Lower petrol prices, a decrease in interest rates and government grants are being outlined as the major contributors towards the influx of tourists.

“I am thinking it is a drop in interest rates and petrol; there has been a rush in bookings over the past month,” Tea Gardens Real Estate hospitality manager Donna Swadling said.

Hawks Nest Real Estate licensee and sales manager John Rumble agreed with Ms Swadling saying they were also receiving a lot of late enquiries.

“A lot of young families come away and they are usually the ones with the mortgages. Because they are now getting more money in the bank at the end of the week they are coming on holiday,” Mr Rumble said.

With 180 properties on offer, Tea Gardens Real Estate is now turning away people who want to stay with them over the week following Christmas.

And Ms Swadling said there are only nine vacancies during the following week.

“We are always full over the Christmas weeks but last year there were not as many people in the last weeks of the holidays. This year our numbers are up about 30 per cent,” Ms Swadling said.

Representatives from Hawks Nest Beach Caravan Park and Jimmy’s Beach Caravan Park both confirmed they were booked out over the Christmas period and into the New Year.

Myall Shores Resort at Bombah Point said they had a few one night vacancies left but they were also heavily booked.

The rush is yet to be seen at the information centres in Bulahdelah and Tea Gardens.

Bulahdelah Information Centre supervisor Alan Freihart said they were still seeing mostly retirees or overseas visitors to the area.

However he said he expected a busy season because everyone he had talked to said they were booked out.

The surge in tourists to the area is also being attributed to the short distance from Sydney and people being unable to afford overseas travel at this time.