WHAT was meant to be their first holiday in three years quickly turned sour for a Red Cliffs couple who found themselves trapped in Moruya, NSW, surrounded by blazing bushfires just kilometres from their hotel.

Mary Crump and Michael Wisneske made their plans to spend the holiday period with family in Moruya and Canberra "a few months ago," leaving Sunraysia on the December 20.

"We spent the wee...