Normally around this time of year, Canberrans are loading up the car, ready to escape down the Kings Highway to the South Coast.

But right now, many of our most beloved spots are unrecognisable.

The massive Black Range and Currowan bushfires have burnt out more than 120,000 hectares between them. The fires have razed homes and ravaged wildlife. They've isolated communities, stretched volunteer firefighting brigades, and are driving small business owners to despair.

The three of us have been on the road at various times over the past 10 days trying to capture the devastation because we know just how special these places are to Canberrans.

Since coming back, we've been asked what people heading off on their holidays should expect. What does it look like down there? Should I cancel my booking? What roads should I take?

What is clear is these fires have left a scar on a beautiful part of the world that will take time to heal.

The beaches are empty. The roads are deserted. That acrid smell of burning still lingers.

But amid the desolation, we saw flashes of the places we love.

We saw it in in the generosity of the people who welcomed us into their communities in a time of absolute desperation.

People like Jash Barber embraced Doug and Sitt with open arms, even as the fire was closing in from all directions.

"People really care about each other's well-being, and look out for each other," he told us. "It really is like a coastal family."

The Bawley Point Rural Fire Service volunteers, who were a little busy trying to - you know - fight a bushfire, actually went out of their way to make sure Doug and Sitt were fed and hydrated.

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A Bawley Point resident even let Sitt into his house to use his electricity as he was leaving, telling him he just had to close the door behind him when he was done (Sitt bought him a six-pack to say thanks on our way back through this week).

When Katie and Sitt tried to find lunch at nearly 4pm in Batemans Bay this week, after being on the road since 7am, a cafe owner - noticing the personal protective gear we have to wear if we're covering fires - offered us free drinks.

We pushed back, embarrassed, saying we were just media and to save their generosity for the people actually fighting the fires. The cafe owner said, "no, you're here doing an important job too" and insisted.

We also saw it in the way the communities pulled together.

With roads to Bawley Point and Kioloa cut off, we asked Liza Butler where all the food was coming from. She said many people who had evacuated had called her to tell her where their house key was, so she and the other volunteers could collect food that could be used for those staying behind.

Bawley Point Bushfire Brigade station, brigade captain Charlie Magnuson, who was at the end of a 36-hour stretch fighting fires was at pains to point out "you don't have to be a Bawley Pointer to come here".

"We've been feeding Fire and Rescue, police, ambos, any brigade that comes in here," he said. "We're feeding some of the community with the donated food. People who can't get out to get milk and bread."

After Ms Butler shared a GoFundMe page raising money for food and the local fire brigades, it raised $5500 overnight. "The community spirit is just amazing," she said. "People have just turned up saying 'can I help'."

Braidwood, Bawley Point and everywhere in between are hurting because of these fires. The least we as Canberrans can do is give them our business again, as soon as it's safe to do so.

The South Coast may be unrecognisable right now, but if you look, you'll still catch a glimpse of the places we love.