A number of popular bush camping areas that were closed back in March when the Covid-19 crisis really took hold are re-opening again.
For example, the Boynedale Bush Camp south of Gladstone in Queensland has begun welcoming campers again … albeit with some new Covid-safe measures in place.
Gladstone Area Water Board chief executive officer, Darren Barlow, thanked the public for its patience during the closure.
“We simply ask all visitors to practice physical and social distancing between individual camp sites, good personal hygiene including use of hand sanitiser, hand washing and covering your mouth if sneezing or coughing,” he said.
The Gladstone Observer reports that QR codes will be located on signage at the lookout and main camping areas for contact tracing purposes. Visitors will be required to check in and check out.
The Water Board will also resume daily cleaning of all shared amenities and facilities at the bush camp. It asks that visitors not attend the bush camp if they have returned from a Covid-19 hotspot in the past 14 days, have cold or flu-like symptoms, or have been in contact with a confirmed case of Covid-19 in the past 14 days.
Similarly, in New South Wales, the MidCoast Council’s designated free camping areas have re-opened with a booking system in place to ensure social distancing.
The free camping areas at Rocks Crossing on the Nowendoc River and Gloucester campsites at Gloryvale, Bretti and Copeland will now be available for campers over the summer season.
In addition, the fee-payable Barrington Reserve camp site has reopened and can be booked as usual through Barrington General Store.
“In line with recent changes to the NSW Government’s Covid-19 restrictions, we’ve been able to re-open free camping areas, with an online booking system required to ensure we meet requirements of the current public health order,” council’s Dan Aldridge said.
The online booking system can be accessed here.
Of course, as authorities race to contain the virus outbreak in Sydney’s Northern Beaches, the situation can change very quickly so all potential campers are urged to get the most up-to-date information before arriving at a campsite.
Great news. Good to hear
A good spin-off of COVID – social distancing of vans! Now we have to a legitimate reason for being able to park away from others and have some degree of privacy.