Tens of thousands of grey nomads are now back on the open road, adjusting to the new normal of having to take a ‘Little Lap’ rather than the big one many had planned.
For the most part though, they are just grateful they can travel at all … and optimistic we are moving in the right direction.
While there have been false dawns before, notably before the second wave caused such heartache in Victoria, there is real hope that borders will continue to open.
While Melbourne residents in particular will face travel restrictions for some time to come, the overall picture is getting much more rosy.
The NT Government has just announced that people living in almost all of regional Victoria will be able to travel freely to the Northern Territory from November 2 if coronavirus cases remain low. A hotspot declaration for Greater Sydney is due to be lifted on Friday.
Queensland has also unveiled its new Covid-safe roadmap indicating it may open its border with NSW on November 1.
Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk says that, if Australia’s most populous state doesn’t have any community transmission for 28 days, she will consider the ‘possibility’ of the border opening at the end of the month.
Similarly, the Tasmanian Government has indicated it will open its borders to low-risk jurisdictions – South Australia, Western Australia, Northern Territory, Queensland, the ACT and possibly NSW – on October 26.
It’s a different story in the west though, with WA borders set to remain closed. Premier Mark McGowan says that will remain the case until all the eastern states go 28 days with no community spread. And he has ruled out opening borders to South Australia and the Northern Territory in some sort of limited travel bubble, despite the fact neither is seeing active coronavirus cases.
While the situation remains volatile, grey nomads are adapting and finding ways to follow their dreams … even in a more limited way.
“We aren’t doing this trip anything like we had originally planned but I’m not complaining,” said Cynthia Kay. “As far as I’m concerned a little Lap is much better than no lap at all … and I think most grey nomads know how relatively lucky we have been.”
For the latest travel restriction news for each jurisdiction, click on relevant state or territory: ACT ; NSW ; NT ; QLD ; SA ; TAS ; WA
No we havent been doing a little lap. As Tasmanians we are Stuck here in Tas even though our borders are opening up to most states at the end of October .Unfortunately until Vic gets its act together we can’t drive through Melbourne. Perhaps it’s time to look into taking the Spirit of Tasmania to another state for a while. Or providing escorts to ensure drivers don’t stop in Melbourne lockdown areas. First winter we have spent in Tas for four years, appreciate it’s been reasonably safe Covid wise but we forgot how cold it is here in winter.
No we can’t do any sort of lap, living on the Mornington Peninsula which has been relatively Covid free, but still classified as “Metropolitan” we have been locked away since March..,,..the previous comment said they hadn’t spent a winter in their State for 4 years….it’s been 12 for us. Hate being castigated by all other States as Leper’s….so sad we are still Australian you know and feel the hurt!
We have been fortunate to be able to have a fairly large “little lap”.
We are Queenslanders and started out from Sunshine Coast on June 21, travelling through West Queenland and crossing into NT from Camooweal on day they opened to Qld, July 17. We then went north through Katherine, Litchfield National Park, Darwin and Kakadu.
Plans were to travel down through WA but of course borders did not open so we travelled South through Alice Springs, Uluru and then into South Australia, visiting Coober Pedy and Andamooka. Then continued down Stuart Highway towards Port Augusta. Had planned to turn North East towards Flinders Ranges but due to forecast rain continued South to Yorke Peninsula and are now on Eyre Peninsula. At moment only path back to Queensland is back up through NT but if NSW/Qld border opens we will be able to head back that way.
We have experienced a great trip, with very quiet roads and campsites. Nice for us but not good for businesses who are doing it tough with the low numbers of travellers.
After the restrictions were lifted and we first travelled the journey was kept close to home so to speak as we did not know what tomorrow would bring… The campsites and parks were quiet and the roads empty except for trucks… Were we doing the right thing ? We have been out there a couple of times now doing the wildflower wander and have seen so much change as far as the amount of new adventurers .. Some of the inland shires did not grade the edges of the roads this year and the wildflowers are up to the bitumen. just stunning… So that I can enjoy the serenity I do the gravel back roads between the major roads and just wander along at a comfortable speed… This year has seen so much change with the amount of people that are getting out there and enjoying our own state that camping spots and caravan parks are booking out fast in popular coastal haunts and also inland areas that have any water near them .. With the confidence that we now have in travelling the circles are getting bigger and better..