Tamworth tourism industry breathes sigh of relief as travellers flock to the region ahead of a busy summer

After what has been an unthinkable two years for tourism operators everywhere, Lake Keepit's Reflections Holiday Park manager Leith Smith said he was delighted to welcome crowds back.

"You feel the whole industry just have a big sigh of relief," he said.

"It was one thing after another, we had record droughts, and then bushfires, and then floods, and then mice, and then COVID."

Since lockdown eased across the state, Mr Smith said it had been the busiest time in nearly three years.

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"It was a scary time there for a long time," he said.

"To see it open up and people being so keen to get out of their house and out of their towns and cities and visit these regional areas is pretty special."

Adding another reason to smile, the water level at Keepit Dam is sitting at 99.9 per cent, the highest it's been in almost a decade.

"The dam is thriving here at the moment," Mr Smith said.

"Our sites are on the waterline now."

Mr Smith said both old regulars, locals and people from across the region and coast had been dusting off their powerboats, jet skis and wakeboards to get back on the water.

"People are leaving their boats in the water and tying it up to the unpowered sites and then they just step out of the tent in the morning straight into the boat and they're gone," he said.

"Our slide pontoon is also ready and raring to go with the great water conditions."

Mr Smith said with the dam almost full to the brim, both tourists and animals were re-appearing to enjoy the park.

"It's a pretty special place at the moment which of course in turn brings all the wildlife in," he said.

"We've got swans and stuff everywhere and they're all having babies."

Mr Smith said near perfect conditions had also attracted wedge tailed eagles, white-breasted sea eagles, and the park's resident rare albino kangaroo Wally.

"Only one in 50,000-100,000 kangaroos are albino or white so it is an absolute privilege for our guests to be able to see him here," he said.

With summer being their busiest time of year, Mr Smith said it was vital to call up and make a booking to avoid missing out.

"Summer is already incredibly busy," he said

"We're squeezing people in here and there.

"Christmas is pretty much booked out, New Years is booked out."

Mr Smith said Reflections Holiday Park would be offering a 20 per cent discount for all stays of two nights or more in their powered and unpowered sites until December 9.

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