The boom in regional tourism – particularly in caravanning and camping – has seen a surge in rural landowners seeking to cash in by setting up mini campgrounds.
The trend is well in evidence in places like Queensland’s Gympie region, where there has been flurry of applications to council by landholders anxious to get into the tourist accommodation business.
In the latest proposal, landowners Donna and Glenn Adams are seeking to open a micro-tourist park at their 12-hectre property at Tuchekoi, about 25 kilometres southeast of Gympie.
It would see the installation of four glamping tents, each with two bedrooms, a kitchen, bathroom, and a verandah.
Camping on private land is becoming more common in many parts of the country. PIC: CIzza
The Gympie Times reports that the application is the latest in a series of small-scale rural camping proposals to be made with Gympie Regional Council in the past 18 months.
The Mary Valley has proven a popular choice with four new campground proposals made in the area since March 2022.
The newspaper reports that one is proposed near Kandanga, and the other is planned to open near the annual home of the Mitchell Creek Rock n Blues Festival.
The other two have been approved: a four-campground park at Traveston, and a similar-sized park at Carters Ridge.
According to the Gympie Times, campsite proposals have been made west of the city as well, with a 10-tent site bid under consideration at Widgee and a four-cabin park given the green light at Goomboorian.
Two other larger campsites have been pitched at Gunalda, including 37-site park.
The applications reportedly come as the council works to adjust planning rules, and potentially open the door for small-scale tourism across the region.
In late 2021, it proposed to double the number of caravans allowed on private property without a development application approval. The Gympie Times says that, under the changes, the number of caravans, tents, or cabins allowed on a private block will be capped at eight.
These changes are awaiting state government approval.
Gympie council’s sustainability director Adrian Burns told the Gympie Times that the shift was being driven by the fallout from the pandemic.
“Covid has changed the model from travelling overseas to holiday to more inter and intra state holidays and with rising interest rates and less available discretionary spending travel has become less affordable leading to a desire for more localised breaks,” she said.
And, according to the Gympie Times, the council is ‘not really concerned’ about these small camping spots overstepping their bounds.
“There are a number of legislative instruments to control these activities including the Council Planning Scheme and Local Laws,” Mr Burns said. “As an RV friendly region we are supportive of encouraging more tourists into the area as long as this is managed under current legislation to not have a negative impact on our resident communities.”
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We are decades behind in this compared to the UK where the not so humble mega-organisation ‘The Caravan Club’ has organised around 5000 Certified Locations on farms where the overarching licence allows up to 5 caravans/motorhomes to camp on farm. Farms are cheap (£10-20 per night) with anything from access to water to full bathroom/laundry services (often in the barn). With Club membership a several hundred page Certified Locations (Farm Stay) description book and large map and website access is provided. We purchased a used car and caravan in the UK and toured for nearly one year staying mainly in Certified Locations, talking to farmers and wandering beautiful farm landscapes was a blast….and cheap!
Agreed Peter. NZ has similar with the NZMCA Parks which either buy or lease areas for their members to use. Perhaps the CMCA here could look to a similar approach i.e. leasing farm areas.
I used the Caravan Club for 20 years whilst in the UK. They had great quiet locations and meant as a family we could get out more often.
Here in Australia I have joined Caravan Overnight Farmstay who have farmers around the country that offer safe overnight stays or longer by arrangement at a minimum $10 per night
I believe they are a great option as more and more councils clamp down on free camps and greedy caravan parks raise their costs for campers that are even self contained. Of course they are not for everyone as many families need and want play grounds and pools to entertain kids during their stays.
This is a wonderful option. Camping can be provided to self contained campers (shower & toilet) at a reasonable cost. There are many already available across Australia. Providing a bit of extra income for farmers (as well as some water on the trees )
Already though, some of these are charging ridiculous rates. $40 per night for 2 people, the same as the caravan park in town with power & water.
Roy, l have set up our van to camp when we are able, solar for power, inverter for ac power, Sat TV, double toilet cassettes for the toilet ,extra water tanks ( be careful not to go over your weight limits) We enjoy the peace and quiet that you get with true bush camping, even though we are really glamping in our 22ft Jaco.I congratulate the country people for doing this. So long as they don’t rip off the nomads.
lets try to get away from this self contained mentality for a minut not all travel like that some go in a camper or campervan and all that is needed is a long drop if the farmer can put one in he will get a lot more campers
Some of these farm properties have wonderful views and creeks and being able to access them can make camping the way its meant to be, close to nature. Its also a means to relieve pollution pressure on caravan parks etc.
