Australian farmland
For landowners, practitioners and property hosts

Your land.
Their next chapter.

If you work land you love and can share what you know honestly — Away will match you with experienced professionals who want exactly that. A meaningful income stream from what you're already doing.

Apply to be a Guide See how it works
$18.6B
Agritourism opportunity by 2030 (CSIRO)
2,000+
Properties in the Away network
$28K+
Average annual guide income
4.9★
Average Away guide rating
Who this is for

You don't need to run a tourism business. You just need to love what you do.

Away Guides are working people on working land. If you have knowledge, passion and a place where someone could stay and learn — that's enough to get started.

Working farmers and graziers
You run a commercial farm — livestock, grain, horticulture, mixed. You can demonstrate what real land management looks like, and that's exactly what Away guests are here for.
Land practitioners and specialists
Agronomists, regenerative consultants, horticulturalists, foresters. You have deep expertise in land-based work and want to share it with people seriously considering a change.
Farmstay and rural property owners
You have land with existing or potential accommodation. Away guests are a premium, purpose-driven cohort — not backpackers. They're professionals who want a meaningful experience.
Orchardists and food growers
Market gardens, vineyards, orchards, permaculture systems. The food growing disciplines are among the most popular with Away guests — especially those coming from urban desk-based careers.
Conservation and restoration workers
Native vegetation, revegetation, land restoration, environmental management. Guests drawn to the forestry and native veg disciplines are a growing and passionate segment.
Rural hospitality operators
You already host guests in a rural setting and want to add a purposeful, premium tier. Away Career Pivot guests are self-funding professionals — a meaningfully different cohort to general agritourism.
Australian land
The knowledge you take for granted is exactly what someone else is searching for.
Away — Career Pivot Retreats
Becoming a Guide

Straightforward from the start.

We keep the process simple so you can focus on what you do well. Away handles the matching, the logistics, and the guest experience framework — you provide the land, the knowledge and the welcome.

1
Apply and tell us about your property
A short application covering your land, your disciplines, your accommodation setup and how many guests you can host at once. Takes about 15 minutes. Away reviews every application — this is a curated network, not an open marketplace.
No fee to apply
2
We visit and list your property
An Away team member visits your property, photographs it and works with you to write the listing. We cover what guests will do, what a day looks like, what to expect from you and what they shouldn't expect. Honest listings attract the right guests.
3
Away matches guests to your property
Our onboarding flow matches professionals to properties based on their background, interests and location. You receive guest profiles before every cohort so you know who's coming and can prepare the right conversations.
4
Host a cohort — 4 to 6 guests, 4 nights
Away guests arrive on Thursday, depart Monday. You guide the days — showing them real work, real rhythms, real decisions. The evenings are often the most valuable part: honest shared meals and conversation about what this life actually involves.
$1,200–1,800 per cohort, paid within 48 hours
5
Grow at your own pace
Host as often or as seldom as suits your farm calendar. Some Guides host monthly. Others do two or three cohorts a year. Away works around your operation — never the other way around.
Earnings calculator

See what hosting could mean for your property.

Adjust the sliders to reflect your situation. These are indicative figures — your Away account manager will give you a personalised estimate when you apply.

Away Guide Earnings Calculator

Based on current Away cohort pricing and average guide parameters

Guests per cohort 6
2 guests8 guests (max exempt)
Cohorts per year 8
1 cohort24 cohorts
Accommodation provided Yes
Meals provided Yes
Existing accommodation quality
Annual guide income
$28,800
from Away cohorts only
Guide fee per cohort$1,500
Accommodation revenue$2,100
Meals revenue$600
Away platform fee (15%)−$627
Net per cohort$3,573
Net annual$28,584
Potential upside
Premium accommodation upgrade could add $12,000–18,000 annually to your income.
* Estimates only. Actual income varies by location, season, accommodation quality and demand. Away platform fee covers matching, marketing, guest support and payment processing. Earnings are subject to standard Australian tax obligations for primary producers and tourism income.
Want a personalised estimate? Talk to an Away guide manager — we'll assess your specific property, disciplines and capacity and give you a realistic projection.
Talk to a guide manager
Real guide earnings

What Away Guides are actually earning.

Across our current network of guides, this is what Away income looks like in practice — relative to guide type and hosting frequency.

Occasional host
3–4 cohorts/year · existing accommodation
$11–14K
Regular guide
6–8 cohorts/year · good accommodation
$22–32K
Active guide
10–14 cohorts/year · premium accommodation
$42–58K
High-capacity guide
16–20 cohorts/year · purpose-built infrastructure
$68–90K

These figures represent guide income only and do not include any existing farming or primary production income. Many guides report that the Away cohort income covers their entire insurance, maintenance or seasonal labour costs for the year.

Farmland at sunset
The land pays twice — once from what it produces, and once from what it teaches.
Tom Reilly — Ironbark Ridge, Away Guide since 2024
Agritourism compliance

Hosting guests on your land is easier than you think.

Every Away market has its own planning framework. Select your region to see the rules that apply to you.

Important note from Away: Compliance requirements vary by region, zone and local council. Away's guide onboarding team will help you understand exactly which pathway applies to your property. Always verify with your local authority before hosting.
Away Infrastructure Programme

Turn your land into a premium guest experience.

