Opportunities to drive agritourism growth in regional Australia were explored at the second annual AgriTourism Summit, held in the Orange region from 12–13 August 2025.
Supported proudly by Destination NSW, the summit brought together producers, operators, tourism professionals and industry stakeholders to share insights and explore opportunities in the fast-evolving sector.
Summit attendance surged by 50 per cent year-on-year, with more than 84.7 per cent of delegates travelling from outside the region.
Minister for Tourism Steve Kamper said: “The NSW Government is proud to support the 2025 AgriTourism Summit and its focus on future-proofing regional visitor economies.
“NSW has so much to offer. It is one of the most seasonally diverse agricultural regions in Australia, and we are seeing an increasing number of domestic and international visitors immersing themselves in authentic experiences across the state.
“From booking unique farm stays to sampling wines at our world-class vineyards, foraging for truffles in our cool-climate regions, shucking oysters in our waterways and picking fruit in our orchards, agritourism plays a vital role in our visitor economy strategy.”
Event organiser Gary FitzRoy said the summit was a practical, down-to-earth event that enabled farmers and local, state and Australian Government representatives to come together and share, learn and network.
Destination NSW drives agritourism growth
Destination NSW’s NSW First Program supports agritourism businesses to better understand the tourism industry and develop market-ready visitor experiences.
The program includes the NSW First Agritourism Toolkit, which offers practical advice for both new and established operators. It helps businesses create bookable, visitor-ready agritourism experiences; meet contemporary visitor expectations; and deliver authentic on-farm activities that connect guests to agricultural practices.
View the toolkit here.
Regional NSW number one for agritourism
Regional NSW has been confirmed as Australia’s leading destination for visitors seeking agritourism experiences, according to new data from Tourism Research Australia (TRA).
From the orchards of the Northern Rivers to cellar doors, distilleries and working farms, agritourism is reshaping the way visitors experience NSW.
In 2024, regional NSW attracted 32.7 per cent of domestic overnight visitors who participated in agritourism experiences in regional Australia, the highest share of any regional area in the country.
NSW also welcomed 700,000 international visitors who participated in agritourism experiences during their stay. These visitors spent a total of 15.7 million nights in the state and contributed approximately $2.5 billion to the economy.
The state took advantage of the strong growth in international agritourism to Australia. NSW saw a 12.3 per cent increase in visitors, 15.7 per cent increase in nights and 22 per cent increase in expenditure among international visitors who engaged in agritourism.
International visitors who participated in agritourism experiences during 2024 were also high value, spending on average $3,448 per trip – which was 9.1 per cent higher than the average spend by all international visitors to NSW.
Australia leads the way in truffle hunting
Among the emerging growth opportunities for the NSW agritourism sector is truffle hunting. Australia is now the world's fourth-largest truffle producer and NSW home to an extensive network of truffle farms and visitor experiences across the state.
RedGround Australia is located in the high country of Oberon in Central NSW and offers truffle hunting experiences throughout most of the year. Its truffle harvest has tripled in volume since 2022, drawing visitors from across Australia and around the globe.
RedGround Australia Director Jill O’Grady said: “It’s been an incredible 12 months for RedGround, with our business experiencing significant growth, welcoming visitors from Taiwan, Singapore, United States, Canada, Hong Kong, Germany and the United Kingdom.
“Many of these visitors stayed longer in our region, supporting local accommodation providers and businesses.
“We are grateful for Destination NSW’s support, particularly through their workshops, famils and introductions, which have been instrumental in helping us grow, refine our experiences and how we offer them.
“Agritourism is thriving and it’s exciting to see more visitors drawn to NSW to experience our exceptional produce and unique rural experiences."
