most of its close proximity to the Bunya Mountains.
Mrs Hall said the farm stay experience had become the backbone of the property.
“Without it, we wouldn’t have survived during the droughts,” she said.
The contour of the land provides a secluded feel to the property, and guests are encouraged to enjoy its natural wonders, including bushwalks and natural springs.
Edenholme Farm Stay
Years spent travelling the back roads and villages of Europe inspired Edenholme owners Roslyn and Peter Ballinger to diversify their 320 acre (129ha) cattle property into the farmstay world.
The pair have spent three decades caring for the land nestled 20 minutes outside of Kingaroy, and said the decision to add farmstay opportunities to their property three years ago has supported the farm through the ups and downs tied to life on the land.
The studio is the prime spot for couples looking for that weekend getaway, while still being close to the South Burnett wine trail and local towns.
Guests are welcome to be as involved in the running of the farm as they would like, with hands-on experiences ranging from feeding the chickens to helping muster.
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