Country tourists escape to the country

TOURISTS from across regional Victoria have flooded Sunraysia to enjoy freedom from lockdown.

While metropolitan Melbourne remains under tight restrictions, All Season’s Holiday Park owner Jodie Bromley said there had been an influx of families at the park from all other corners of the state.

“We opened last Friday and are now 98 per cent full,” she said.

“The phone started ringing on the Thursday after the announcement and by Monday we were at really high capacity.

“This weekend we’re absolutely chockers.”

Warrnambool family Edda and Campbell Tomson and their children Kira, Liv and Jonah were visiting Mildura for the first time.

They said it was great to explore regional Victoria after being forced to cancel a trip to Germany in June.

“We love travelling and we usually went overseas once a year and travelled in Australia annually as well,” Ms Tomson said.

“To get out here and see something different after learning from home and seeing all the household things you see everyday, it’s been great.

“We’re trying to do something once a day, so we went to Red Cliffs and we’ve been to Woodsies Gem Shop, which was just beautiful.”

Mr Tomson said lockdown had made them appreciate their ability to “see their backyard”.

“You don’t take it for granted anymore,” he said.

“But I think we’re pretty lucky being regional anyway.”