Canberrans in their thousands have flocked to the NSW South Coast for the long weekend, creating a much-needed fillip for the local economy.
After the closure of the Clyde Mountain during the summer bushfires and then the long coronavirus travel restrictions, it was the first time in months that traffic jams had been seen on the intersection between the Princes Highway and the Kings Highway, just north of the Clyde River.
However, local business owners didn't mind the inconvenience at all as it signalled a return to "normality" at last.
The president of the Batemans Bay business and tourism council, Alison Miers, said the amount of people around the town "felt like Christmas".
"The roads have been absolutely chockers with traffic back and forth across the [Clyde River] bridge; it's really wonderful to see," she said.
"There's people everywhere, accommodation is strongly booked and there's suddenly a very positive feeling back in the town.
"It felt like the shutters went down on March 23 [when the coronavirus travel restrictions hit] and now they're back up again."
Ms Miers owns and operates boutique accommodation at Batemans Bay and said her phone has been running hot.
"We're only a small place but we are fully booked, and we are getting people now booking for October and November.
"The weather is a little cool but after all that's happened, I think people just want to get down here to the coast and put their feet in the sand again."
' . . . after all that's happened, I think people just want to get down here to the coast and put their feet in the sand again'
Alison Miers, president of the Batemans Bay business and tourism chamber
Local restaurants were also doing a roaring trade. Sam's Pizzeria at the Bay had to take their phone off the hook for a short while just to catch up on their Sunday night order bank.
Tracey Innes, from the Innes Boatshed fish and chippery on Clyde St, right beside the water at Batemans Bay, was up to her elbows in a batter bowl when she told The Canberra Times: "it's busy, and that's good news".
"With all the seating restrictions in place and social distancing required, plus you have to write down people's names and details if they want to sit in, it's an awkward way to run a business," she said.
"But there are lots of takeaways being ordered and people are adapting to the new arrangements.
"For a June long weekend, business is pretty good."
Modelling undertaken by Ernst and Young for the National Bushfire Recovery Agency indicated a $3.6 billion hit to areas impacted by the devastating "black summer" fires.
The Shoalhaven and the Bega Valley were the two worst-hit areas economically, with a reduction of between 40 to 70 per cent in tourism.
Coronavirus travel restrictions then compounded the economic pain for South Coast tourism. Restrictions finally lifted on June 1, but too late then for Canberrans to enjoy a long weekend holiday away.
