Exmouth reopens after cyclone Narelle but damaged accommodation limits options for tourists

Roads and flights are now open for Exmouth holidaymakers, but tourism operators in town are limited by the closure of accommodation in town.

After cyclone Narelle unleashed significant damage to Exmouth on Friday, March 27, the town is still in recovery but open to visitors after missing out on the busy Easter trading period.

Everyone from Premier Roger Cook to small business owners in town has urged tourists not to cancel their bookings, but to postpone their holiday plans.

Jess Macbeth, from the Ningaloo Visitor Centre, said most tours in Exmouth were back up and running and locals were starting to see more foot traffic around town.

“It’s definitely starting to slowly get back to some kind of kind of normality,” she said.

Ms Macbeth said the major barrier to tourism resuming was the damage done to hotels and caravan parks, with many closed to guests indefinitely.

“We’re just really pushing, make sure you have your accommodation before coming to town,” she said.

RAC Exmouth Cape Holiday Park has closed until June, and the Ningaloo Caravan and Holiday Resort has shut until normal service can be restored.

Murray Pattison, owner of luxury tour operator Live Ningaloo, said there was a large drop in numbers at a time of year Exmouth would usually be bursting.

“We only take 10 guests, because we’re more of a higher-end operation. So traditionally, school holidays in April, I’ll have probably 30 people on a wait list . . . today I struggled to get seven paying passengers,” he said.

The limited accommodation in town was one of several issues facing tourism operators.

“The flights are limited, we’re struggling to get flights up,” Mr Pattison said.

“The roads weren’t open, so that was tough. And then people are sort of worried about the fuel crisis.”

On Sunday, the State Government announced it would activate the Premier’s natural disaster recovery fund for the first time, offering up to $20,000 to residents whose homes have been damaged.