A growing number of families are making the trip to Chambers Flat Strawberry Farm, with the long-running attraction seeing increased interest from visitors looking for a simple outdoor experience close to home.
The family-run farm has operated in Chambers Flat since 1998, but strawberry picking has become one of its biggest drawcards in recent years, attracting families from across south-east Queensland.
Owner Laura Hendriksen said opening the farm to visitors had allowed the family to share their love of farming with the wider community.
“Chambers Flat Strawberry Farm has been a family-run farm since 1998. Over the years it has continued to grow and change, and opening the farm for strawberry picking gave us a chance to share what we do with the local community,” Mrs Hendriksen said.
“It’s been lovely seeing it become somewhere families come back to each strawberry season.”
Part of the farm’s growing popularity appears to be fuelled by online recommendations, parenting blogs and social media, helping introduce the attraction to families who may never have otherwise discovered it.
Visitor Sarah Carter, who recently visited with her children and friends, said that is exactly how her family found out about the farm.
“We heard about it from a mummy blog,” Mrs Carter said.
After making the trip to Chambers Flat, she said the experience was worth the trip.
“We’re from the city so the (kids) don’t usually get to experience this,” Mrs Carter said.
“We’ve loved it. Something nice and different for the holidays.”
Recent Google Trends data also points to growing online interest in the attraction.
Searches connected to strawberry farms and strawberry picking in Chambers Flat have surged over the past month, suggesting more people are turning to the internet to find farm experiences and family-friendly day trips.
Search interest is measured on a relative scale and does not represent total search volume.
Mrs Hendriksen believes the appeal comes down to the simplicity of the experience.
“I think people love that it’s a simple, fun activity that the whole family can enjoy,” she said.
“Kids especially love finding and picking their own strawberries, and it gives families a chance to get outdoors, see where their food comes from and make some great memories together.”
During strawberry season, visitors can head into the fields to pick their own strawberries before stopping by the farm shop, which offers fresh produce and a range of treats, including the farm’s popular strawberry ice cream.
For Mrs Hendriksen, however, the most rewarding part of opening a working farm to the public has been watching families create traditions of their own.
“Definitely (one of the best parts) is seeing families enjoying the farm and making memories together,” she said.
“We love seeing how excited the kids get when they find a big strawberry, and it’s really special when families tell us they come back every year. It makes all the hard work that goes into farming worthwhile.”
While many visitors arrive for the strawberries, they are also helping put Chambers Flat on the map, with growing online interest and word-of-mouth recommendations turning the local farm into one of Logan’s increasingly popular family destinations.
*This content is part of a paid partnership with Google to promote Google Trends. It uses Google Trends data to explore interest in Chambers Flat.
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