Domestic Travel is still our Friend during a Pandemic

There’s one thing that’s clear as Melbourne emerges from lockdowns and restrictions. Domestic travel is definitely our friend. In fact, it’s our old friend.

Remember when you were a child, your parents would pack you up in the back of the car and hit the road for a few days? These experiences were our toe-dip into the world of travel. Our childhood journeys would show us the potential of how far we could explore our world and what beauty would lie in waiting for us. If you’re like me, those childhood trips would help us to understand the importance of travel in our lives.

Though, once the COVID-19 pandemic hit, all travel stopped. Travel stopped as quickly as switching off a light. One day it was there and available to us, then the next it was gone.

Melburnians are allowed to travel domestically again; for now, anyway. So, why is domestic travel still our friend; a crucial friend while COVID-19 lingers?

We can get back to our true home in nature

In our busy lives, we easily forget that we’re a part of nature and made from nature. Our working lives disconnect us from our primal instincts and remove us from the cycle of nature. When we deny our ‘nature’ we feel depleted, tired and exhausted. Every time I return to nature, I gradually become rejuvenated and awake. Whether it’s a hike for a couple of hours near home or a couple of days away on a camping trip, we immediately feel the benefits of the fresh air in our lungs and the sun on our skin.

We don’t have to travel far to feel like we’re on holiday

Last weekend, I spent two days in the Macedon Ranges which is less than a two hours’ drive from where I live. So, therein lays the beauty of domestic travel. It is easily accessible to all of us, no matter where we live in our cities. Also, we don’t always have to drive. We can take regional public transport or our bikes and travel as close or as far from home as we can. How exciting is it when we get even 20 or 50 kilometres from home in a direction we haven’t explored before? We still feel like we’re travelling into the unknown.

There are new destinations to explore

Victoria is a small state, but there are a lot of places I haven’t yet explored. Domestic travel is our chance to explore those areas we’ve never visited. Travelling to a new place in my home-state also reminds me of those childhood roadtrips. You knew what the destination was called, but you didn’t know what would lie ahead. Therefore, domestic travel still opens your eyes to new destinations and new experiences that are native to the region you’re visiting.

We can support those local businesses that are doing it tough

Don’t get me wrong. People are still wary about travelling too far in these early days of slowly getting back into the world. However, when we do build the courage to travel domestically, we can make a difference to the communities we’re travelling to. We can still research the vegan options at the destination we’ve chosen and choose to spend some money locally. We can show businesses that we’re keen to support them and help them get back on their feet with our patronage. It’s a long road to recovery for some businesses, but we can contribute and we can help to accelerate the recovery effort.

In an emergency or a sudden lockdown, we can always turn back

My parents decided to travel to the Victorian/New South Wales border for a short roadtrip. They needed to get out on the road and take a break; get back to nature. On New Year’s Eve, the Victorian State Government reinstated a temporary lockdown because new COVID cases emerged.

All Victorians were told they needed to return home from regional centres and be back in their metropolitan households (regional Victoria was being shut off from metro Melbourne). They had until 11.59pm on December 31 to do so, which meant my parents quickly packed up their caravan late in the afternoon to make the six-hour drive home before curfew.

This is just an example of how things can turn for the worst when you travel during a pandemic. However, this example shows that if you travel domestically you can return home without too much of a fuss. Sure, you might have to make a mad dash like my parents, but at least you’re as close to home as possible.

Justine de Jonge of Fire & Tea strongly urges all readers to check with their local authorities about any COVID-19 restrictions before they plan any domestic travel, and follow all local rules and restrictions in place.  

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