By Oliver Lees
After four weeks closed due to COVID-19 restrictions and extreme weather, the Hanging Rock Cafe has finally reopened to the public.
Hanging Rock Cafe owner Briony Duff-Tytler said she was looking forward to having customers return again.
“We’re really glad to be open in time for some of the school holidays at least,” Ms Duff-Tytler said.
“There’s been a lot of clean up in the park [since the storm], there was a big tree down over the path to the entry of the cafe but that’s been cleared.
“Luckily in the storm there was no damage to the cafe itself, although we did lose power from Wednesday to Friday.
“We were just glad everything was okay, we didn’t know what we we’re going to be walking into.”
The cafe was able to open its doors last Thursday as part of the Hanging Rock staged reopening, which also included public access to picnic areas, shelters, the dam and the base walking track.
The walk to the summit of Hanging Rock remains closed to the public.
Ms Duff-Tytler said the period of closure, which included the Queen’s Birthday long weekend, had been difficult for her and her 10 staff members.
“Holidays are usually so busy for us, especially in winter when the park is not so busy,” she said.
“You can’t really afford to lose any main events like that.
“Our staff haven’t had a job for four weeks, so we thank them for being patient and staying with us.”
Macedon Ranges residents who have lunch in the cafe will receive a free exit ticket from the park.
For more information, visit: hangingrockcafe.com.au/
