Coronavirus: walking tours back on track as tourists return

At almost the exact moment perfect hiking weather arrived in the Margaret River region, Gene Hardy was forced to halt his coastal walking tours and close his resort.

Gene Hardy, left, and Megan Pardoe of Cape to Cape Explorer Tours at Cape Mentelle. Picture: Colin Murty

At almost the exact moment perfect hiking weather arrived in the Margaret River surf and wine ­region of Western Australia, Gene Hardy was forced to halt his popular coastal walking tours and close his resort.

Because the company is busiest in autumn and spring, Mr Hardy estimates he has lost half his ­annual turnover as a result of pandemic restrictions that effectively made it illegal for visitors to travel to Margaret River except for ­essential work. He is thrilled that the company he started 10 years ago, Cape to Cape Explorer Tours, is back in business.

There were immediate bookings last Sunday when the McGowan government announced that, after the number of coronavirus cases across the state fell to seven, regional travel restrictions would be relaxed.

West Australians are still confined to one of four large zones but Margaret River is open to visitors from Perth, 270km north, from Monday. Cafes, restaurants and pubs across the state can serve meals and drinks for up to 20 guests.

It means Mr Hardy’s 15 staff — all have been supported by JobKeeper — can return to guiding visitors along stretches of the 123km Leeuwin-Naturaliste ridge near the town of Margaret River and they can again accommodate their guests at the Surfpoint Resort.

“It has been tough but we are just so happy to be starting up again,” he said.

“The weather is still great and yesterday we saw whales. It’s beautiful.”

In the shutdown, Mr Hardy’s staff kept occupied by walking the track from Cape Leeuwin to Cape Naturaliste without guests. Mr Hardy felt this was a good idea, even for resort cleaners and caterers. “They have been walking the track together and I think it’s given everyone an intimate knowledge of the product we are selling,” Mr Hardy said.

“So when a resort worker sees a guest in the afternoon, they are going to know what kind of day the guest has had, where they have been and what they have seen.”

Margaret River is usually the most visited destination in Western Australia. The town of Margaret River has fewer than 7000 permanent residents who rely heavily on tourism.

In 2018-19, an estimated 2.9 million people went there for day trips or holidays, according to a report of the Margaret River-Busselton Tourism Association.