Farming Tourism

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Australian Farmstays Feature Article - Farming Tourism

NSW Outback farmstays featured in the Feb/Mar edition of the OUTBACK magazine's Farmstays Feature article - Farming Tourism. Below is an extract from the feature.

You will find more exciting farmstays in New South Wales and ACT on the Association's accommodation directory or, for farmstay accommodation in Queensland go to our sister organisation's website - BBFQ.

The increasing popularity of the farm as a holiday destination is helping to preserve the country experience and diversify rural income.

Australians have always known the value of their own backyard - and not the Hills Hoist, buffalo grass-type of backyard either. Rather, it's the vast, relentless beauty of the bush that remains an enduring treasure of the Australian psyche. We grow up with it. We embrace it. As the big chill of the global economic situation has crept in, so has social nervousness and while Australians are putting their wallets back in their pockets and taking stock, staying at home has never been more attractive.

Domestic tourism in Australia has increased steadily since 1998 (with the exception of minor lulls between 2003 and 2005) and 2008 was forecast to be a very significant year for domestic travel. An online search ranking recently revealed that national destinations are topping the travel agenda: Alice Springs and The Great Ocean Road came before New Zealand and hotspots Vietnam and Western Europe. Travel to outback New South Wales was up, albeit marginally, and 77 percent of those visitors were there for pleasure alone. So while rumours have abounded that troubled times are here to stay, Aussies are pulling out their maps and staying local.

Oakhampton Homestead & Country Holidays

Belinda Nixon knows this is good news for her "Oakhampton" property in Manilla, NSW. She runs Oakhampton as a farmstay destination in the ‘big-sky country' around Tamworth. The property has been in the Nixon family since 1874 and the farmstay business was opened in 1990. It was a clever diversification in the face of pending circumstance. "When the government put the Split Rock Dam in some years ago, we had nearly 6000 acres [2500 hectares] taken from us," she says. "It was something they called ‘compulsory resumption'. When things like that happen, you have to use the things you have." And that's exactly what she did.

In 1990, when Oakhampton invited the public to come and stay, farm holidays were not a common thread of agricultural income. Throughout that decade, exotic international destinations were high on the agenda for Australians, especially as air travel was getting cheaper and faster. Indonesian and south-east Asian destinations, in particular, enjoyed a surge in popularity, especially among the 20-35 year olds. A series of international incidents, however, changed that rather quickly. Among them was the 1997 Asian financial crisis, September 11, 2001, the Bali bombings and the SARS epidemic. These days, it's the global financial crisis.

For farmers, it has been an opportunity and the value of tourism has begun to make itself very clear. There existed a pool of travellers looking for holiday options closer to home. The farmstay started to appeal to metropolitan people tired of the humdrum of everyday life - it reinforced the perception of the country as a place to relax and unwind. Some visitors also saw a farmstay as a throwback to their childhood when they visited aunties and uncles on properties and they were keen to offer their own urban children similar experiences. Significantly, though, it was cheaper. There were no flights to be booked or visas to be organised, but they were still indulging in fully hosted, comfortable accommodation.

The supplementary income for farmers who open up their properties to tourists has become quite important. The local realities have made agriculture a challenging business these days in the face of drought and other natural obstacles. Despite this, though, we have the second highest amount of farmland in the world after China (by area of land under agriculture). According to the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) there are 154,472 farms in the country (2005/06) and they take up an impressive 61pc of the landmass. So, using the facilities that already existed around them, farmers have diversified their incomes, which is just one of many motives behind this type of tourism.

While some operators are large, remote and luxurious, most are small, family-operated landholdings. There are more than 650 working farms offering tourism throughout Australia. That number excludes bed-and-breakfasts and those that exist wholly for tourism. The rewards have been surprising and they don't just lie with the obvious economic advantages.

"More than anything it has kept the buildings in some sort of repair," Belinda says. Her paying guests have actually helped to preserve Oakhampton's farm buildings. Otherwise, they would have stayed empty and fallen down as old buildings do. We weren't used to having people commercially, so it was a big leap for us. Having people stay with you is one thing, but when people are paying to stay with you it's a totally different thing. This part of the farm is actually a business and you have to look at it as a business." Belinda mentions the incredible circle of people she has come to know over the years and the friendship that comes with it. Much of Oakhampton's clients are repeat visitors who book back in for their next trip before they leave, and intimate friendships are something any operator can look forward to.

Over the years, the Nixons have developed Oakhampton to cater for large groups of tourists as well as small families. Their bunkhouse accommodation sleeps 44 people and they have cottages and bed-and-breakfast options too. "The extra income has certainly been very good," Belinda says. The farmstay business has been profitable, a major incentive for those thinking of going down the same route. "It certainly has been helpful, but there are things you have to consider. We've tried to keep up with the things needed for this type of business - the public liability, the insurance for the horse riding, health and safety courses."

Oakhampton Homestead
Oakhampton Road
Manilla, NSW 2346
Australia
Phone: 02 6785 6517

>>>images - Visitors to Oakhampton have a go at shearing, while mingling with the farm's axis deer and sheep is also a typical attraction.

Tag Along At Turlee

Sophie and Nathen Wakefield have the added attraction of a gateway to Mungo National Park to add to their farmstay experience.

