Kiwis quickly take over popular South Island vacation spots

The southern Islanders have been rushing to find the best accommodation and vacation gear long before the nonsense season.

While some tour operators report that they are already fully booked for the holiday season, others still have space available, but tourists must get in quickly or risk losing.

At the Golden Bay Holiday Park, north of Tākaka, all accommodation options have been exhausted.

“We are completely full during Christmas, from approximately December 20 to January 20. We also have many people on the waiting list, ”said a manager.

People from all over the South Island had reserved space in the park this summer, he said.

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Ed Nolan, co-owner of Kaikōura TOP 10 Holiday Park, said that about 70 percent of December bookings were generally made by international visitors, but the influx of kiwi bookings made him hope they could still make the same level of purchase. Commerce. this year.

“We still have a lot of space available for the first two weeks of December, but from then until January, we already have enough reserves,” he said.

“Comparing our reserves year over year, we are probably down right now. But we have been pleasantly surprised at how well we have done over the winter. “

Nolan said that while the Christmas period was going to be a busy period for tour operators, February and March could be a period of concern, as Kiwis are returning to work and foreign tourists will not be there to fill the venues. accommodation.

Online reservations at popular vacation accommodation locations in Kaiteriteri in the Tasman region, Tāhunanui in Nelson and Wānaka in Otago largely show limited availability during the Christmas period.

The same is true on the North Island, where accommodation providers have reported that they are inundated with reservations. The Hahei Holiday Resort at Coromandel is 100% booked from Christmas Day to early January.

Sheree Webster, owner of the Hot Water Beach TOP 10 vacation park in Whitianga, said her summer bookings “just collapsed.”

“At this stage, it appears that a few short, sharp bursts, from about December 26 to January 5, are almost full.”

And it seems that reservations for campsites and beach houses go hand in hand with purchases of boats and caravans.

Belinda Kelly, a branch manager for Mr Boats, said they had seen a “definite increase” in sales over the past few weeks.

They had noticed an increased interest in ships – “and all the toys that go with the ship … almost when everyone realized they can’t go abroad.”

“It is good to see that this support goes to the local economy.

“People who would have spent $ 100,000 or so on a vacation abroad decided that this year they will spend it on a boat and it is something the whole family can enjoy and keep,” he said.

Rob Soothill, owner of Christchurch Caravans, said there had been more demand for caravans since the end of the shutdown.

“I 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 supporting itself.

Covid-19 had affected the supply of caravans to New Zealand with fewer stocks coming from the UK and limited space available on cargo ships, putting even more pressure on availability, Soothill said.

“There are definitely still enough caravans available for people who want to buy before the holidays, but I think if you see something you like, you better go ahead and buy it.”