Pubs, restaurants, gyms and hairdressers all opened to the vaccinated in NSW on Monday.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Kmart stores were also one of the top locations people flocked to.
Designated as "non-critical retail" under the NSW Government's reopening roadmap, stores are currently only open to vaccinated customers.
A Kmart spokesperson said the brand was committed to following government legislation around reopening.
"We will continue to comply with evolving government requirements to keep our customers and team safe and we will keep customers updated should requirements change," the spokesperson said.
"As per the New South Wales Government requirements, from Monday 11 October all customers in New South Wales will be required to show proof of full vaccination status or have a valid medical exemption to shop in our stores.
"We ask for customers' patience and support as we roll this new process out across our store network."
Read more: Fried chicken in the house at Dapto Maccas
Click and collect services remain available for unvaccinated Kmart customers.
Business Illawarra director Adam Zarth said Monday's reopening was a success for local businesses.
"Despite it being an unusually cold day, businesses were thrilled to welcome their customers back in strong numbers across the region," he said.
"There were queues out the door for many personal services and many of our pubs, cafes and restaurants are booked out."
The Illawarra Mercury news app is now officially live on both iOS and Android devices. It is available for download in the Apple Store and Google Play.