Holiday bookings are down slightly on last year, with accommodation providers pointing to the clash between the Easter long weekend and school holidays as the reason.
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For the past two years, the Easter long weekend has fallen weeks ahead of the first term school holidays, giving local accommodation providers back-to-back injections of high booking numbers.
But with the two occurring simultaneously this time around, most say they are experiencing low pre-booking numbers post-ANZAC Day.
“We’re looking pretty good for next weekend, being the Easter long weekend; all of our cabins are already booked,” Twofold Bay Beach Resort assistant manager Sue Orr said.
“We’ve still got a few sites available, but we’re actually very quiet after the following weekend.”
Eden Tourist Park manager Dianna Donohue agreed, but the Garden of Eden Caravan Park is bucking the trend, with manager Tammy O’Malley pleased to report strong numbers for the ANZAC Day weekend.
However, she conceded that bookings are “a bit all over the place” and are down on last year.
“Out of the 17 cabins, we’ve only got two or three left for next weekend,” Tammy said.
“We’ve got a number of site bookings coming in and staying for two or three days, so not any great length of time, and with Victoria already on holidays and NSW being a bit later, it’s a bit all over the place.
“A lot of people are booked in for the following weekend (ANZAC Day), and are coming a few days early and staying until the 26th, so they must be taking a few days off around the public holidays.”
While the weather forecast over the long weekends is not yet known, Eden Visitor Information Centre manager Shannon Woloshyn assured potential visitors that there is no shortage of wet weather activities in the town.
The Sapphire Coast Marine Discovery Centre is running a variety of holiday activities including Rocky Shore Rambles, which explore the diversity of creatures found on our rock platforms, snorkel tours, and fish feeding until April 26.
Shannon also pointed to the award-winning Eden Killer Whale Museum, a must-see destination, and had several more recommendations.
“Mary MacKillop Hall is a great visit, and of course there is Art on Imlay as well,” she said.
“We also recommend a treatment at Eden Spa & Beauty and a trip to Annie’s Bargain Basement; you could get lost for hours in there just exploring.
“A walk in the rainforest or a swim, if it’s only light rain, can be nice, and then there’s also the opportunity to spend the day at one of our lovely cafés like Sprout or Wharfside, and heading to one of our exciting clubs or pubs in the evening.
“You definitely can’t run out of things to do in Eden.”
