RV Friendly: Woodford welcomes drive tourism boost
Published 15 June 2022
Woodford will drive tourism to the region after being awarded RV Friendly Town status at the Woodford Community Council Meeting on Wednesday 15 June.
Mayor Peter Flannery and Councillor Tony Latter (Div 12) proudly unveiled the town’s two new RV welcome signs which were installed at each end of Archer Street.
Mayor Peter Flannery said this newfound status was a big win for businesses who will see a major increase in tourism dollars being spent in town at local cafés, shops and the iconic Woodford Hotel.
“Woodford is already an iconic destination of South East Queensland with many day trippers choosing to visit from Brisbane via our beautiful scenic hinterland tourist route, but this will put us on the map from a national level,” he said.
“RV owners will be able to see this nationally recognised accreditation through the Campervan and Motorhome Club of Australia (CMCA) and know that Woodford accommodates for them, which will significantly boost the economic potential for local businesses.
“There are now over 620,000 RV’s nationally, who spend an average of $770 a week each place they visit, so we’re working with our local business champions on how best to meet the needs of these travellers and maximise that potential.
“Our local tourism sector is on track to reach $1 billion with visitors looking to find new adventures on their doorstep with limited international travel over the past couple of years.
“Campervans and caravans have gained massive popularity for the convenience and mobility they offer for young families looking to take a year off and travel or the always strong grey nomads market.”
“Woodford is an easy drive and is a great base to explore the pristine local environment. It’s an alternative to going north via the Bruce Highway, notorious for its traffic and congestion.”
Woodford had to meet a certain level of requirements in order to gain RV Town Friendly accreditation, including access to low cost, low amenity parking close to the CBD. Cr Latter said they can also access water, a dump point and parking spaces for larger vehicles in the town centre, and access to groceries and fresh produce.
“Woodford’s historic wide streets are perfect for RV’s to pull into and we have all the amenities and services that RV campers need on their travels like grocers, medical services, post office and even a vet for those who travel with their pet,” he said.
“And who could go past our beautiful cafes, shops and the Woodford Hotel, which has more than 100 years of history within its walls and is a major draw card for anyone travelling through South East Queensland.
“Of course, many people would also know the iconic Woodford Folk Festival and Woodfordia site, but there are so many other reasons to visit this historic and charming place.
“For train buffs we have a narrow-gauge train museum with and impressive collection of steam, diesel and petrol locomotives.
“For nature enthusiasts we have the Mount Mee State Forest walking tracks and picnic areas - with spectacular panoramic views of Moreton Bay from the summit and much more.
“And don’t forget to check out the Windows of Woodford water tower art installation lighting up the sky each evening.
Cruice Park on Cruice Drive is free short stays of up to 20 hours and The Showgrounds at Neurum Road offers unpowered sites for $15 vehicle, per night for up to a week. A list of RV Friendly Towns can be accessed via the CMCA GeoWiki database - https://geowikix.cmca.net.au/ and the CMCA website - https://www.cmca.net.au/.