Mandurah four-wheel-drive industry takes off amid interstate travel restrictions

Interstate travel restrictions have put paid to the holiday plans of thousands of Western Australians, and affected just as many businesses.

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But the four-wheel-drive sector appears to be thriving during the state's cut off from its eastern neighbours, with more and more people looking to enjoy a cruise on their local beach or a drive out bush.

Buying caravans and upgrading vehicles has become a must as West Aussies now look to make the most of their own backyard.

One local business enjoying the uptake is Peel 4WD Centre.

Owner Helen Robinson said the interstate restrictions on travel had led to a "definite uptake" of four-wheel-drives hitting the road.

"People might not be able to get on a plane and go across the border for months, maybe years at this point, and that's attracting a lot of people to explore their own backyard," she said.

"Here in the Peel region we're lucky to have so much on offer. Tim's Thicket and Preston Beach are obviously favourites but we're not far away from Harvey, Waroona, Brunswick and plenty of other great tracks as well.

"We've definitely increased in business. A lot of people have bought new caravans and are coming down from Perth so we're selling a lot of electric brakes, clear-view mirrors and that sort of thing.

"It's a blessing, really. At the start of the pandemic we had a lot of cancelled bookings because people just wanted to stay indoors, and you can't blame them for that.

"But it's nice to see everyone returning to the road now."

The boom in business has even forced the Peel 4WD Centre to hire more staff.

"It's great. We've brought on another fitter and a young girl in the showroom," Ms Robinson said.

"Certainly from a retail point of view we're enjoying a really good patch right now."

The state government's hard border closure currently hinges on a High Court battle against Queensland billionaire Clive Palmer, but WA Premier Mark McGowan has signaled it could be months before travel restrictions are lifted should the court rule in his favour.

"What I can guarantee you is we won't bring down the borders before we're forced to by the High Court, which hopefully doesn't happen, or before we get health advice it's safe to do so," Mr McGowan said on Saturday.

Western Australia's hard border closure has deterred 99 per cent of normal eastern states traffic entering the state.