Businesses in Warrnambool gear up for the busy summer season

Warrnambool businesses are preparing for a busier summer holidays than before the pandemic.

Warrnambool caravan parks are already booked out for summer, with businesses expecting to be busier than pre-Covid holiday periods.

Warrnambool council tourism manager Paul Thompson said the town was expecting more than 4000 people to arrive over the coming months.

“By having those people come through here to the region is those 4000 people for the weeks of January summer school holidays are enjoying all the wonderful attributes of Warrnambool,” he said.

“It’s a great destination for all the visitors coming through and it sounds like it’s going to be a summer bumper season.”

Surfside Holiday Park — the largest caravan park on the Great Ocean Rd — is already booked out for the most popular week, from Boxing Day to January 9.

Warrnambool council tourism manager Paul Thompson and Surfside Holiday Park park services coordinator Kylie McDonald are looking forward to a busier summer season than before the pandemic. Picture: Jack Colantuono

Park services coordinator Kylie McDonald said the 2022-23 summer period already had longer waiting lists for bookings than before the pandemic began.

“We’ve also got very heavy bookings for the rest of January,” she said.

Mini Golf by the Sea in Warrnambool welcomes Melburnians back to regional Victoria.

But it isn’t just the local accommodation that’s getting ready for a bumper season.

Pavilion Cafe & Bar cafe co-manager Jon Watson said they had begun hiring “as many people as we possibly can” to prepare.

“The local economy certainly has been flourishing and a lot of new shops have opened and retail and hospitality are having a really good lead up to Christmas,” he said.

“We are expecting to push out around 650 to 700 meals a day from Boxing Day onwards.”

Beach Kiosk Cafe’s Natasha O'Keeffe and Vanessa Thornton have a full house of staff prepared for the summer. Picture: Jack Colantuono.

Beach Kiosk Cafe manager Vanessa Thornton said she'd already received dozens of resumes.

“We’re just hoping there’s no Covid interruptions for this summer,” she said.

A family favourite for the past 35 years, Mini Golf By The Sea is already experiencing a boom with end-of-year parties.

Flagstaff Hill Volunteer Lorraine de Kok has stocked up the sweets store with extra supplies in preparation for the busy summer period.

“I’ve noticed a sense of energy with customers and a renewed friendship and a bit of joy,” manager Jane Holland said.

“Warrnambool is so geared up as a tourist destination and its gots a lot of activities to offer and I think Warrnambool will deliver this summer.”

Historic site Flagstaff Hill is anticipating thousands of visitors, with volunteer and candy shop owner Lorraine de Kok stocking up on extra lollies.

The heritage tourist park hosts a New Year’s Eve party which normally attacts thousands.