From truffles to pig farmers to sparkling wine country, last week, Team BT’s Katherine and Connie, alongside SGBR colleagues, led a passionate group of emerging agritourism businesses to Northern Tasmania as part of the regions newest SGBR Agritourism Mentoring Program, to learn from established agribusiness owners of their journey from farm to tourism.
Over the past decade, Northern Tasmania has become a well-known hub for gastronomic delights, great wine, and great people, and are making headway internationally following the region's recent designation as a UNESCO City of Gastronomy. Through leveraging their natural assets and quality farming practices, they have developed a vibrant agri-tourism offering, enticing a broad range of travellers seeking authentic visitor experiences and a deeper understanding of what’s on their plate.
Blessed with lush green pastures, clean air and water, and rich fertile soil, similar to that of the Southern Great Barrier Reef (SGBR), Team SGBR immersed in a 5-day study tour meeting with and learning from a diverse group of first-generation, seventh generation, small-scale and large-scale producers. All shared valuable insight into the challenges and opportunities faced when evolving a working farm into a tourism business, providing several key take-outs inspiring future growth, resilience and diversification across our SGBR mentees.
Authentic storytelling, collaboration, perseverance, vision, valuing your product and understanding your worth, understanding your core markets, and being agile, were the core ingredients of success amongst all businesses. Harnessing this recipe and the power of partnership, our group were rewarded an opportunity to connect with Visit Northern Tasmania CEO Tracey Mallett, West by North West CEO, Gabriella Conti and Chair of Gastronomy Northern Tasmania, Jane Bennett who emphasised the importance of industry supporting industry and owning your point of difference.
With Bundaberg and the Southern Great Barrier Reef home to world-class culinary experiences and a multi-generational agricultural industry, we too have a unique opportunity to be a major agritourism destination, as one of Australia's largest producing regions. Recognising the opportunities for growth within our agricultural sector the agritourism program aims to empower our regional farmers to transform and diversify income streams through cultivating tourism experiences within their business framework.
This year's program was made possible through funding received by the Queensland Government, achieved by GAPDL in partnership with Bundaberg Tourism and Capricorn Enterprise.To learn more about the collaborative SGBR Agritourism Mentoring Program, Immersive Study Tour and OOR Marketing Campaign, click here.
A BIG thank you to the following businesses who welcomed us throughout our Immersive Study Tour (p.s. you’ll want to pop them on your Tassie bucket list):
- Ashgrove Cheese Dairy
- Mt Gnomon Farm
- Guide Falls Farm
- The Cove, Devonport
- House of Anvers Chocolate Factory
- Hillwood Berries Farmgate
- 41 Degree South Tasmania - Salmon and Ginseng
- The Truffle Farm
- Hazelbrae Hazelnuts
- Fork it Farm
- The Ridge North Lilydale
Our team were expertly guided by the incredible Sara, owner and founder of Experiential Tasmania, who helped bring our itinerary to life. If you are ever seeking an enriching bespoke tour experience exploring Northern Tasmania’s gourmet experiences, please reach out to Sara and her team.
Want to get involved?
Let's talk!
If you are interested in learning more about the opportunities through agritourism or be involved with our culinary destination marketing campaign, reach out to our This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. to discuss more.
Learn more about Bundaberg Tourism's Taste Bundaberg strategy here.
