A SURGE in tourism across South Gippsland and the Bass Coast has resulted in the highest visitor numbers to the region since COVID.
Visitor numbers have well exceeded seven hundred over summer for the Foster Visitors Information Centre and the Big4 Ingenia Holiday Park at Inverloch has been booked out since Boxing Day without a single cancellation.
“It’s been chaos but beautiful,” said Big4 Ingenia Assistant Park Manager Kathleen Ferguson.
The popular Inverloch holiday park has been at 100 per cent capacity with no vacancies from Boxing Day to the Australia Day weekend.
“Big4 Ingenia Holiday Park Inverloch has 220 sites and 62 cabins accommodating up to 3000 people in the peak of the season,” said Ms Ferguson. “This year has been a very strong summer with no noticeable effect from free camping at National Park campgrounds. People love Inverloch.”
Many families have been coming to the same campsite for many years.
“One camper has been coming to Inverloch for 60 years,” said Kathleen.
The Harman, Knox and Jensen families from Dandenong have been coming to the same camping ground for 30 years.
“We bring our grandchildren now. We’re booked for next year, we’ve never cancelled.”
“It’s been good,” said the Alger family who have been coming to Inverloch for 20 years. “No rain this year.”
Sarah, Robbo, Judy and John from St Kilda, Patterson Lakes and Phillip Island described their summer holiday at Inverloch as relaxing and friendly.
“Great fun, great food and a great location. A beautiful part of the world.”
“We always re-book the same site,” added Jodie, a regular visitor from Melbourne.
Bec, Mark, Shelley, Rachel and Adam from Newport and Korumburra met while travelling around Australia and reunited at Inverloch.
“We’ve been coming to Inverloch for 18 years,” said Shelley.
“We’ve never cancelled, even during COVID. We love it, it’s relaxed and chilled.”
Foster Visitor Centre volunteer Sue Miles says Wilsons Promontory National Park remains the number one tourist destination for South Gippsland.
“Many visitors want to know what there is for kids,” said Sue.
“Spot the Wildlife brochures are available from the Foster Visitors Centre. The kids love it.”
Foster Tourist Information Officer Louise Matthews said Agnes Falls is always popular with significant improvements undertaken by the Friends of Agnes Falls community group.
“A lot of work has been done to improve walking tracks in the reserve,” said Ms Matthews. “People also want information about the Great Southern Rail Trail.”
Local wine, cider and food are attracting large numbers of visitors.
“The view from Gurneys’ Cidery on the Fish Creek Foster Road is stunning,” said Louise.
“Take an underground tour of the cellar. A lot of effort has also been put into Port Welshpool.”
The historic Port Welshpool Long Jetty is eight hundred metres long.
“Once it was a kilometre long,” said Ms Matthews.