While Chaffey Dam is at capacity, so too was the campground, and on the other side of town Keepit Dam also recorded its biggest weekend in recent memory.

Only three of Keepit’s 255 available camp sites were vacant. The park also hosted hordes of day visitors over the four days.

Park manager Paul Irwin estimated that around 1500 campers hit the dam to soak up the “great weather, green landscape and improved water levels.”

But it was the Nundle Go for Gold Festival that created the biggest splash.

Festival committee chair and Nundle Woolen Mill owner Nick Bradford hit the double over the break, with an estimated record crowd of over 18,000 people attending the two day festival, while he also recorded the best ever day of trade at the mill.

“We estimate that we had upwards of 10,000 on Saturday with another 7000 to 8000 people on Sunday. That brings in excess of $400,000,” Mr Bradford said.

“It was the perfect storm of extraordinary weather and the festival falling in the middle of the school holidays.

“There were lots of stall holders, both local and visiting, that also claimed to have their biggest ever trading days in Nundle – it was fantastic.

“We can’t grow much more, it would be getting close to uncomfortable if we had too many more people.”