| 57 National network of nature-based stays Ridge Retrea at Opotiki, Bay of Plenty (top). Wai Dome O Peak at Waitomo Caves (below). Kim Bowden More than a decade on from its first off-grid stays, Canopy Camping has grown into a nationwide network of nature-based stays, many of them hosted on working farms and rural properties. For landowners, it’s become a practical way to generate additional income from parts of their property that might otherwise sit unused. When friends Liz Henderson and Sonia Minnaar launched the business in 2012, the idea was simple: make it easier to spend time away from the hustle and bustle, without the work that usually comes with it. “We both had young families and were craving time in nature - but without the hassle that often comes with traditional camping,” Liz says. “We wanted to make it easier for people to access beautiful places in nature, while offering a level of comfort that made it genuinely relaxing.” What began as a simpler take on camping has shifted towards more curated stays, with an emphasis on privacy, design and a sense of escape or “digital detox”. Today, Canopy Camping lists close to 220 stays across the country, connecting guests with private, often off-grid sites on farms, stations and rural blocks. “What hasn’t changed is the desire to reconnect with nature - but the expectations around how that looks and feels have definitely lifted,” Liz says. Bookings have been led by domestic travellers, with interest from international visitors also in the mix. Liz says patterns within that demand are obvious. “We’re seeing the strongest momentum in regions within two to three hours of major centres, which suggests more people are looking for easily accessible escapes that still feel remote and special,” she says. For farmers and rural landowners, it is creating scope to use parts of their land differently. “We’re seeing a growing number of farmers and rural landowners actively looking to diversify their income,” Liz says. “Many start with one Canopy Camping escape and, once they see the returns and how it fits alongside their existing operation, go on to add a second or even a third.” Because of the strong focus on the domestic market, the escapes tend to achieve consistent occupancy throughout the year. “That creates a relatively steady income stream RURAL SERVICES » Canopy Camping that can help smooth out the lumps of a traditional farming income,” Liz says. “For many of our hosts, it becomes a meaningful and reliable secondary income rather than just a side project.” A key part of the model is lowering the barrier to entry. Canopy Camping handles bookings, marketing and customer communication, while landowners focus on the on-site experience. “Most of the farmers we work with have no prior tourism experience, so a big part of our role is removing that barrier,” Liz says. “The goal is to make it as simple and low-friction as possible for landowners, while still allowing them to retain control over their property and how the experience is delivered.” As guest expectations rise, so does the emphasis on quality and individuality. “People are no longer just looking for a place to stay - they’re looking for an experience,” Liz says. “The most successful stays are those that feel unique and individual, rather than overly commercial.” That thinking is also shaping how the business works with its hosts, with a focus on helping landowners develop stays that feel distinctive to each property rather than “one-size-fits-all”. “Ultimately, our focus is on building a network of high-quality, nature-based stays that work just as well for landowners as they do for guests,” Liz says.
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