‘Hidden gem’: Why visitors are rediscovering Collinsville

Travel restrictions present an opportunity for the small Whitsunday town as more holiday in own backyard.

Bowen River Hotel owners Ringo (John) and Clare Ringland. The pair are starting to welcome more visitors now COVID-19 restrictions are easing. Photo: Contributed

CRUISE ships may be sitting in docks and planes are not flying as often, but these restrictions have presented an opportunity for a small Whitsunday town.

More travellers are jumping in their cars rather than jetsetting overseas and discovering the "little known secret" of Collinsville.

Collinsville visitor information and tourism officer Brett Murphy said he had started to see more people moving through town in the past couple of weeks after the borders opened to all states bar Victoria.

Visitors are travelling from around Queensland, including from Rockhampton, Mackay and Townsville, to explore their own backyard and discover Collinsville, Mr Murphy said.

"What I am finding is that people have been booked for cruises and they've hooked up their van instead," he said.

"It surprises people because they say, 'We didn't know it was there'.

"Every single person that comes here writes great things in the visitor's book.

"People come back and tell you how great the food is that they've eaten and how friendly the people are."

Collinsville visitor information and tourism officer Brett Murphy is pleased to see more people discovering Collinsville. Photo: Anna Wall

Mr Murphy said the free council RV park at Collinsville was still welcoming less than half the 40-50 vans that usually park up at this time of year.

But seeing those visitors start to roll back into town was important for Collinsville's businesses.

"Because the park is free they feel obligated to spend money in town," Mr Murphy said.

"For the businesses in town this means quite a lot because they've been waiting."

Mr Murphy said there were a few main attractions for people who made the trip to the historic town, including the Coalface Experience interactive museum, biggest solar farm in the southern hemisphere and historic Bowen River Hotel.

About 35km away from Collinsville at the Bowen River Hotel, owner Clare Ringland agreed the changes in travelling habits had meant more Queenslanders were exploring their surroundings.

Mrs Ringland said it was a positive trend to be seeing as money was being spent to keep businesses going here, rather than it being used overseas.

 

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"So many places like Airlie Beach and that sort of thing are usually solidly booked up with international tourists and backpackers," she said.

"It's certainly given the locals a chance to get into these places that are usually booked out."

Visitation had been slow to pick up again during a time that's usually busy with caravanners, but Mrs Ringland was pleased to see more people starting to get moving.

"We have the most beautiful country and especially if they get off the main tourist track there are some hidden gems out there that rival views overseas, no doubt," she said.

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"I'm getting people from the Tablelands who have never been through here before.

"A lot say they'll be back again because out here is so lovely and peaceful and of course we have music on every second Sunday, which is a great atmosphere here."

Mr Murphy said many people were so taken by the small Whitsunday town they vowed to return the following year, which hopefully means the desire to explore lesser-known areas of Queensland continues after COVID-19.

"They come in and say, 'See you next year' and some will come through here three times a year," he said.

"It's getting a real friendly feel."

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