While grey nomads will have been relieved to have seen fuel prices trend downwards from their recent peak, uncertainty remains about how things will develop from here … and what impact it might have on life in the open road.
The situation in the Middle East remains confusing. With the US now blockading the Strait of Hormuz as it cranks up economic pressure on Iran, there is growing confidence in some quarters that talks will resume and a deal could be struck.
But, of course, things in the Middle East can change very quickly and any optimism could easily prove unfounded.
For travellers already anxious about fuel prices and the potential for fuel availability issues, the news that a serious fire had disrupted operations at one of Australia’s two oil refineries was not overly welcome.
Uncertainty remains, but fuel prices are down from their peak. PIC: Dozza
However, despite the severity of the blaze, it is understood that 60% of petrol production is continuing at the refinery, which supplies half of Victoria’s fuel and 10% of Australia’s.
Energy minister, Chris Bowen, sought to reassure Australians about the Corio fire.
“While this is an event that everyone would wish hadn’t happened and was really bad timing,” he said. “It really is being managed as best as it possibly can.”
While there is no immediate end in sight to the current fuel crisis and experts warn it will take some time for the situation to get back to normal even when the conflict ends and the Strait of Hormuz fully opens again, there are signs that travellers are looking on the bright side.
“Stuff happens all the time when you’re travelling so there’s no point stressing,” said one commenter in the Grey Nomad social media pages. “Our mantra is that memories aren’t made on the couch … so we’re sticking to our plans to carry on!”
Another echoed the feelings of many grey nomads.
“Cost not so much the issue as availability,” they said. “Sure, I don’t really want to spend the extra dollars but you’re a long time looking at the lid and who knows what’s in the future … if there’s fuel, we’ll absolutely be going.”
And most correspondents said they would adjust their travels rather than end them.
“We have been on the road one-and-a-half years now and are continuing,” said one. “We are now slowing it down, so instead of staying four days to a week, we are staying two weeks and then travelling short distances to another stop.”
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