Farmstay campground with amenities

Build a proper farm campground with powered sites, amenities and farm activities, and take bookings all year.

Tents pitched in a green field beside a working farm with grazing animals.
Startup costA$150k to A$600k
Monthly revenueA$2k to A$10k
Time needed20+ h/week
First incomeMonths
  • A$150k-600k
  • Part-time
  • Own premises
  • Licence or permit needed

Estimates for a small start in Australia, not guarantees.

What it is

A more developed campground on a working farm, with powered and unpowered sites, amenity blocks, a camp kitchen and farm experiences such as animal feeding or tours. It runs as a main income alongside or instead of farming.

Your first three steps

  1. Draw up a simple site plan and costings for power, water, toilets and showers, and get a few quotes from local tradies
  2. Speak to your council about development approval for a caravan park or camping ground, and ask what state rules apply
  3. Talk to your insurer and an accountant about cover, GST and how the campground fits with your farm business
Who pays

Holidaying families, caravan and camper trailer travellers, school or community groups and weekenders from nearby cities.

How it makes money

Nightly and weekly site fees, cabin or glamping upgrades if added later, activity fees, firewood and farm produce sales, plus group bookings in quiet periods.

Skills that help
  • Hospitality and guest service
  • Bookkeeping and pricing
  • Property maintenance
  • Marketing and online reviews
Watch out for
  • Development approval and caravan park or camping ground regulations, which differ by state and council
  • Electrical, plumbing and wastewater work needing licensed tradespeople
  • Public liability insurance and workers compensation once you hire staff
  • Food rules if you sell meals or baked goods, check council registration
  • Bushfire, flood and access risks, plus a clear emergency plan
  • Seasonal demand, so plan cash flow for quiet months

Deep research report · Australia

Everything you need to start: farmstay campground with amenities

Researched with live web search for Australia: real startup prices, the licences and rules, what others charge, a break-even example, how to find your first customers and a 30-day launch plan. With sources.

  • Startup costs with real prices
  • Licences, registration and rules
  • Pricing: what others charge
  • Break-even example
  • Finding your first customers
  • 30-day launch plan
  • Risks and how to reduce them
Ready in about 2 minutes · one-off payment, tax included

See a full sample report

Questions people ask

How much does it cost to build a farmstay campground in Australia?

Startup costs are typically around $150,000 to $600,000, depending on how many powered and unpowered sites you build, the amenity blocks and camp kitchen, and licensed trades work. Bushfire, flood and access risks also need a clear emergency plan.

What approvals does a farmstay campground need?

Check development approval and caravan park or camping ground regulations, which differ by state and council. Also check that electrical, plumbing and wastewater work uses licensed tradespeople, food registration if you sell meals, and insurance including workers compensation once you hire.

How much revenue can a farmstay campground make?

Monthly revenue is typically around $2,000 to $10,000, depending on the number of sites, your pricing and how bookings vary through the year. Demand is seasonal, so plan cash flow for quiet months.

Other ways to run this business

Similar hospitality ideas

Photo: lentemamaatje on Pixabay

More ideas →