SUMMER school holidays and the promise of warm weather have prompted an influx of visitors at Port MacDonnell this festive season.
The Foreshore Tourist Park, also known as the Woolwash Caravan Park, is popular not only with interstate visitors, but also Mount Gambier residents looking for a beach escape close to home.
Manager Glen Fosse said the caravan park was at capacity and had been booked out between Christmas and New Year’s Eve for months in advance.
“The phone is still ringing off the hook with people hoping for a last minute camping site, but we are at capacity,” Mr Fosse told The Border Watch.
“We are booked out fully over Christmas and New Year’s Eve, without fail, every year.”
He said the park was popular with families given its location on the foreshore.
“Kids can walk or ride their bikes to the beach without crossing any roads,” Mr Fosse said.
“Port MacDonnell as a destination is becoming more popular every year.”
Jill and Graham Wilson are among a number of Mount Gambier residents who call the park home for a few months during summer.
“We have been here two weeks so far and will probably stay another couple of months,” Mr Wilson said.
“If the weather is no good we head back to the Mount for a night or two until it clears up again.
“It’s peaceful here and right on the beach – we stay for up to three months in summer if we are not travelling elsewhere, so about every three years.”
The Dickins family of Yarra Valley visited Port MacDonnell for the first time last week.
“This is our first day here and we are loving it so far,” Mr Dickins said.
“We are staying for a week to celebrate our son Finley’s birthday tomorrow.
“The weather is great today and the kids are stoked to be so close to the beach.”
Elise, Finley and Charlie Dickins explored the park on their bikes before a family bike ride into town.
Numbers will likely swell at the bay this weekend as temperatures soar to a predicted 39 degrees on Saturday.
