Witnessing the Australian bushfires in November and December 2019 was horrifying and it can be challenging to know what we can do to help and whether it’s safe to travel at the moment.
The world has responded with an outpouring of grief, support and donations which has been truly heart-warming during this beyond-challenging time. The good news is, there are now no bushfires affecting the East Coast, most tourist attractions are open for business and all airports are operating as normal, so keep Australia on your travel list, and help this beautiful land bounce back.
Impacts on Stray Australia
Our entire East Coast route between Sydney and Cairns (including Blue Mountains National Park) is running as normal aside from:
River Retreat
The bushfires went through Nymboida in November, the area that is home to our Strademark stop, River Retreat. They are currently acting as an emergency Crisis/Rescue Centre for the local community, who need their resources most. During this time we are staying in Yamba (a lovely small coastal town) at the YHA, while we work with the team at River Retreat to return as soon as possible, once they have been able to rebuild and are up for accepting visitors.
If you’re heading to Australia with Stray soon or are already here, please regularly check out our Service Updates page and the Tourism Australia website for updates on disruptions in your area. Currently, all East Coast departures are running as scheduled. If your departure is affected, you will be contacted directly by our reservations team with as much advance notice as possible.
We appreciate your help and understanding with this matter, our thoughts are with the local people and all the international travellers who are affected at this time.
Spread the love
Australia is one of our favourite destinations to travel. From stunning white sand beaches in Whitsundays, and lush rainforests in northern Queensland to the friendly wildlife on Magnetic Island and beyond, the beauty of this country is endless.
Now’s the time to spread the love. Here’s how:
1. Make a donation to help rebuild the Nymboida Canoe Centre (River Retreat)
Help rebuild and repair one of our Strademark stops, so that future groups whether from Stray, schools, or other communities can enjoy staying at this gem of a location.
2. Make a donation to the Port Macquarie Koala Hospital
Help save the lives of the koalas affected by the bushfires. The Port Macquarie Koala Hospital is also fundraising to establish a koala breeding program with an aim to establish a new population of koalas.
3. Make a donation to the NSW Rural Fire Service
The superheroes who have been fighting these fires and saving lives day and night need your support.
Photo: AFP
4. Make a donation to the Australian Red Cross
The Australian Red Cross is invaluable to the community. To date, they have deployed 1,285 trained staff and volunteers to support affected communities.
5. Make a Donation to the Salvation Army Disaster Appeal
The Salvation Army Emergency Services (SAES) teams are providing ongoing support from mental health support to financial assistance, housing support and more.
6. Don’t deter your travel plans
On top of this, the most supportive thing you can do is encourage people to still visit this beautiful country and support local businesses. Key tourist attractions such as Byron Bay, Fraser Island, Whitsunday Islands, Great Barrier Reef and several others remain unaffected and are welcoming visitors like you. If you still feel anxious, one of the ways you can help is by rescheduling your planned trip to a later date.
Come and experience the very best of this beautiful country because #australiaisopen!
Check out our current east coast Stray Tours and we hope to see you on the Stray bus soon!