Towns along the New South Wales' South Coast are holding their breath to see whether the Easter weekend signals a return to normal trade after a biblical few years of natural disasters and the pandemic.
But while some businesses are already booked out, others say they are concerned high fuel prices, COVID infections and the soggy weather will keep travellers away.
The Innes Family Boatshed on the main street of Batemans Bay sells fresh fish and takeaway food.
Owner Tracey Innes said the Easter weekend was typically the busiest time of the year, and while they were hopeful it would pick up soon, so far trade had not bounced back to pre-pandemic levels.
"We are certainly quieter at this point than we would normally expect to be," she said.
She fears the poor weather and high fuel prices are a likely deterrent for travellers from Sydney or Canberra.
The family business lost hundreds of thousands of dollars worth of trade during the Black Summer fires in 2019–20.
They were then hit by the pandemic, and more recently, flooding along the Clyde River.
It's a similar story up the road at the Nelligen Caravan Park, a few kilometres out of Batemans Bay.
Manager Tod Sutherland said while there had been some demand, there had also been a number of cancellations due to COVID infections and isolation, and some sites couldn't be used because they were still too wet.
"We've had to cancel about 30 sites," he said.
"It's not as busy as it should be.
"It's not only just us, it impacts the surrounding businesses as well."
Hope of a return to 'normal'
Nearly 200 kilometres south, the town of Eden has hopes for a sold-out show.
The town has missed out on its fair share of peak tourist seasons since the summer of 2019, due to bushfires and pandemic-irelated restrictions.
But this Easter was expected to be one of the best on record, according to Garden of Eden caravan park manager Lyn Carlson.
"But everyone is coming for a longer time … they're spreading it out over the two weeks of the school holidays."
Ms Carlson said while COVID-related cancellations continue to trickle in, most vacancies are scooped up.
While there is also potential for her to take bookings for 18 additional camp sites on an overflow property adjacent to the park, the recent wet weather has made the land too boggy for guests.
Regardless, there is hope this season will be a significant boost for the area.
"We've been here for six years and this will be the best Easter ever," Ms Carlson said.
"It just gives you a bit of hope that things are nearly back to normal."
