Liz Bell
HOLIDAYMAKERS have flocked to Gippsland for the summer holidays, with thousands of tourists visiting the Wellington Shire to enjoy the region’s beautiful beaches and charming rural towns.
In Briagolong, those who have waited all year for the Blue Pool campground to reopen after upgrades were not disappointed.
The popular camp site and water hole has undergone a major transformation and now boasts designated camping sites, new toilet blocks, better car parking, undercover picnic areas, fire pits, new fencing and better drainage to help prevent erosion.
Landscaping and re-established grass areas are in keeping with the area’s natural, unspoilt environment.
The Blue Pool campground upgrade is part of Victoria’s Great Outdoors package, which included $3.3 million to improve camping and recreation sites across Gippsland.
Dozens of visitors have been stopping for a swim or picnics, while others took along tents and stayed into the New Year.
It was a bit quieter at Quarry Reserve, where the camping ground was busy, but not overflowing in the lead up to New Year’s Eve.
Briagolong General Store manager Sandra Knowles said the shop had been the stopping point for day trippers and campers since school holidays started, with lots of people picking up supplies on the way.
“It’s been pretty busy since just before Christmas, so it’s been really good,” she said.
