VISITORS from across the state and from interstate flocked to the region over the long weekend, with the influx of tourists providing a much-needed boost to local businesses.
Accommodation providers were packed out as the perfect storm of a long weekend during the school holidays provided many with the perfect excuse to travel.
The Barmera Markets on Sunday in particular attracted droves of visitors, with Barwell Avenue packed with hundreds of people perusing a number of stalls, while Lake Bonney’s foreshore was also a popular spot for tourists.
Visitor information centres across the Riverland were also busy, as travellers looked for things to do during their long-weekend getaway.
Library information manager at the Loxton and Waikerie VICs and libraries Karen Rubarth said there were plenty of first-time visitors travelling through the region.
“I think the Riverland is doing really well with visitation at the moment,” she said.
“People seem to be very happy exploring their own state.
“We are getting people who have been meaning to get to the Riverland but have never got here, and once they do they are quite blown away with what there is to offer.
“I’m hoping that will lead to repeat visitors and people who will come back again.”
Paringa Caravan Park owner Jenni Victor said the park was 100 per cent full over the long weekend and had been “fairly full” throughout the school holidays.
“We are normally very busy on the October long weekend because it is the last chance for people who work to have a break before Christmas,” she said.
“A lot of the visitors this year were new, which was really good to see… and we had a few people coming in from New South Wales as well.
“Obviously people can’t come through Mildura, but we are starting to get some people from Broken Hill and down Wentworth Road.
“Most of our occupation this week has been from the South East and people around Mount Gambier.”
Ms Victor said guests had enjoyed their stays despite “interesting weather” over the weekend.
“People are starting to get out and about, and they thought they would head somewhere warmer, but it didn’t quite work out that way,” she said.
“It was an interesting weekend weather-wise, with the heat on Saturday, the dust and rain on Sunday and now the cold, but all the guests have had a good time.”
Ms Rubarth said many accommodation providers in Loxton and Waikerie were also at or near capacity.
“We were finding it hard to direct people to accommodation in the lead-up to the long weekend because places were filling up,” she said.
“It was very busy in the town over the weekend and, fortunately, there was quite a bit going on over the weekend which gave people plenty to do.
“I think a lot of visitors were on the move to get up here straight away at the start of the school holidays last weekend.
“People are using the time that they have now to just get away and do something.”