With the Bathurst Visitor Information Centre closed for Christmas, a number of tourists turned to the volunteers manning the Driver Reviver at Morse Park for a bit of local knowledge on tourist attractions and activities for children.

Although it was pretty quiet for volunteers on Christmas Eve, Boxing Day was another story.

And yesterday 60 people had stopped off at the Morse Park rest area by lunch time.

The stop is manned by volunteers from Bathurst SES and the CWA. 

“Because we are local we were able to answer their questions while they were having a break from driving,” CWA Driver Reviver co-ordinator Louise Press said.

Ms Press said those who stopped off yesterday were coming from Sydney, Blacktown and Newcastle mostly, heading to places like Dubbo, Mudgee and Forbes. 

She said it often quietens down a bit at lunchtime but the mornings and afternoons were usually very busy.

Free tea, coffee, biscuits and chocolates are served at Driver Reviver stops across the state. This is made possible by the support of companies like Bushells, Arnott’s, CSR and Mars. 

SES Driver Reviver co-ordinator Marina Gray said while traffic on the Great Western Highway was bumper to bumper on Christmas Eve, few cars were stopping off. 

The Driver Reviver rest stop was open from noon until 6pm. 

Ms Gray said people who did stop said they were very glad they did.

She said many were driving to Orange and, although there wasn’t much further to go, some took the opportunity to have a short rest. 

“It is really good they weren’t pushing through. They recognised they needed a break, and took it,” she said.

The Driver Reviver rest stop on the Great Western Highway will operate today and tomorrow, and again on the Australia Day weekend.