For the new owners of the Shady Gully Caravan Park in Mallacoota, it’s been a baptism of fire in taking over the popular camping ground late last year. 
Theo Papatheodorou and Kris McLeod took over from the previous proprietors in early November, after selling a motel they owned in the New Souths Wales town of Tamworth, and making the move to East Gippsland.
Taking over Shady Gully before the onslaught of the tourist season, the couple decided to undertake some light renovations before the phone started ringing off the hook for bookings.
While many visitors to the park are repeat tourists, many others are discovering Mallacoota for the first time.
“It was certainly very busy, it was actually quite overwhelming because of the amount of work we had to do,” said Mr Papatheodorou.

IMAGE: New park owners, Theo Papathedorou and Kris McLeod, share a quiet moment by the pool during a break from work last week.