Following travel restrictions, drought, fires and floods, Andrew Woodward explores a few of the beautiful Australian towns and regions that are waiting for your family to visit and help aid their recovery while you enjoy a little holiday time.
As Australia attempts to regain a sense of equilibrium, the most sustainable solution to rebuilding bushfire affected communities is to visit them, eat their produce and fill your bag with local goodies. Now that the only option is to holiday at home, we want to share the following regions that have as much to offer as ever.
The Blue Mountains’ tourism industry has suffered a double disaster with an estimated 80 per cent of the World Heritage-listed area affected by bushfires, followed by the coronavirus outbreak prompting mass cancellations from around the world. Despite this, the popular towns of Katoomba and Leura never closed, and all tourist attractions, hotels and infrastructure remain intact. Visiting families are still able to view incredible landmarks like The Three Sisters or Govetts Leap, explore Jenolan Caves or take part in the ultimate nature-based experience at Scenic World.
Bathurst has been hit hard by drought, with dams running dry and farmers forced to de-stock to survive. A continued stream of tourist dollars is instrumental in the battle to keep residents supplied with water. Rev-heads will relish the opportunity to cruise the Mt Panorama Motor Racing Circuit, or visit in October for the Bathurst 1000 Supercar race itself. The Australian Fossil and Mineral Museum – home to Australia’s only complete T-rex skeleton cast – is also sure to have kids roaring with delight.
Read: We explore Bathurst’s culture, history, food and regional charm
After engulfing more than 36,000 hectares around the town of Braidwood, an hour east of Canberra, fires are still burning a hole in the local economy with visitors at an all-time low. Braidwood enjoys a fascinating history – the colonial streetscapes and country pubs recalling its gold-rush past – and is home to a creative community of artists, craftspeople and designers. Learn about the town’s bushranger history at the Braidwood Museum, enjoy year-round events and join locals in the town’s cafes.
The Selwyn area suffered two heavy losses with Selwyn Snow Resort and historic Kiandra closed due to severe fire damage, but it’s off-season business as usual for the rest of Kosciuszko National Park. Go camping (or stay in heritage accommodation), scale alpine trails to Australia’s highest peak, hit mountain biking tracks or discover the 440-million-year-old limestone formations of the Yarrangobilly Caves. There’s even a naturally heated thermal pool nearby, so don’t forget your togs.
The Sapphire Coast is bursting with beaches, national parks, lagoons and rivers. Sadly, it bore the brunt of last season’s fires – particularly the towns of Cobargo and Eden, the latter losing its mill and primary source of income. The historic timbers of Tathra Wharf are standing proud, however, offering commanding bay views and world-class diving and snorkelling (keep your eyes peeled for seals, penguins and the occasional whale shark). Take a whale watching tour and learn about Eden’s whaling history at the Eden Killer Whale Museum.
The Shoalhaven comprises 170 kilometres of coastline, from Kangaroo Valley in the north to Pebbly Beach in the south. Fires burning for 74 days from each end wiped out around 499,000 hectares and destroyed more than 300 homes. After celebrating the heroic efforts of the firies and other emergency services, the locals are now doing everything they can to get back on their feet – and would love to see you drop by to stock up on local cheeses, wines and other gourmet treats at the many vineyards and cellar doors.
Spanning the Riverina towns of Junee, Coolamon and Temora, the Canola Trail comes to life in springtime when the yellow flowers are in full bloom – becoming a sea of yellow as far as the eye can see. The golden paddocks are reason enough to take a detour, but there are also historic towns and delicious foodie stops along the way.
This article originally appeared in Holidays with Kids magazine. To subscribe to the latest issue, click here.
Main image: Echo Point, Blue Mountains National Park, NSW, Australia © Shutterstock/ Ian Woolcock
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