The central Queensland town of Hughenden, like many places, has seen an influx of travelers over the school holiday period.
The town recently opened up its overflow camping facilities at the showgrounds, a move initiated by the Flinders Shire Council when all sites at the popular Allen Terry Caravan Park were exhausted. However, despite the visitor rush over June and July, the council reports a slow start to the tourist season.
“Overall, our numbers for this season continue to be down on the same time last year. For example, there were approximately 1200 people less in June, 2023, compared to June, 2022,” a council spokesperson said.
Despite the lower numbers, those visitors that are still getting to the town are being warmly welcomed, as reported by The Grey Nomads.
Hughenden Showgrounds is open for overflow campers, and the prices are quite reasonable. The showgrounds, which have toilets and showers, charge AU$30 for a powered site and AU$20 for an unpowered site. Visitors can contact the Flinders Discovery Centre to find out about overflow camping.
“Grey nomads continue to be a key visitor to the Flinders Shire, and we find they are often repeat visitors to the area. We continue to see a number of grey nomads visiting, but are also seeing an increase in the number of young families,” the spokesperson further added.
Hughenden, best known for its dinosaurs and its historic Coolabah Tree, recently held the inaugural Festival of Outback Skies in a bid to attract more travelers. The event was deemed a huge success and will be held again in early May next year.
The town of Hughenden is making efforts to increase its visitor numbers and boost tourism. The overflow camping facilities, the Festival of Outback Skies, and the welcoming atmosphere are all part of this initiative. As the town continues to open its doors to visitors, it is hoped that the numbers will pick up and the tourist season will gain momentum.
