Visitors head to the regions in huge numbers for Easter long weekend

Regional Victorian tourism operators were chock-a-block this Easter, with businesses in some areas recording their busiest period in history.

Caldermeade Farm sales director Peter Lansley says visitors are returning to the farm after what was a disastrous Easter last year during what turned into a lengthy lockdown. Picture: Chloe Smith

BUSINESS is booming once again for tourism operators across parts of regional Victoria, who have reported one of their busiest Easter long weekends in years.

From the Grampians in the west to Gippsland in the east, many accommodation providers were at full capacity, with some having to turn customers away.

It comes after a tough year when many operators suffered as a result of the coronavirus lockdowns.

Record numbers of tourists flocked to the Grampians, which Grampians Tourism chief executive Marc Sleeman said saw visitation and local spending hit “a whole new level”.

“Many business owners have advised that Easter has beaten historical trading records,” he said.

“All of the accommodation across the region has been at capacity and visitors have been dispersing and spending money across the region.”

Tourists flock to Halls Gap, pictured here in the Main Street outside the Ice Cream shop. Picture: Jason Edwards

For Halls Gap Lakeside Tourist Park owner Josephina McDonald, the Easter long weekend and school holidays had been booked out almost a year in advance.

“It’s extremely encouraging and welcoming to see all the people wanting to spend time in the Grampians — it will put the region on the map,” she said.

In Gippsland, Lakes Entrance Tourist Park owner Nance Weidemann said they had more interest from visitors than previous years, which is normally fully booked for the Easter period.

However she didn’t think the state government’s regional travel voucher initiative — which allow guests to claim back $200 when they spend $400 on accommodation, attractions or tours in country areas — had much to do with it.

“Every other year we’ve always been full, but the number of people I turned away was different,” Lakes Entrance Tourist park owner Nance Weidemann said.

“I think irrespective of the travel vouchers we’re always full.”

Meanwhile, one Mildura caravan park receptionist said she had noticed there were a few people using the vouchers however, as places across the area reported being “pretty crazy and pretty full” for the school holidays.

In the Bendigo region, City of Greater Bendigo Tourism and Major Events Manager Terry Karamaloudis said they were inundated with tourists from Melbourne.

“Seventy-nine per cent of bookings were made by people from Melbourne. We are thrilled by the turnout and the response to an amended Easter format, and the perfect weather was an added bonus,” he said.

CALDERMEADE FARM: A PIT-STOP ABOVE THE REST

LOCATED near the border of what was once Melbourne’s ring of steel, a year has certainly made all the difference for Caldermeade Farm.

The Westernport region attraction used to welcome international visitors keen for a first-hand look at the farm and Melburnians popping by for a quick coffee.

While tourists from abroad are yet to return en masse, Melburnians are making the most of the ring of steel being repealed.

Caldermeade Farm sales director Peter Lansley said Easter 2021 was a marked change from the ghostly long weekend this time last year.

“Our Easter trade was fantastic. We had some record trading days,” he said.

“We have had both day trippers and travellers heading to Phillip Island for Easter – destinations out of reach when we recall last year.”

Clare Crichton, operations manager of Caldermeade Farm, showing some of the produce in the cafe Picture: Chloe Smith

Mr Lansley said Caldermeade used 2020’s coronavirus trade restrictions to its advantage, refurbishing the site along the now-bustling South Gippsland Highway.

“The biggest impact has been the inability for international visitors to come to the cafe. Pre-COVID international tourists accounted for over 35 per cent of trade,” he said.

“During the lockdown we were able to complete a renovation at the farm which has seen a total re-landscaping and refurbishment of the cafe and investment into a farm factory that will be fully operational by June.”

Caldermeade Farm is one of several lactose-linked locales to sign up to the new Dairy Destinations initiative. The Dairy Australia promotional campaign involves eight dairy regions nationally, with individual road trip guides covering epicurean opportunities.

“The numbers of visitors in the first quarter of 2021 has exceeded our expectations,” Mr Lansley said. “The response from day trippers has been getting out and experiencing our farm tours and been very encouraging.”

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