Bay Tours & Charters owners Ken and Kerren Withington with their drivers in their new Ahuriri base. Photo / Duncan Brown
Bay Tours & Charters owners Ken and Kerren Withington with their drivers in their new Ahuriri base. Photo / Duncan Brown
Ahuriri's newest commercial tenant is Bay Tours & Charters, which has moved closer to cruise ships at Napier Port, a mainstay of its business.
"Essentially we are in Napier every day - in hindsight it's a no-brainer - but because of growth it is time to get a more high-profileposition," tour host Peter Hibbard said.
A convoy of 14 coaches was backed up by mini-vans and Black Rose Limousines for the Friday move. While coach tours are the bulk of its business - it is the largest tour operator for cruise ship passengers through the Napier i-Site - a major part of its business is daily winery and scenic tours.
Bay Tours & Charters began in Greenmeadows in 1982 with one five-passenger van on local day trips, then gradually further afield. It moved to Meeanee and then to current owner' Kerren and Ken Withington's property in Hastings' Kaiopoi Rd, which has been sold. Mr Hibbard said since the Withingtons took over, business had almost doubled.
Mrs Withington said its tour destinations had an increasing national and international focus. New Zealand destinations to events such as the Taranaki Garden Festival are popular. "The size and breadth of our operation has necessitated a shift of this nature for a while now. So when the opportunity arose to move into the heart of the vibrant commercial community of Ahuriri, we leapt at the chance."
Its new office and depot is at the Customs Quay end of Coronation St, formerly the East Coast base of Fulton Hogan.
"We're looking forward to meeting our new neighbours and contributing to the area's continued growth. It is appropriate, considering how much of our business originates in Napier, that we move up there," Mr Hibbard said.
Last season saw 98,100 cruise ship passengers disembark. The coming season will see 49 ships arrive between October and May. The first arrives on Saturday when The Sun Princess, with 1950 passengers aboard, sails into Napier Port.
