Expedia report highlights surge in tourism for inland Qld locations

It started at the height of Covid, but in Queensland the trend for tourists to head inland for a ‘hay-cation’ is showing no sign of slowing down.

Travellers are flocking to inland Queensland in a trend dubbed “hay-cations”, with new data from the Expedia Group showing a huge surge in the numbers heading to our western hot spots.

The pattern started during 2020 when, despite the coronavirus pandemic, places such as the Scenic Rim experienced record-breaking tourist seasons and it has shown no sign of slowing down.

According to data from booking site Stayz released on Thursday, demand for rustic getaways has increased by up to 90 per cent in the past year, with demand for locations close to mountains, lakes and rivers increasing by 50 per cent.

And Queensland is ticking all the boxes.

Lecia Stark with kids Hunter, 6, and Teek, 4, enjoying a country escape at the Scenic Rim Farm Shop. Picture: Luke Marsden.

Expedia Australia General Manager Daniel Finch said there were a number of drawcards enticing travellers to head bush for a hay-cation.

“We know Aussies love the beach, but they are also craving private holiday homes with lots of space – think converted regional barns and rural farmhouses,” he said.

“Queensland is filled with beautiful natural features such as rainforests, rivers and mountains, with something for everyone to explore and enjoy.”

Scenic Rim Mayor Greg Christensen said the region had gone from strength to strength since it was listed in the Lonely Planet’s ‘Best in Travel’ as one of the world’s Top Ten ‘must-visit’ regions for 2022.

“The Scenic Rim really is the home of authentic ‘hay-cation’ experiences, where visitors can stay on working farms, share time with the farmers feeding their animals, harvesting crops, caring for the land and understanding the provenance of food,” he said.

“It also shines the light on our wonderful farmers and producers who are forging pathways in agritourism as best-in-sector operators.”

Queensland's Scenic Rim has been the toast of tourism since landing as one of The Lonely Planet’s hottest travel destinations. Picture: Nigel Hallett

Further west, the Granite Belt and even the Queensland Outback are also cashing in on the craze, with award-winning dinosaur tours near Winton, spectacular glamping sites near Longreach and rollicking festivals across the bush among the attractions luring visitors west.

On the flip side, the Expedia data also found more than half of Australians were planning to take a big city trip in the next 12 months as well.

In other findings, more than two thirds of Aussies were influenced in their preferred holiday destinations after seeing them on TV shows or in movies.