Amanda Sharpe, formerly of Riversdale, now lives in Melbourne with her husband, Matt.
The couple, along with members of Mr Sharpe’s family, were on their annual trip to the Narooma campground when bushfires closed roads to the camping ground and cut power.
Narooma is on the coast, about 500km northeast of Melbourne.
They were initially evacuated to a nearby beach, then to a town hall, before being given the all-clear to leave town yesterday.
Her Dunedin-based stepfather, Wayne Parsons, said they were making the 10-hour drive to Canberra yesterday, before heading to Melbourne today.
‘‘It’s been a worrying time,’’ he said.
Temperatures were set to rise again over the next couple of days, leading to fears the fires could get even worse. Mr Parsons said he and Mrs Sharpe’s mother felt much better knowing she was getting away from the coast.
New South Wales Rural Fire Service Commissioner Shane Fitzsimmons told media conditions tomorrow would probably be worse than those on New Year's Eve, which left a trail of destroyed homes, businesses and utility lines up and down the south coast.
Tourists have been urged to leave popular holiday spots along the coast, if it was safe to do so.
Mr Sharpe’s parents were unable to source any diesel in Narooma so were having to leave their truck and caravan there and catch a ride with Mr and Mrs Sharpe, Mr Parsons said.
