Holiday rush: Reflections Holiday Park at Lake Keepit enjoys influx of bookings for 2021 October long weekend

Reflections Holiday Park at Lake Keepit is "pretty much booked out" across the three-day break with more than 2000 lake-goers expected to hit up the popular recreation centre.

Manager Leith Smith said the school holidays have been "very busy" with locals looking to escape town for a weekend getaway.

"Most of our cabins and sites on the main part of the park have been booked out for the last two weeks," he told the Leader.

While there are still a handful of bush camping sites sup for grabs, he said if the weather was a bit better they'd be booked out too.

"It's the most bookings we've had since Easter, the October long weekend is usually quite busy but now that we've got water back in the dam it's definitely been a lot busier, just even the last couple of weekends have been crazy, but good crazy," Mr Smith said.

"Just to see people with smiles on their faces again is great out here.

"Every second car has either got a speed boat, a wake boat or a jet ski on the back of it, so they've all just been waiting for the water come back and we're sitting at 98 per cent now so if we can just get rid of this wind it will be a fantastic weekend."

Staff at the dam have been busy preparing for the influx of visitors, with the recent rain and sunshine meaning there's plenty more ground maintenance to be done.

"We're trying to keep everything neat and tidy and ready for the masses of people to turn up," he said.

"But after the long weekend we'll have a little bit of a rest then ramp it back up for Christmas time."

READ ALSO:

With the NRL grand final kicking off on big screens across local venues this Sunday, and the return of live music, pubs and clubs are expecting a big weekend also.

Tamworth council's tourism officer Eleanor Pengilley said the Tamworth Visitor Information Centre at the Big Golden Guitar is open and ready to welcome visitors this long weekend.

She anticipates "an influx of visitors" at the end of October when the state hits its 80 per cent double vaccination target and further restrictions are eased.

"Council is planning for the return of visitors with the return of events in late October, November and December," she said.

"The Capitol Theatre has a full schedule throughout November with postponed shows from the last few months and the AELEC is welcoming back events too."

Council is also planning a series of small events leading up to the Lighting of the Christmas tree event in early December.

Our journalists work hard to provide local, up-to-date news to the community. This is how you can continue to access our trusted content: