Marlborough Express - Weekend Express
Kiwis quick to snap up holiday spots
South Islanders have been quick to get their hands on the best accommodation spots and holiday gear well ahead of the silly season.
While some tourism operators report already being fully booked up for the holiday season, others still have space available – but holidaymakers need to get in quick or risk losing out.
At the Golden Bay Holiday Park, just north of Ta¯ kaka, all accommodation options have been snapped up.
‘‘We are fully booked up over Christmas, from about December 20 until January 20. We’ve got quite a people on a waiting list as well,’’ a manager said.
People from all over the South Island had booked space at the park this summer, she said.
Ed Nolan, co-owner of Kaiko¯ ura TOP 10 Holiday Park, said about 70 per cent of December bookings were usually made by international visitors, but an influx in bookings from Kiwis had him hopeful they would still be able to do the same level of trade this year.
‘‘We’ve still got a lot of space available for the first two weeks of December, but from then on into January, we’ve already got quite a few bookings,’’ he said.
‘‘Comparing our bookings year-on-year, we are probably down at the moment. But we’ve been pleasantly surprised by how well we’ve done over winter.’’ Nolan said while the Christmas period was set to be a busy time for tourism operators, February and March could be a period of concern as Kiwis headed back to work and overseas tourists would not be there to fill up accommodation spots.
Online bookings at popular holiday accommodation spots in Kaiteriteri in the Tasman region, Ta¯hunanui in Nelson, and Wa¯naka in Otago largely show limited availability over the Christmas period.
The same rings true for the North Island where accommodation providers have reported being inundated with reservations.
The Hahei Holiday Resort in the Coromandel is 100 per cent booked from Christmas Day until early January.
Sheree Webster, owner of Hot
Water Beach TOP 10 Holiday Park in Whitianga, said their summer bookings ‘‘have just imploded’’.
‘‘At this stage, it looks like a few short, sharp bursts, from about December 26 to January 5 being almost full.’’
And it seems campsite and beach home bookings go hand in hand with boat and caravan purchases.
Belinda Kelly, branch manager at Mr Boats, said they had seen a ‘‘definite increase’’ in sales over the past few weeks.
They had noticed an increased interest in boats – ‘‘and all the toys that go with the boat ... pretty much when everyone realised they can’t go overseas’’.
‘‘It is good to see that support going into the local economy.
‘‘People who would have spent $100,000-odd on an overseas holiday, decided this year they’ll spend it on a boat and it is something the whole family can enjoy and they can keep,’’ she said.
Rob Soothill, owner of Christchurch Caravans, said there had been more demand for caravans since the end of lockdown.
‘‘I would guess New Zealanders are taking the opportunity to see our country without having all the tourists around. And a caravan gives you the opportunity to go anywhere and see more of New Zealand.’’
He said it was encouraging to see the New Zealand economy being supported.
Covid-19 had affected the supply of caravans to New Zealand with less stock coming from the UK and limited space available on cargo ships, which put even more pressure on availability, Soothill said.
‘‘There are definitely still enough caravans available for people who want to buy before the holiday, but I think if you see something that you like it is best to get on with it and buy.’’