New horizons for Kiah Wilderness Tours owner Jenny Robb with Destination Southern NSW

But as anyone who knows Jenny Robb realises, retirement isn't going to be the next stop.

The tourism advocate has secured a role with Destination Southern NSW, one she is ideally suited to, as industry development manager for the Snowies and South Coast.

And in the meantime, while stepping into her new role, she's also looking after the tail end of her kayaking business and trying to ensure that somehow kayaking tours will continue in the area.

Officially Jenny and Arthur are finishing the kayaking tours at the end of April and are trying to contact anyone who has a gift card to ensure they get to use it.

"We're also in discussion about the business and we're hoping it will be relocated and will re-emerge on another waterway. We're confident that there will be kayaking tours continuing," Jenny said.

The move away from Kiah Wilderness Tours, something they both loved, wasn't an easy one though and Jenny was adamant she didn't want the area to lose that tourism package.

"That was the hardest part of the decision."

Jenny and Arthur had decided to downsize from the 65 acre property with Kiah River frontage.

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"We like to keep it looking lovely and I know we will be sad when we sell and leave it but in the process of making that decision we said 'what are we going to do about the kayaking tours'," Jenny said.

"Then we had the bushfires."

The fire came so close to the Robb's home that one of the windows cracked and they lost all their sheds, garage and garden.

The bushfires were followed by nine floods. The river is short and steep with a big, steep catchment and of course there was COVID.

"We had one (flood) in December, one in January and one in February. It was our peak season; it was just one flood too many and by then we decided we needed to do something. Climate change is real and that was factored in.

"Serendipitously I heard about the job opportunity (with Destination Southern NSW), applied and got it," Jenny said.

For Jenny the job was ideal; she is a passionate advocate for the wide area, she has always talked about opportunities in the region and encouraged people to jump out of their comfort zone and get involved.

"I'm really excited; I'm going to mentor people. If you're going to have success in the tourism business then you must be online, social and your business must be a bookable product," she said.

"I booked one of our holidays at 11pm one night on my phone. People book on a whim and mobile phone bookings far exceed desktop bookings. Being market ready is critical to business success."

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Although Jenny and Arthur started thinking about downsizing some time ago, much of the major decision-making has been in recent weeks.

"I feel very happy about how this has panned out. I can take my experience and help others get there," Jenny said.

Jenny will be working with the tourism marketing organisations in Bega Valley, Eurodoballa and the Snowies.

She says that they will stay in the area "definitely" because - despite the bushfires and the floods - "the climate is great and we're part of the community".

"This area is punching above its weight. I can't wait to get my teeth into it," Jenny said.