RV travellers join Empty Esky campaign

Aussies are a pretty charitable bunch -- usually happy to fork out for those in need, whether it's a neighbour down on their luck or country types struggling after a national disaster.

So it was back in January, after bushfires swept through towns and popular tourist regions, leaving many lives, homes and businesses in disarray.

Many dug deep, with millions donated to charities, while social media campaigns like the clever Empty Esky initiative inspired people to hop in the car or RV and spend some money at struggling, bushfire-affected businesses that rely heavily on tourists...

It hasn't always been easy though, with COVID-19 restrictions hampering many travel plans since March.

After helping raise money for bushfire-affected wildlife, Drouin, Victoria resident Kirstie Wellington and her young family have had their various Empty Esky caravanning plans thwarted over the past few months.

“We've been trying to finish our Empty Esky trip since March and obviously have been restricted by COVID-19 both times we've attempted it," she explained.

"I actually used my sewing business (I make decorative koala cushions) to raise money for the wildlife affected... but then wanted to do more to help support the economies of the communities so we planned a trip as well.

"It started off in March with us diverting our Noosa trip up for a wedding, back down the NSW coast and back into Victoria to visit all the bushfire affected areas.

"We drove the entire coast one day and for about four or five hours from NSW in Victoria all we saw was burnt bush and homes that had been burnt to the ground. I remember at one point getting out at a rest stop and we couldn't even hear the birds.

"We stopped at Merimbula initially staying at the Merimbula Beach Holiday Resort and visited the local attractions around there such as Magic Mountain, the Waterfront Cafe and went into Tathra to the Tathra Hotel where we had the best feed we've ever had at a pub. The view was also amazing," she said.

"And then a day or so later Victoria was going into lockdown so we had to get back across the border and head home."

With the Victorian/NSW border closing, Kirstie had to cancel a planned trip to Tathra Beach Caravan Park over the school holidays, heading to Mallacoota in Victoria's south-east corner instead before further restrictions put an end to that.

"It was heartbreaking driving in there seeing how close some homes had come and how many had been destroyed as well," she said.

"On our way we stopped at Cann River and had a coffee at Relics Cafe while the kids played at the park.

"In Mallacoota we stayed at Mallacoota Foreshore Caravan Park and hired kayaks from David at Mallacoota Hire boats who was lovely.

"We had breakfast and heaps of coffees at the Croajingolong Cafe and went to the Mallacoota Hotel for dinner one night too. We also bought all our food and beers from the local Foodworks.

"COVID-19 struck again this week so instead of staying longer or visiting surrounding towns we had to come home to Gippsland.

"We did however stop a night in Lakes Entrance having lunch at the local bakery and staying at the Rec Reserve," she said.

While frustrated, Kirstie is keen to resume her tour of bushfire-affected towns once the latest COVID-19 restrictions are lifted in Victoria.

"We will definitely be going back eventually to continue our Empty Esky trip and looking at ways we can help to support spreading the word about the lovely local businesses we went to," she said.

Caravan housing for bushfire victims

Tough times for Australian RV industry