Resort’s wheels help travel plans
WHEN Patrick and Jennifer Mackenzie retired five years ago, they imagined their future would be filled with travel.
And while Covid-19 has put a temporary halt on interstate travel, it hasn’t stopped the pair from setting their sights on Queensland this year.
Easing the pressure financially and during peak season, the couple was the first to try a new initiative launched by over-50s resort Gemlife in Highfields.
Offering residents an opportunity to hire luxury motorhomes for a third of the standard market rate, Mr and Mrs Mackenzie were the first to try Gemlife’s new experience.
“Even though we could have taken our own food, most of the time we ate in a hotel or cafe and were happy to support local towns in that way,” Mr Mackenzie said.
“In Charleville there was a sign outside a cafe saying ‘thank you to all the travellers’ and that was pretty cool, because we felt like we were helping by being there.”
Travelling 2500km over two weeks, the couple visited St George, Cunnamulla, Charleville and Roma and made sure to invest in small towns along the way.
And with lockdown and isolation impacting many families across the country, the initiative has come at no better time.
“We’re very lucky because our family lives in Queensland, so we haven’t been separated much,” Mrs Mackenzie said.
“But (for other residents), some of their children and grandchildren live interstate, and it has been quite a difficult time, so being able to travel around Queensland would help take their mind off things.”
When borders reopen, the couple’s next bucket-list destination in Tasmania.
The Jayco Conquest DX motorhome is available for residents to hire exclusively, from $130 per night.
Most of the time we ate in a hotel or cafe and were happy to support local towns in that way, PATRICK MACKENZIE