It is taking a long time for tourists to get the message to stop travelling to small holiday destinations, with boats out on lakes as recently as last weekend.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
or signup to continue reading
Now as Easter approaches, the regions are being firm in protecting themselves from coronavirus, saying "we don't want you here".
Bundalong General Store has limited the sale of fuel to 10 litres per jerrycan, ensuring locals can still get what they need, but visitors will not be provided with enough for a day on the Lake Mulawa on the Victorian-NSW border.
Jervis Bay in NSW South Coast is now closed to all visitors until April 23. In Bateman's Bay, also in the South Coast, NSW doctors are pleading for the normal influx of tourists to stay away and in Clarence Valley Council, north of popular tourist hotspot Coffs Harbour is 'strongly discouraging visitors'.
Back in Bundalong shop owner Mel Collins said most customers this week were home owners in the region, but the change in behaviour only came after the federal government introduced more restrictions on movement on Sunday.
"There were tourists everywhere until they made their full announcement with stage 3. I know there were a few boats kicking around on the lake, Yarrawonga was pretty busy," she said.
Read More
"I think the majority of people are trying to do the right thing, but unfortunately there's always selfish people out there that just don't think about anyone else.
"I had a few come up on the weekend who just came up to mow their lawns and go back to Melbourne, which is really disappointing.
"We've got plenty of local handymen who could do those jobs who probably need the work."
The NSW coast, usually a hive of activity during the Easter holidays, is also hoping to be quiet - and therefore safe - this year.
Queanbeyan Hospital's Dr Anthony Stevenson said community transmission of coronavirus could turn a small cluster of cases into something more widespread.
"We implore everyone to not travel to the south coast at this time," he said.
"During the current shutdown of services, we implore you to avoid non-essential travel and to remain in your local communities where you are safer"
He was backed up by Indigo Shire mayor Jenny O'Connor.
"I have had people expressing concern to me that there are still tourists wandering around and booking Airbnb. My my message is clear: you are not welcome at this time," she said.
"Right now, visitors to our shire are putting us at risk, they don't know if they've got coronavirus because it can be asymptomatic.
"If they get sick and need support, they'll need resources that are already overstretched in our community."
The warnings come a week before Easter, in the hope that holidaymakers will not try to defy government orders and travel anyway.
NSW Deputy Premier John Barilaro said he was worried about city residents attempting to escape quarantine, which would be extremely dangerous for country communities.
"We continue to battle the worst drought in recorded history, we have endured bushfires that took the lives of 25 people and destroyed more than 2400 homes and what we don't need is people spreading the virus across regional NSW," he said.
"I know towns hit hard by the drought and bushfires are relying on holidaymakers to keep people in jobs and put food on the table, but right now health and safety is paramount and lives depend on every single one of us doing our part to help by staying at home."
The good news was that people had started to get the message around Bundalong, with hopes it would continue.
"I noticed in our trade that there's a distinct change in people's behaviour, there's very little people moving around, the highway is quiet," Ms Collins said.
