A region renowned for its golden sunflowers has a new drawcard that's raking in tourists eager to learn about the industry and take social media snaps.
It's harvest time in Queensland's Goondiwindi region where 15 per cent of Australia's cotton is produced.
Stephanie Day from Wagga Wagga, about 900 kilometres away in regional New South Wales, visited Queensland's cotton fields last year.
She was invited to tour a farm and was eager to combine the educational visit with an impromptu photo shoot.
"The headers were huge and the cotton is incredible," Ms Day said.
"I loved how the clouds in the sky looked like an extension of the crop."
Southern Queensland Country Tourism Peter Homan says the use of cotton as home decor and in photography is a growing trend that's attracting new admirers.
"It just looks startling. It goes on and on forever — it's fabulous," he said.
Mr Homan likened cotton crops to the popularity of Southern Downs' sunflower fields.
"Everyone associates our region with sunflowers — those beautiful big heads full of sunshine and brightness," he said.
"But now people are starting to come to look at the cotton fields."
A boost for towns
The lure of the perfect photo alongside a cotton bush is also contributing to an increase in overnight visit expenditure, Mr Homan says.
"All our metrics are showing it's driving nowhere near the market the sunflowers are bringing, but it's an emerging market for sure," he said.
Visitors to the cotton fields aren't just Southerners seeking out Queensland's warmer winter, Mr Homan says, with overseas tourists drawn to see the crops too.
"A [Singaporean] lady the other day was saying how much the Singaporeans love to come and see the cotton crops and how much [seeing the cotton] it means to them," he said.
Goondiwindi grower Sam Coulton isn't surprised that the aesthetic of a wide-spanning cotton crop has become a sought-out photo opportunity.
"Everyone's looking for a cotton bush now and that's fine," he said.
"We've got the bushes and it's a good show and tell."
Agritourism educates visitors
A decade ago, Mr Coulton teamed up with a local caravan park to entice visitors to stay longer in the Goondiwindi region.
The idea has since evolved into a six-day-a-week operation where tourists visit several farms in the area to learn about the cotton industry.
"Over 40,000 bales come from our region … 15 per cent of Australian cotton," Mr Coulton said.
"We have to educate people about where their food and fibre comes from."
The income from the educational tours has been helpful during times of drought and the pandemic, Mr Coulton says.
"That's why we keep the tours going. No one's retiring from the toil on the farm," he said.
Tour guide Nicky Kruger says while people come for the perfect picture it is about so much more.
"It's really an education," he said.
"So many people walk out going, 'Your clothes aren't just something out of a shop, they're grown right here in Queensland.'"
Editor's Note 11/05/2023: This story has been updated to reflect the fact Ms Day was invited to attend the cotton farm on a guided tour for educational purposes.
