As the cost of living and holiday accommodation soars, travellers keen for a reprieve this summer are ditching the beach for a "more affordable" bush getaway.
At Steven Keating's Chinchilla campsite, about 300 kilometres west of Brisbane, it is unusually busy .
"It's [Christmas] usually a quiet period, but I think people are looking forward to the experience we have to offer," he said.
"The lead-up to Christmas and the weeks after are looking quite good."
The campground, which overlooks a creek full of rushing water thanks to a year of rain, has activities including kayaking, farm visits and a smoked meat cookout.
Mr Keating said cheap experiences out west were in abundance.
"Chinchilla is on the map now, " he said.
"It's not just a place you pass through anymore."
Price is driving factor
Southern Queensland Country Tourism chief executive Peter Homan said there was a slight dip in the popularity of western Queensland holidays during November, but hotels, motels and caravan parks were now 95 per cent full across the Darling Downs and south-west.
He said the cost of living crisis had travellers favouring a cheaper, "more reasonable" holiday closer to home this summer.
"Price is driving a lot of holiday intentions at the moment," he said.
"Whether it be flying interstate or flying overseas, it's so expensive at the moment, and accommodation is incredibly expensive compared to what it was 12 months ago."
At the Sunshine Coast and Gold Coast, a powered campsite over the Christmas period can set a traveller back by more than $100 a night, compared with $30 a night on the Darling and Western Downs.
Mr Homan said prices reflected a few key issues in the sector.
"The cost to operate have gone up immensely, but they've also got problems with staffing still," he said.
"A lot of operators are running at 70 per cent or 80 per cent because they just don't have the staff to clean the rooms."
Bring 'grandma and the family pet'
It's an issue that's working in the favour of smaller country caravan park owners like Gerald Searle at Crows Nest, 45 kilometres north of Toowoomba.
"A lot of families do struggle with that pricing [of coastal parks]," he said.
"There's no doubt the coast is heavily booked now, and prices are really up there. The country still offers less than two hours from Brisbane, and we are good value."
Many rural holiday destinations have modern facilities and swimming pools, but Mr Searle said there was a perception that they were not as entertaining for travellers in summer compared with coastal competitors.
"The traditional, country-style holiday is like the ones people used to have," he said.
"It's economical. You can bring the tent, the caravan, Grandma and the family pet.
"We've got water flowing through in the swimming holes, national parks, good old-fashioned holidays. They can come up with their mountain bikes and the country fresh air."