We have been travelling for over 10 months covering 29,000 kms. The availability of free or low cost locations for overnight or restricted stays means we don’t have to pay the mega bucks to the caravan parks, though appreciating that they are in business too. Looking back at where we have been has shown where towns are RV friendly providing free or low cost options we have spent our money across these communities, eg petrol, eating out, groceries, attractions, etc. This has been our overall policy, spread the spend.
Whist travelling through the Gympie area we stopped at the 72 hour Kandanga area and visited the pub each night, the bowling club, travelled on the Mary Rattler stream train and visited local bakeries and other attractions.
As travellers we appreciate the efforts shires go into making these facilities available and support RV friendly towns.
Yes ther needs more LOW COST OVERNIGHT STAY PLACES along our major Highways. govern the long distances we sometimes have to travel in this Great Country. If I owned a Rural Propery on the sides if these Highways, I would investigate and if possible invest in an Overnignt only Camp Ground with say 2 Toilets { Male & Female } and a Sower Facility Bathroom ETC.at a say a small Fee for maintenance ans a small Profit. I know as I do not drive with my Caravan in Tow due to my Age and the need to Rest as is advised by not only the Regulartory Authorities but also my G.P. and my Body. and most Road Side Rest Aear stipulate NO CAMPING ( Hmm What is meant by Camping ) and the Road Traffic can be very Noisy so some where off the Highway where it is quiet for say a Fee of between$10 & $20per Night for a Caravan & have to Pay a GOLD COIN to use the Toilet / Shower ETC, I would gladly Pay to be Safe and get a good night sleep [ EXAMPLE : Our Family : all Adults : could expect to pay around : $18 to $22 for the Night .
Have used a couple of these, but owners need to be aware of need to continually clean and maintain them. When they get busy with farm work, the standards can slip badly resulting in negative comments. Have experienced this and it was such a shame.
Good campsites need hygienic facilities too. Hipcamp ones are quite expensive by comparison.
Great idea.
I fully support it.
This only works if it doesn’t replace free camps – like others I have a solar system, toilet, shower so I don’t need these facilities plus I have a dog – these small new places that are popping up often have their pets so don’t allow dogs
Yes I believe this type of camping will appeal to the older generation. I would be happy to pay to park my van on someone’s property for a few days.
I support the concept entirely but what will wreck it is fees and red tape. Councils love the $$$ that comes from all this stuff.
Yes a good idea if they are moderately priced andvshort term unless a oerson is working in the area. Just thinking though will local freecamps then be shut down? Some towns could become ‘tent cities’
Yep that’s wot I think , councils will shut them d own to try and force everyone into their council parks at ridiculous prices for an overnight stay
When trying to find a caravan park near relatives on the Gold Coast I was disgusted at the cost of the Gold Coast Council caravan parks. They have a monopoly along the coast.
I have stayed in some great ‘Hipcamps’. I believe we need more options and diversity. Caravan parks have their place. Great for families, in some cases as they have playgrounds, pools, games rooms etc I have stayed at a fantastic park in SA recently that was brilliant. Large sites with good planting between, great bathroom facilities. Well worth the fees.
I don’t have children and really prefer peace and quiet, room, and some sense of privacy and NATURE. I like to chat to people but I don’t want to be so close that I feel like a sardine, and that is the caravan park reality a lot of the time. I can live with that for a night or two to wash clothes but would rather a bit more of a nature experience.
Some of the free or low cost options have been a bit feral and don’t feel safe if I’m on my own. F’wits playing loud music and yahooing into the small hours and leaving smashed beer bottles everywhere. Most sites are fine though. So someone’s property has that advantage – safety. I don’t mind paying low to reasonable fees for rubbish collection, toilets, space. Dumpspots in towns is a great boon. I would prefer to pay for what I actually want. Rather than being forced to stay in a caravan park. That is not why I go caravanning. And many many people are the same. Councils trying to shore up business for caravan parks that some people just don’t want to stay in is pointless. If it is a good park it will do well anyway. Plenty of travellers out there. Some CPs have ‘happy hours’ around a communal fire. Get imaginative to keep a business going – not by cutting off all other options.
Private campsites offer a less expensive & less crowded option _ with more single women on the road this offers more security than free camps on the roadside!
We love discovering these small well run campsites. For us baby boomers who didn’t have the option of compulsory super until late on in our working years, these small camps are affordable. Large caravan parks are becoming too expensive knowing they have a captive market since COVID began. Not only that but the small private bush camps are far more friendly.
More of them please.