Story: Kate Couglan, Farmstays Feature Article - R.M.Williams OUTBACK Magazine Feb/Mar 2009

Turlee Station Farmstay, nestled next to Mungo National Park in New South Wales and part of the Willandra Lakes World Heritage Area, offers an authentic farmstay experience and a stunning gateway to the natural wonders of Mungo. The station stay is operated by Sophie and Nathen Wakefield, who along with their daughter Grace, have been opening the property to visitors for just over a year. The working sheep-and-wheat station has been in the Wakefield family since 1973 and the family has a long history in the area, having operated sheep stations in the region since 1904.

This long attachment to the land provides visitors with a wealth of knowledge on station life and the Mungo district. Fundamental to the farmstay experience, Turlee is a fully operational station. At 58,478 hectares, the property runs up to 10,000 head of sheep and plants around 2833ha of wheat. "It's still very much a functioning property - that's our bread and butter," Sophie says. Guests enjoy observing the daily motions of station life, with one of the most popular activities being the tag-along tours. "We had to sit down when we were starting out and say, 'What can anyone do, at any time of year, without any notice, that wouldn't infringe on station life?'," Sophie says. "We came up with the water run, where people can just jump in with Nathen or use their own four-wheel-drive and listen to Nathen's commentary on UHF. It's great because we get our work done and people are experiencing farm life first-hand. They might also see drop-log wells, Aboriginal middens and working mallee-fowl nests along the way."

The couple fell into the business after the property's isolation proved an obstacle to Sophie's work. "When I moved out here I was travelling into Mildura to work as a swimming instructor," she says. "Fuel costs plus wear on the car made me decide to give it away. I needed something I could do out here; a home business. The huts were just sitting there and of course Mungo was there." With no background in hotels, Sophie sought information through the New Enterprise Incentive Scheme, a government initiative aimed at helping people start up new small businesses, which helped the couple compose a business plan. They also did extensive internet research. "But we really have been learning as we go," Sophie says.

Turlee offers a range of accommodation options from the traditional swag under the stars to Chibnalwood Cottage, originally the workers' quarters and now a fully self-contained unit. Sophie and Nathen's high level of care and attention to the accommodation and experience they offer guests is evident. It reflects their pride in the property and its rich natural and pastoral history. Even the camping grounds are above par with flushing toilets and showers. "It's off the road and quite secluded, and the grounds offer a great view of the ancient lake beds, which guests really enjoy," Sophie says. From $8/night (equipment not supplied) it's an affordable and picturesque way to enjoy Turlee. If you don't have your own gear the Swag Under The Stars package may be for you. With one nights' swag hire, linen, bottle of wine and local fruit and chocolate platter for $70 per couple, it's still great value.

Guests also have exclusive access to the Willandra Lakes World Heritage Area on Turlee where you might see emus, kangaroos, sheep, echidnas, eagles, reptiles and abundant native plants. "People love the Tag along at Turlee shearing and working-dog demos, which we offer for 10 or more, and always around Easter time," Sophie says. This Easter the couple are planning to add sheep races to the already-long list of activities. "Last Easter we had a big lamb roast dinner, we cleared the shearing shed and set up long candle-lit tables," Sophie says. "It was very pretty, so this year we're hoping to make it even better." Other activities include birdwatching, bushwalking, organised bow hunting, and the opportunity to do absolutely nothing but relax and enjoy the Australian outback.

Mungo, a short drive from the station, is an integral part of the business. "Most of our visitors are planning a visit to Mungo, and the station is in a perfect position for guests," Sophie says. She estimates 95 percent of Turlee's business would be people travelling to and from Mungo. "Without Mungo we definitely wouldn't be as successful," she says. The couple use the stunning natural surroundings of ancient lakes fringed by dunes to their full advantage. "We utilise the elevation on the edge of the lake beds by offering a tailored Sunset Lookout Package," Sophie says. "Guests can sit on a picnic blanket or deck chairs and enjoy the sunset, while watching the roos and sheep on the lakebeds. We supply chilled local wine and a fruit and chocolate platter and will come and pick them up when they UHF us." The Sunset Lookout Package will set you back $30 and includes picnic blanket, a chilled bottle of wine, local fruit and chocolate platter and, of course, outstanding views.

The couple's decision to capitalise on the trade Mungo generates has already paid off. Turlee has made its mark with glowing feedback and steady bookings, enjoying a stream of visitors all year round. "We recently had a Swedish man and his wife staying," Sophie says. "He was saying how he travelled a lot with work and stayed at different five-star hotels in different countries every week, but he loved us; they loved the authenticity," Sophie says. "When people visit the Australian bush they want real people, real life. People want the real outback, and that's what we offer at Turlee." The station's clientele includes families but is mainly made up of baby boomers and the newly retired. "Often it's the things we take for granted that end up being what people really love about us," Sophie says. "Nathen is a butcher and we kill our own sheep, cut our own meat, make our own sausages and all that. People love to try our sausages and salami. Guests are always interested in how School of the Air works too."

The decision to diversify into the farmstay market has proven equally rewarding for the Wakefields and their guests. "We have such a varied range of tourists, and we have learnt quite a bit from them," Sophie says. "We recently had a man staying who was a composer for the Carlton Draft bloody big beer advertisement and the VB orchestra advertisement. He was a unique man and someone we otherwise would never have met."

TURLEE STATION
Turlee Station Stay NSW
Via Mildura VIC 3500
Australia
Phone: 03 5029 7208

>> images: Guests can enjoy a charming candle-lit dinner in the Turlee shearing shed over the Easter period and French visitors Marc Boudou and Aurore Monteil take time out to relax in front of the bush bungalow.