Queensland lockdown coincides with school holidays

Queenslanders have been here before, with the third snap lockdown this year called for 3.8 million in the Sunshine State, and it couldn’t have come at a worse time for families.

Thousands of travellers are scrambling to flee the state as the school holidays descend into chaos with much of Queensland today in the grip of another lockdown.

The Gold Coast Marathon was yesterday cancelled just four days out while some of Queensland’s other major events could also face a second wipeout in as many years.

As the state was last night plunged into lockdown, thousands of holidaymakers were agonising over whether to bunker down or head home with no telling whether the drastic measure will be extended.

They will still be required to isolate once returning home if they have been in any of the local government areas in Queensland ordered into lockdown.

Laura and Peter Yeo from Tamworth camping with daughters Millie 4, and Bella 5 at Noosa River Caravan Park are facing the prospect of spending the three-day lockdown in their tent by the Noosa River. Picture Lachie Millard

The Gold Coast Marathon, a $25 million money-spinner for the Glitter Strip economy, was yesterday cancelled for the second year in a row, as was Maryborough’s Mary Poppins Festival, while Townsville’s Supercars race and Birdsville’s iconic Big Red Bash music festival, both scheduled for early next month, are also facing an anxious wait.

The winter school holiday period is one of the busiest times of year for the Queensland tourism industry, traditionally welcoming thousands of visitors from Victoria and NSW.

However, much of that revenue will simply disappear as hordes of holidaymakers cancel bookings for hotels, flights and attractions.

While airlines have already cancelled some flights to Queensland scheduled for the coming days, Virgin added two flights from Brisbane to Melbourne late yesterday so Victorians could return home before the start of the lockdown.

Virgin, Qantas and Jetstar had already cancelled a number of flights to and from Queensland prior to yesterday’s announcement, with the number of cancellations expected to grow further.

For campers holidaying in tourist parks across the southeast, it means either riding out the lockdown in their tents or heading home.

At the Noosa River Holiday Park the Yeo family from Armidale were among the many weighing up whether to stay or go, but were ultimately leaning towards riding out the lockdown in Queensland.

In a rare ray of light, travellers already in regions unaffected by the lockdown, including the outback, Whitsundays, far north Queensland and Granite Belt are at this stage free to continue their journeys.

Originally published as Queensland lockdown coincides with school holidays