Australia wants you back after the fires. Here’s where to go
Melbourne (CNN) — Australia wants you to know that it’s not all blackened and charred.
The bushfires that burned millions of hectares in the southeast are still burning, but they’re fewer in number and recent storms have drenched debris that might otherwise have gone up in flames.
The fires came at the worst time of the year for local tourism operators.
The money they make over the summer school holidays keeps them in business for the rest of the year. But this year, instead of juggling reservations, they’re counting the cost of cancellations. And they desperately want tourists to come back.
One town has even made a song about it.
While Australia’s best advertising minds brainstorm their next slogan, we’ve come up with a list of places to go to aid local recovery in the hardest hit areas — Victoria and New South Wales, starting in the Australian capital, Canberra.
Canberra
Canberra wouldn’t normally be the first stop on the list for incoming international tourists, but it’ll put you in easy reach of towns recovering from the fires.
In late January, tourist attractions in the Australian capital were also “feeling the pinch” from a drop in tourism, according to Australian Capital Territory (ACT) Chief Minister Andrew Barr.
The city is filled with interesting attractions that offer great insights into Australia’s history. First, head to Parliament House, the Australian War Memorial and the National Gallery.
More than 90,000 people visit the Parkes radio telescope each year. The moving parts of the telescope weigh 1,000 tonnes, as much as two Boeing 747s.
David McClenaghan, courtesy of CSIRO
Or drive to Tidbinbilla to visit the Canberra Deep Space Communication Complex, which was instrumental in beaming back the first images of Neil Armstrong stepping onto the Moon.
You’ll find the CSIRO Parkes telescope about 300 kilometers north in NSW. Watch “The Dish” before you go.
Batemans Bay, NSW
In January, the Boat Shed fish shop would be busy with customers. This year, thousands of tourists were forced to flee in early January as the fires approached.
Hilary Whiteman/CNN
From Canberra drive 1.5 hours south to Batemans Bay. This is where you’ll find Jacob Crooke, the owner of JJ’s at The Marina, who is also an amateur lyricist.
After the fires, the restaurateur found himself humming the tune to 70s hit “Baby Come Back” and was inspired to write his own song. The title “Canberra come back,” refers to Australia’s capital city, where the town gets most of its business.
Restaurant workers took the mic, while Crooke’s “protégé”, 16-year-old fishmonger Joel Ware, edited the video in between his normal job of peeling prawns.
It now has thousands of views on YouTube.
Batemans Bay is a favorite weekend escape for locals. It sits at the point where the Clyde River meets the sea.
The river, also known by its traditional Aboriginal name of Bhundoo, is one of the purest water sources in Australia. It runs from high in the mountains, through three National Parks and 10 state forests.
Water holes along the way are popular with locals and the native platypus, which scoops food from mud at bottom of the river.
For more native animals go to the Birdland Animal Park, where you can cuddle baby wombats.
Owner David Burnett says business is the worst it’s been in his 26 years at the park.
“There are people filtering through, but nothing like normal,” he tells CNN Travel.
“We didn’t have any fire damage here in the park, but there was enormous damage to the forests around. But that will all regrow. Within three months those blackened tree trunks will be beginning to shoot green.”
Moruya
The view from a South Coast Seaplane flight over Moruya and the New South Wales coast after the fires on Sunday, January 19.
Tim Gilbo, South Coast Seaplanes
From Batemans Bay, drive south down the coast to Moruya.
There’s a local airport with regional flights to Sydney and Melbourne.
South Coast Seaplanes is back in the air, now that the smoke has cleared. The plane takes off and lands in the Moruya River — the same river used by water bombing aircraft to douse the flames.
From the air, you’ll see areas damaged by fire, lush green coastal forests and the New Zealand fur seal colony on nearby Montague Island.
Visit Moruya town center for local shops and restaurants — and some seriously good coffee at Alfresco Coffee on Church Street.
Narooma
During the New Year’s Eve fire, the Narooma Golf Club offered shelter to around 500 people. Cars and caravans were parked on the green.
Narooma Golf Club
Continue down the coast to Narooma, where local tourism guides say there’s a 98% chance of seeing a whale during peak season between May and November, when some 30,000 whales make their way along what’s known as the “Humpback Highway.”
At Narooma, the view from the cliffs along the coast is extraordinary. Head to a lookout, or play a round at Narooma Golf Club, one of Australia’s most scenic courses.
The 3rd hole is known as “Hogan’s Hole” because actor Paul Hogan, of “Crocodile Dundee” fame, once played a shot for a TV ad, hitting the ball over an ocean cliff to the top of a nearby green.
The Narooma golf course in greener times — with superb views across the ocean.
Brendan James, Golf NSW
More recently, the Narooma Golf Club offered shelter to evacuees from the nearby town of Cobargo on New Year’s Eve. About 500 people spent the night there, with some parking their caravans on the green.
“We’re just hoping that people will come back and our February will be busier than it usually is,” says Tracey Vaughan, the club’s assistant manager.
Source: cnn.com
