Drivers head to Birdsville to skirt NSW

Birdsville Hotel general manager Ben Fullagar said the Queensland town of about 115 people rarely had visitors over the festive season, but they recently had 73 bookings between Boxing Day and the new year.

Others are sleeping in their cars or staying at the town’s caravan park.

“It’s not tourism-based; it’s purely people trying to get home,” Mr Fullagar said.

“Not by choice, purely because it’s one of the only routes available to them to get home between Queensland, South Australia and Victoria without going through NSW.”

But Mr Fullagar said “a lot” of travellers were not prepared for the driving conditions, which required a four-wheel-drive.

“We’re very excited to have people through at this time of year, but it is a little bit of a…