A visit by NSW Minister for Jobs and Tourism Steve Kamper to Lake Keepit in Northwest NSW has highlighted the role of experience-led accommodation in supporting regional tourism growth, as outlined in the NSW Visitor Economy Strategy 2035.
The visit coincided with Mr Kamper’s attendance at the Tamworth Country Music Festival, a major annual event that draws large visitor numbers to the region each January.
During the visit, Mr Kamper toured Reflections Lake Keepit and the adjacent Wilderluxe luxury glamping precinct, a $4 million development that opened in April 2025.
The project received $2 million in funding from the NSW Government’s Regional Tourism Activation Fund and was developed by Reflections Holidays, a Crown Land Manager responsible for 40 holiday parks and 47 reserves across the state. Profits generated by Reflections Holidays are reinvested back into the parks and reserves under its management.
The NSW Visitor Economy Strategy 2035 identifies eco-resorts, wellness lodges and premium retreats as mechanisms for stimulating local economies and encouraging visitor dispersal beyond metropolitan and established tourism centres.
Wilderluxe has been positioned as one example of this approach in practice, offering eight stargazing tents designed to connect guests with the natural environment and night sky.
The accommodation includes features such as private decks, baths with views of the sky, and skylights above beds, alongside an Aboriginal Big Sky Dreaming storytelling experience.
“Wilderluxe at Lake Keepit is uniquely positioned between Tamworth and Gunnedah and demonstrates the kind of immersive, high-quality visitor experience the NSW Visitor Economy Strategy 2035 is designed to grow by helping to spread visitor spend beyond traditional centres and into regional communities,” Mr Kamper said.
“It’s great to see how Tamworth’s iconic Country Music Festival is supported by a strong regional tourism economy. Regions like North West NSW are setting the standard when it comes to offering visitors amazing events and unique experiences, which support local businesses and boost our state’s visitor economy.”
Reflections Holidays CEO Nick Baker said the precinct has attracted a mix of domestic and international travellers since opening, as well as strong interest from the local market. “About one third of Wilderluxe guests are locals, which tells us the experience resonates strongly with the regional market, while also appealing to visitors travelling from further afield,” he said in a press release.
Lake Keepit continues to function as a high-traffic day-use destination, with more than 33,000 day visitors recorded in the 2024–25 financial year. “That mix of overnight guests and high-volume day trips reinforces the holiday park’s role as both a regional icon and an economic contributor for the wider Northwest NSW community,” Mr Baker said.
For caravan park, glamping, and RV park operators, the Lake Keepit model demonstrates how premium accommodation can complement traditional park offerings rather than replace them.
Integrating higher-yield accommodation alongside day-use and short-stay visitation may provide a pathway to diversify revenue, extend length of stay, and align with government funding priorities tied to regional dispersal and experience-led tourism.