Campbell’s Wines, Lake Hume Resort, Quest Albury: Busy long weekend a huge boost to local tourism

Businesses in the Albury-Wodonga region have experienced a record weekend, with travellers flocking to the area for Easter.

Lake Hume near Albury-Wodonga. Picture: Simon Dallinger

Thousands of eager travellers have taken advantage of the Easter long weekend to explore the Albury-Wodonga region, with businesses recording their busiest days in years.

Campbell’s Wines managing director Jane Campbell said the vineyard was “inundated” with visitors over the weekend, with their busiest Easter on record.

“We had a cap of 1000 people per day to keep within the Covid guidelines and we certainly achieved 1000 (per day),” Ms Campbell said.

“The weather was perfect with people dropping in from all over.

“There were some people from Canberra there, but mostly from Sydney and Melbourne.

“It was probably our biggest Easter to date.”

Ms Campbell said the busy Easter long weekend would have provided a boost to a lot of local businesses, which she hoped would continue throughout the school holidays.

“For all sorts of people like food catering businesses who supply restaurants and cafes, and for accommodation it would have been a big boost as well,” she said.

“We’ve still got some people around — it’s a good time to travel because the weather is great.

“I think the next two weeks will see us nice and busy which is fantastic.”

Lake Hume Resort.

Lake Hume Resort manager Sarah de Rijk said all cabins and camping spots had been booked out for the long weekend.

“It was a big relief that we could finally accommodate all these people was really good for us.

“We were very happy to see all the families get together and enjoy Easter,’’ she said.

“I think it’s safe to say it was the busiest weekend we’ve had in almost two years.”

Direct wines sales manager at All Saints Estate in Wahgunyah Kate Dousset said it was amazing to welcome everyone back to the winery, with people travelling from Melbourne, Sydney and Canberra to visit.

“Our visitation was up about 30 per cent to the estate which was very promising, a lot of our guests were staying the whole day,’’ she said

“We were at full occupancy with our accommodation — it was totally booked out, as was our hatted restaurant.

“Going into school holidays we have lots of booking as well.

“It’s so exciting to welcome everybody back after what‘s been a tough year.”

All Saints Estate winery castle.

Owner of Quest Albury Noel Wood said the town was completely booked out on Friday and Saturday, with local accommodation centres 95 per cent booked on Sunday and Monday.

Mr Wood said his hotel was completely booked out.

“We were extremely busy. It was the busiest weekend since the start of Covid,” Mr Wood said.

“We had a lot of leisure clients coming to see family and friends, and we had people who had credit with us from holidays they had to cancel last year.

“It was Christmas revisited, it was fantastic. It was like a kid in the candy store.”

Mr Wood said it was a real positive for the whole Albury-Wodonga community.

“People who are staying are going to go out and eat at the local restaurants, so it‘s a positive for the whole economy,” he said.

“The moteliers did a great job, as did all the service providers in town …

“It should really be celebrated.”

Albury Business Connect general manager Carrick Gill-Valance said the weekend would have been a “shot in the arm” for local businesses.

“It’s going to be great for the retail sector and tourism,” Mr Gill-Valance said.

“Retail will be almost euphoric I think …

“For them to have such a significant long weekend of strong trade will be fantastic.”

Mr Gill-Valance said he hoped the psychology about travelling during the pandemic would have been positively affected by the successful weekend, and kept visitors coming back.

“I think it will be a fantastic for people to see ‘hey look, we’re open for business and it’s safe to travel to Albury-Wodonga’.”