Clare Valley ready for visitors and needs you to come back
They had to dump some of their major events this year, but Clare Valley businesses are finally able to reopen – and are hoping for a big influx of visitors this long weekend.
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Clare Valley businesses are breathing a sigh of relief they can welcome back visitors with open arms this long weekend, after missing out on some of their major events this year.
The Clare Easter Races had to be abandoned due to coronavirus restrictions, while the region’s drawcard Gourmet Weekend went to an online format.
Clare Valley and Southern Flinders regional tourism manager Mim Ward said operators were looking forward to visitors returning.
“It’s been really hard throughout our region, with everything coming to a halt,” she said. “Pubs could only do takeaways, people couldn’t visit our tourist attractions, such as Martindale Hall, and while accommodation didn’t have to close, everything fell flat for them.
“We also had a couple of cafes that had just opened up in Clare’s main street at the beginning (of restrictions).”
Ms Ward said the region’s businesses were adaptive and worked hard to ensure they could still cater for the needs of locals.
“Restrictions hit in the peak of our tourism season,” she said. “Easter in particular is huge for us. Businesses are now pulling out all the stops to make sure everything is ready to welcome people back.”
Paul Longbottom and his wife, Kate Shadiac, have owned the Sevenhill Hotel near Clare for the past seven years.
Mr Longbottom said the business pivoted quickly once restrictions came into place.
“We found out we were being shut down on a Sunday night and by 5.30pm the next day we had an online app ready to go for takeaways,” he said.
The Sevenhill Hotel ran a range of promotions during the lockdown, from wine lotto to date-night packs.
“We had fantastic community support, they really got behind us,’ Mr Longbottom said.
“We even had customers offer us money to set up an account to spend when we reopened.
“But it was still tough, especially with Easter being one of our busiest times.
“We were doing about 20 per cent of the trade we normally would – at a time that usually would have been above average. It’s also a time we bank away funds to get through the winter months.”
Mr Longbottom said there had been plenty of interest in visiting the Clare Valley this long weekend.
“Clare has never been easier to get to, with the Northern Connector opening up,” he said. “One good thing about the quiet time, I got the chance to do more exploring in my own backyard and we really do have such a beautiful region.”
New walking trails link up reservoirs to fish, cycle and kayak
Exploring the native bushland of the Barossa region has been made possible this long weekend, thanks to a network of new trails opening from Thursday.
A new 9.5km trail will connect the South Para and Warren reservoirs, providing opportunities for people to cycle, kayak and fish – with the required fishing permit.
There is also a separate trail linking the South Para Reservoir to Williamstown. Environment Minister David Speirs said the new trails added another element to adventure tourism in the state.
The trails support the State Government’s policy to open South Australian reservoirs for recreation.
“The beauty of the new trails is it allows people to run or hike between two of the state’s prominent reservoirs while also providing connection to camping grounds in the nearby Mt Crawford Forest or Para Wirra Conservation Park,” Mr Speirs said.
He said more adventurous hikers can experience the Warren Loop trail which connects to a challenging 20km trek winding through Mt Crawford Forest, South Para Reservoir and Para Wirra.
“Providing improved access trails in time for the long weekend will encourage more South Australians to pack the car and hit the great outdoors supporting our regional economies,” Mr Speirs said.
A historic clipper ship, at Port Adelaide, will also reopen for self-guided tours from Saturday after being closed to the public for two months due to COVID-19 restrictions.
A maximum of 20 visitors are allowed on the 1864 City of Adelaide ship at any one time.
The ship will be open from 10am to 3pm daily, at Dock 2, Honey St.
– Dixie Sulda