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2 - 15 JULY, 2021
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Happy holidays School holidays are in full swing with the opening week bringing mild and generally sunny conditions to the Bellarine. An influx of tourists is helping to ease the pain of recent COVID-19 lockdowns. Plenty of locals are also getting out and about. On Tuesday, Voice photographer Ivan Kemp snapped Rory and Eliza Burke with McKenzie, Gabbie and Tilly Williams enjoying the mild winter sunshine at Ocean Grove main beach. ■ Out
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Tourists flock to Bellarine By Justin Flynn Tourists have flocked to caravan parks and camping grounds across the Bellarine Peninsula for the winter school holidays. With Victorians advised to avoid interstate travel due to COVID-19 outbreaks in New South Wales, Queensland, Western Australia and the Northern Territory, the Bellarine’s accommodation providers are reporting a surge in bookings. Big 4 Bellarine said it was experiencing a “very busy” two weeks. “We are fully booked up in all our units and
fully booked up with our powered sites,” a spokesperson said. “It seems like everyone who can travel is travelling.” Bellarine Bayside Holiday Parks manager Paul McConachy said the Portarlington holiday site was busy. “Our Portarlington Holiday Park is still popular even in winter,” he said. “Our cabins are filling up quickly with just a handful remaining for this coming weekend. “We have plenty of room for campers who’d like to get away last minute for a night or two. The ocean views and beaches are the drawcard for most visitors who tend to sample the many
award-winning wines from this region whilst they’re down here.” Barwon Heads Caravan Park’s cabins were “nearly booked out”, according to a spokesperson. Bells by the Beach is a pet-friendly holiday house in Ocean Grove and co-owner Jan Bell said bookings had been solid. “Our bookings have been really good,” she said. “We’ve got bookings up to the middle of August. We’re still getting lots of inquiries.” Tourism Geelong Bellarine executive director Brett Ince said coastal bookings had increased on the Bellarine for the holidays.
“There’s a pent up demand,” he said. “They (Melburnians) want to travel. They want a break.” Mr Ince said the June long weekend lockdown had a financial impact on the peninsula. “What we understand from our operators and businesses is that it certainly had a big impact not being open to Melbourne,” he said. “A lot of accommodation had a significant amount of cancellations although they picked up some regional bookings last minute when they saw an opportunity to come to Geelong and Bellarine. However, there were still restrictions on hospitality and attractions.”
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