That’s the expert opinion of Echuca’s Aussie Outback Store owner/manager Adrian Flett, who has been watching on as his clients ready themselves for departure since the green flag was waved from the western and northern states.
The uncertainty, and often unavailability due to COVID-19 restrictions, of outback destinations such as Broome, Esperance, Alice Springs, Darwin and Far North Queensland to travellers has meant Echuca-Moama adventurers have been patiently awaiting the winter months.
Mr Flett established his store online in 2018 and now operates from a Hare St location, providing customers with 4x4, caravan, camping equipment and much more.
He told The Riv that with a heavy reduction in overseas travel, there was increased interest in people experiencing what the Australian outback had to offer.
“A lot are heading over west, being the last state to open its borders,” he said.
“Most people have been determined to go. They refuse to cancel trips, they just postpone and they are ready to go now,” Mr Flett said.
He said most people who were planning an adventure "did a lap“ (of Australia).
For those deciding to travel in the southern states, he said it was coming into the time of year when the Aussie Outback Store sold a lot of diesel heaters for caravans.
“Caravan operators can run the heating unit off a 12-volt set-up. They are a real speciality of the company,” he said.
“They don’t have to be plugged into power. People can be on the river or off-grid completely.”
Mr Flett said during busy times, such as Easter, it was difficult for people to get a caravan park booking.
“When it is a busy period, you can’t always get into a caravan park,” he said.
“We stock pretty much everything that people need to survive and enjoy their trips that can operate on 12-volt batteries — fans, ovens, heaters, almost everything.”
He said it allowed people to be self-sufficient.
Mr Flett works at the Echuca store along with outdoor specialists Lachie Francis and Greg Humphrey.
He said his own travels had been put on hold because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
“We haven’t been anywhere since June last year. Hopefully we will get across to WA this year,” Mr Flett said.
“Like so many others, the van is packed and ready to go.”
Mr Flett said people should be looking at mosquito repellent — Bushman, to be precise — for protection at Easter.
And the store has just started stocking fishing tackle and scrub worms.
“Over Easter, we will be closing on Good Friday only, so people can access the store on Saturday, Sunday or Monday for those things that they forget to pack,” Mr Flett said.
