One of the Riverland’s favourite family holiday spots is today welcoming back guests for the first time in three months, signalling a milestone for tourism recovery in the region.

Discovery Parks – Lake Bonney officially reopened today after the property closed in early November in anticipation of flooding.

After closing the property, Discovery Parks constructed a levee on the lakeside of the park to protect it from floodwaters and removed 20 deluxe cabins at risk of rising water levels, moving them to higher ground.

In total, more than 220 sites and 80 cabins were closed to tourists over the peak summer holiday period, with only a handful of cabins utilised to accommodate tradespeople and contractors working in the region to support the community’s flood preparation and management works.

Lake Bonney was spared the worst of the flood impacts as it was sealed off from the Murray River in early December and levee also ensured the property remained unaffected by floodwaters. This ensured the park could be quickly brought back online without any damage.

Discovery Parks Chief Executive Officer Grant Wilckens said that with the park back open for business, the company is now looking forward to encouraging back guests to the region to bring vital economic uplift for local businesses.

“Tourism is such a driver for the Riverland economy during the summer months and it was a really tough decision for us to close over the summer peak period as we would ordinarily be 80-90 per cent full during December and January,” Mr Wilckens said.

“We really feel for the local community, including our own staff, who have been impacted. Our focus now is on supporting the regional recovery by encouraging guests back to the Riverland and sending a clear message to get out here and explore the best that the region has to offer.”

“We know that every dollar spent by a guest on accommodation injects $3 in economic benefit back to the community and local businesses need this support now more than ever.”

Tourism Minister Zoe Bettison said the reopening of the park was a significant boost for the region, and signalled a switch from the emergency response to the recovery of the areas $200 million visitor economy.

“This is such a shot in the arm for the Riverland region, and particularly for the tourism businesses in Barmera, who have been seriously impacted by a lack of visitors over the traditionally busy summer months,” she said.

“The reopening of the park sends a very strong signal that Lake Bonney is open for business and that it now the time to head up to the region, book a cabin or a site, and enjoy some quality time in the Riverland.”

Media enquiries: Brittany Harmer, Corporate Communications Manager | 0415 655 191, brittany.harmer@discoveryparks.com.au.

About G’day Group

Founded in 2004 with three caravan parks in WA, G’day Group is now Australia’s leader in regional accommodation experiences with more than 340 properties across the country.

G’day Group operates more than 90 holiday parks and resorts under the Discovery Parks and Resorts brand, with properties in iconic regional destinations, including Kings Canyon, Rottnest Island and the world famous El Questro. The Group is also home to G’day Parks, a network of 240+ independently owned, licensed parks and the G’day Rewards loyalty program, which has 260,000 paid members.

Beyond holiday parks and resorts, the Group owns Wikicamps, Australia’s largest regional travel community and the #1 paid app in the App Store with more than 300k monthly active users, as well as Bookeasy, a specialist provider of booking management systems and technology solutions to leading destination management authorities in Australia and New Zealand (operating as BookIt).

G’day Group has property assets valued at $2 billion and is on track to become a $2.5 billion business by 2026. The company is majority owned by Australian Retirement Trust and founder and CEO Grant Wilckens is a Board Director of the South Australian Tourism Commission and former Chair of the Caravan Industry Association of Australia.