A severe drought in Queensland forced dairy farmer Libby Rough and her family to sell 40 cows, creating a major financial challenge as milk income declined. In response, the family opened four simple, unpowered campsites along the river running through their dairy property near Kenilworth in the Sunshine Coast hinterland.
The small agritourism venture eventually generated more than A$50,000 by January 2022, providing the family with an important additional source of income while they continued operating their dairy farm.
Drought Forces Dairy Herd Reduction
The Rough family’s decision to start hosting campers came during one of the region’s difficult drought periods. Dry conditions reduced pasture availability while feed costs increased, making it increasingly difficult to maintain the existing herd.
The family eventually sold 40 cows, reducing their milk production and eliminating a significant portion of their regular farm income. Household expenses, including groceries and school fees, became more difficult to manage.
Rough told the Australian Broadcasting Corporation that the family joined Youcamp during the drought after going several months without a milk cheque. The platform enabled private landowners to offer camping experiences to travellers seeking alternatives to traditional commercial caravan parks.
Youcamp later became part of global outdoor accommodation platform Hipcamp.
Four Simple Campsites Generate A$50,000
Rather than investing heavily in permanent accommodation or elaborate facilities, the Rough family established four basic campsites along the river on their property.
The sites were unpowered and designed for visitors who could manage with relatively basic facilities. The low-investment approach allowed the family to begin generating income without making a major financial commitment at a time when farm finances were already under pressure.
Demand for outdoor travel increased significantly in 2020 as Australians looked for domestic travel and outdoor recreation opportunities.
By January 2022, the four riverside camping sites had generated more than A$50,000.
The additional income was used for several farm and household requirements, including maintaining farm equipment and infrastructure, purchasing cattle feed and covering everyday household expenses.
The income also provided the family with greater financial flexibility to retain their remaining cattle and continue dairy operations through difficult seasonal conditions.
Agritourism Gains Attention in Rural Australia
The Rough family’s experience reflects a broader interest in agritourism among Australian farmers.
Changing weather conditions, rising agricultural costs and fluctuations in commodity prices have encouraged some rural businesses to explore additional income streams. Farm stays, private camping, food experiences and other tourism activities can provide farmers with revenue that is not directly linked to livestock or crop production.
The Queensland Farmers’ Federation has also highlighted the potential of agritourism as a way to improve the resilience of rural businesses.
Supporters argue that small-scale farm tourism can help farmers manage the financial effects of droughts, natural disasters, trade changes and other disruptions.
Agritourism can also benefit surrounding communities. Visitors staying on farms may spend money at local bakeries, butcher shops, fuel stations, cafes, restaurants and country pubs, helping distribute tourism revenue across regional economies.
Planning Rules Remain a Challenge
Despite the potential benefits, regulations have historically made it difficult for some Australian farmers to establish small camping operations.
Farmers in some areas have faced complex Development Application requirements even when seeking to host only a small number of tents or caravans on large rural properties. Application fees and compliance requirements could make small-scale camping financially unattractive.
Some councils have begun changing their approach to encourage rural tourism.
In December 2021, Queensland’s Gympie Regional Council voted to increase the number of caravans or tents that could be hosted on private rural properties without requiring formal Development Application approval.
Supporters of such reforms argue that low-density, unpowered farm camping can have a relatively limited environmental footprint when sanitation, waste management and other basic requirements are properly handled.
Connecting Visitors With Farming
Beyond the financial benefits, agritourism gives farmers an opportunity to introduce visitors to agricultural life.
People staying on working farms can experience rural environments and learn more about activities such as milking, cattle management and land care. This can help create a stronger connection between consumers and the farms responsible for producing their food.
For the Rough family, the four riverside campsites demonstrated how a relatively small part of a dairy property could provide meaningful financial support during a period of severe agricultural hardship.
As climate variability and farm costs continue to challenge producers, small-scale agritourism could become an increasingly useful complementary income source for dairy and other farming businesses.
