Speewah will soon be home to a nature-based accommodation service as agritourism sees growth
An empty lot in rural Mareeba will be converted into a nature-based accommodation service as the region responds to a growing trend in ‘experience based tourism’. Find out more.
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A pair of new eco-cabins tucked away in the bush at Speewah is the latest development to receive approval from council as renewed push for nature-based tourism in rural areas gathers steam.
The 96 sqm lot off Speewah Road will see the construction of two nature-based tourism accommodation cabins by a private landowner and is expected to support the surrounding Speewah/Kuranda townships and the Tablelands region.
Mayor Angela Toppin said guests could enjoy the surrounding natural environment and views.
“Each cabin is a single bedroom unit comprising of a shower, toilet, kitchen, living area and bedroom with a deck,” Ms Toppin said.
Each proposed cabin will be provided with rainwater tanks, solar (off-grid) power and onsite effluent disposal.
The land was identified as an area of high ecological significant according to the FNQ Regional Plan 2009-2031 and is currently used for grazing and rural living purposes.
It borders national park to the south.
While the development was met with criticism by one of the residents in the area on grounds that approval of this project would trigger more development, the council responded saying the application was for two cabins only and any future development would require separate assessment in line with the planning scheme at the time.
According to Councillor Lenore Wyatt, chair of the newly-formed Mareeba Shire Local Tourism Organisation (LTO), tourism is changing to become more experience-based beyond just taking a photo near an attraction.
“Drive tourism is getting bigger,” Cr Wyatt said.
“These days people want to get in their cars, use information centres, and get the local’s tip. We want to be the masters of our own travel.”
From farm stays and eco-cabins at driving distance from waterfalls to high-end spots like Mount Molloy where visitors often fly in, the region has a range of offerings for every kind of tourist, she said.
“We have such diversity in the shire – from the great outback to the rainforest in Kuranda. We have beautiful landscapes in our backyard,” Cr Wyatt said.
“Our main industry is agriculture in Mareeba and there is a good synergy of tourism and agriculture here.
“People come up in buses on specific tours – from fruit bowl, mango farms, to pineapples being packed.”
Maria Nastasi, co-owner of Golden Drop Winery, said their family business had a consistent flow of people visiting them throughout the year via self-drive tours or as part of bus tours exploring the Tablelands.
“Our farm is our main business. We sell ten different products, six of them are mango products,” Ms Nastasi said.
“People drive into our farm, they get to see our farm, where we do tastings and sales. Lots of city people are fascinated by the trees. A lot of people look for little gifts specific to this area and we offer something 100% Australian made.
“We see a mixture of domestic and international tourists and often see returning customers.”
Ms Nastasi said she wanted to see more people coming up the range to see what their town has to offer.
Her advice to any businesses entering small-scale tourism was to do their research, add value to the area, be unique and committed 24/7.
TTNQ chief executive Mark Olsen said in his February CEO update while awaiting an increase in international visitation, the importance of domestic travellers and domestic visitor spend could not be underestimated.
He encouraged tourism operators in Mareeba Shire to join the Mareeba Shire Toursim Think Tank on March 8 to develop a 12-month destination marketing plan for the LTO to implement, which will be the first strategic planning step in growing tourism for the Mareeba Shire.
Originally published as Speewah will soon be home to a nature-based accommodation service as agritourism sees growth
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