Happy campers return City sites fill up for holidays
CAMPING sites are quickly filling up with caravans as people start travelling ahead of the school holidays.
A Townsville City Council spokesman said there were 20 vehicles parked across the six free camping sites.
“There’s a bit of capacity there, normally we would expect them to be quite full during this period,” he said.
Rockhampton mum Shelly Armstrong, 37, said her family had just arrived in Townsville and had come to the BIG4 Holiday Park once COVID-19 restrictions eased.
“We couldn’t wait until we could get out and drive further,” she said.
“We’re keen campers, we’re always camping on school holidays.
“We love being outdoors and the kids running free, we love the parks and whatever the BIG4 offers us.”
Self-proclaimed “grey nomads” and partners Bill Lloyd and Debbie Kleczar are staying at a free camping ground at
Balgal Beach after driving up from Brisbane.
“We’re on a road trip, we love seeing new places and meeting new people,” Mr Lloyd said.
Ms Kleczar said Townsville had one of the “best free camp sites in Queensland”.
“Townsville has a lovely selection of free camping sites, normally we go to caravan parks, but there’s so much choice around here,” she said.
Mr Lloyd said they factored in how they could contribute to and support regional Queensland communities.
“We’ve always done that,” he said.
Townsville Enterprise Tourism and Events director Lisa Woolfe said the region had seen good “uptake across the caravan and camping sector”.
“School holidays are a popular time to travel throughout the region, and Queenslanders generally have a strong desire to connect with nature and make the most of our spectacular backyard, and camping and caravanning is one way to do that.
“We’re encouraging locals and visitors to get out and support our tourism operators in any way they can, and help the industry to get back up.”