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As if soaring fuel prices were not giving grey nomads enough grief with their travel plans, travellers in the north-west of Australia are also having to contend with the severe weather as well.
Wayne and Lyn Krause set off from Townsville in early March while many roadtrippers have been delaying their journeys, which has caused some caravan parks to lose revenue thanks to cancellations.
When they hit the road towards Western Australia, it was immediately obvious that they were one of the few who had persisted with their driving plans.
"We were going half an hour without seeing any travellers, we'd see a truck or a road train but to actually see a traveller like us they were very few and far between," Mr Krause said.
"We travelled the top half of Australia for four years and it reminds us of when COVID hit and there was just no one on the road, that has been really noticeable."
The Senior has received correspondence from multiple sources saying that they have cancelled their Australian road-trip travel plans due to the fuel crisis.
It comes as a recent survey from Reflections Holidays revealed if the price of fuel tipped $3 per litre, travellers would consider changing their plans, with almost two thirds saying they will choose to holiday closer to home.
The member survey involving almost 9000 people found less than five per cent were looking to delay their plans due to the current fuel situation, but that would change for most if fuel prices soared further.
Diesel prices along the road have been high, like they expected.
However, Mr and Mrs Krause have not seen any evidence of fuel shortages, but have still been taking a cautious approach to refuelling and recommend it to anyone who is hitting the road long-term.
Mr Krause said they had been filling up at every service station they came across to be safe, estimating between every 200-300km.
"But everyone's got fuel and there were heaps of fuel tankers coming up the highway delivering fuel up into Kununurra and anywhere north of Perth," he said.
The Queensland couple were never going to delay their travel plans as they had to be in Western Australia for another planned holiday.
But that is not to say they have been frivolous in their spending.
In fact, as soon as the conflict in the Middle East re-ignited they were quick to act to ensure they weren't stung at the bowser.
"We've seen this happen before that as soon as there's a war break out, fuel prices go up, so we went and filled up our van and the jerrycans before we even left home," he said.
"When we travel, especially if you're on the road, you have to prior plan and then you're going to be able to adjust your plans accordingly - nothing ever really runs smooth."
And it has not been an easy journey, having to contend with roads damaged by flooding, closed bridges and tropical cyclone Narelle tracking west alongside the couple.
"She's followed us all the way from Townsville across to Exmouth," he said.
"We got stuck in Katherine for two days because a bridge on the road from Katherine to Kununurra had been severely damaged by flood waters.
"They were only allowing essential services to go across the road and then we finally got the opportunity to leave.
"The reason for that I'm not sure, but I dare say with the oncoming cyclone they didn't want to have the hassle of having more people in town than they needed to."
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Peter
Yvonne Perkins
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