Away offers a range of premium accommodation and wellness infrastructure — available for purchase or lease — specifically designed for the agritourism and career pivot retreat market. Turnkey, beautiful, and engineered for rural conditions.

Premium cabin
Most popular
The Away Cabin
A purpose-built 1–2 person cabin designed for premium rural accommodation. Insulated, solar-powered, self-contained bathroom. Designed to integrate into any rural landscape without requiring council approval under exempt development.
From $38,000 purchase · installation included
For sale Finance available
Luxury glamping
Premium
The Away Tent Suite
A fully appointed luxury canvas suite — timber platform, real bed, private ensuite, wood-fire heating. No permanent footprint, no planning required. Delivers a 5-star guest experience with minimal site works.
From $22,000 purchase · fully fitted
For sale Lease available
Wellness infrastructure
New
Wellness Infrastructure Bundle
Outdoor timber bathtub, sauna pod and fire pit kit. The highest-rated additions among Away Guides for guest satisfaction. Proven to increase rebooking rates and premium pricing by 25–40%.
From $14,500 purchase · modular kit
For sale
Away Infrastructure Finance
Finance your infrastructure through Away's partner network. Repay from Away cohort income — in many cases the cabin or tent suite pays for itself within 18–24 months of hosting.
Enquire about infrastructure
From our guides

In their own words.

"I was sceptical that professionals from the city would get anything useful out of a week on a cattle property. But watching someone from banking discover that they can genuinely do this — that they'd be good at it — that's become one of the most satisfying parts of my year."
T
Tom Reilly
Ironbark Ridge, Hunter Valley NSW
12 cohorts hosted · $48K this year
"The Away team set everything up. I just host. They handle the matching, the booking, the payments and the guest prep. I talk about what I do every day — it doesn't feel like running a business. It feels like having interesting conversations with curious people."
B
Bec Nguyen
Stoneleigh Farm, Yarra Valley VIC
7 cohorts hosted · $22K this year
"I used the Away infrastructure finance to put in two tent suites. They're booked out. The income from Away cohorts this year has covered all my AgForce membership, my insurance, and the maintenance bill I'd been putting off. It's not life-changing income — but it's meaningful income."
K
Kym Walsh
Karri Ridge, Southwest WA
5 cohorts hosted · $19K this year
Common questions from guides

Things landowners ask us.

Do I need to be a registered tourism operator? +
In most cases, no. Under NSW's agritourism exempt development provisions — and similar frameworks in other states — commercial farms can host paying guests without tourism licensing if they meet the development standards. Away's guide onboarding team will help you understand what applies in your state and zone.
How many guests can I host at once? +
Under NSW exempt development rules, farm stay accommodation can include up to 8 bedrooms — typically up to 16 guests. Away cohorts are 4–6 guests by design, so most properties fit comfortably within exempt development limits. If you want to host larger groups, complying development or a DA may be required. This varies by state — Away will advise on your specific situation.
I have a hobby farm, not a commercial farm. Can I still apply? +
The agritourism exempt development pathway — and Away's programme — is designed for commercial farms. If your land is categorised as farmland by your local council, or if you have a primary production business as defined by the ATO, you likely qualify. Hobby farms and lifestyle blocks typically don't meet the eligibility requirements. If you're unsure, talk to your council or contact us — we'll give you an honest answer.
Do I need to provide accommodation? +
Not necessarily — though it significantly increases your earnings. Some Away properties have existing farm dwellings, shearers' quarters or converted outbuildings. Others use Away's infrastructure programme to add cabins or tent suites. Guests who must source their own accommodation are matched with nearby options, but the highest-rated stays always include on-site accommodation.
What insurance do I need? +
You'll need public liability insurance that covers paying guests on your property — most farm insurers offer this as a standard add-on or as an agritourism extension. Away requires a minimum of $20M public liability cover. Away also carries its own programme liability. We'll provide you with a checklist when you apply.
How is Away different from Hipcamp or Airbnb? +
Away is not a listing platform — it's a curated matching programme. Guests are career-transitioning professionals, not general travellers. The stays are structured and purposeful — guests are there to learn and explore, not just relax. Away does the marketing, matching and support, so you're not managing enquiries or listings yourself. And Away's cohort model means you know exactly who's coming and why.
What do I actually do as a guide? +
You do what you already do — and let guests join you. There's no curriculum, no lesson plan and no formal teaching required. Away guests want to work alongside you, observe real decisions and have honest conversations about the life. The best guides are candid about what's hard, not just what's good. We provide a simple structure for each day, but you run the experience.
How does tax work on my guide income? +
Away income is treated as tourism/hospitality income and is assessable under standard Australian tax law. Many guides can legitimately claim a range of deductions against this income — maintenance, insurance, depreciation on accommodation assets, etc. We recommend speaking to an accountant familiar with primary producer taxation. Away provides a clear annual income statement for each guide.
Australian landscape
Ready to start?

Your land is already doing the work.
Let it do a little more.

Applications take 15 minutes. The Away team reviews every one. If your property is a fit, we'll be in touch within 5 business days.

There is Away. For guides too.

Apply to be a Guide Talk to us first
guides@away.au · away.mba/guides