New owners reveal big plans

Nick and Claire Blake (nearest camera) took over from Kevin and Linda Lloyd. Photo / John Stone

It is the end of one era and the start of another at Whangarei Top 10 Holiday Park, with owners for the past 20 years Kevin and Linda Lloyd selling up to Nick and Claire Blake.

The Lloyds are staying on for a while to help with the transition and the Blakes say they will make the park even better by investing in new facilities, equipment and attractions for families.

The Blakes ran the Fox Glacier Top 10 facility for more than three years after they returned from 10 years in the UK, where Mrs Blake is from.

Mr Blake, who is originally from the Wairarapa, said this put them in good stead to take over the Whangarei Top 10 facility, and they have big plans.

"Fox Top 10 is a bit bigger than this one. It's great to still be in the Top 10 family. We have a good reputation and structure and standards we are expected to run with," he said.

Mr Blake said the couple loved the lifestyle Whangarei offered and he felt the district's attractions were not as well advertised as they could be.

"It's really beautiful here and Whangarei has so much to offer. The city is amazing and surrounded by bush, and it's natural attractions may not have been fully utilised in the past, but we want to make sure everybody knows about them.

"You've got the outstanding Quarry Gardens, that really should be world renowned, the beautiful beaches that are still great in winter - and now we know why you are called the Winterless North - and all that native bush. We are looking at Whangarei from a fresh perspective and being a Kiwi it's so easy to take for granted what you have got ... and you have got so much here. I'm surprised Whangarei isn't more well known.

"You've also go the Hundertwasser project coming up and I know there are people all around the world wanting that to happen.

"My best friend is a graphic designer and artist who exhibits everywhere and he has told me there are people around the world aware of the project, so I think Whangarei is a growth city with lots of potential."

Mr Blake said the Lloyds had done a wonderful job with the park, but he and Claire wanted to expand things further and were committed to adding more family-friendly attractions and events.

"We want to make it even more attractive for families. We're getting fun bikes, peddle go karts, a heated swimming pool and more, and we will run a number of family activities and events. We want the park to become even more of a destination and not just a place to stop. We will build things up even more."

Mr Lloyd said he and Linda had loved running the holiday park and had made many friends but it was time to sell and move on.

"When we took over it was a bit run-down, so we've really grown it over the more than 20 years we've run it, getting a four-and-a-half star rating and increasing stays to more than 24,000 guest nights a year," he said.

"Twenty years is a long time to run a business like this and I don't think there'd be many in Northland that have been run by the same people for that long, but it's just time for us to move on and do something different. We're just relaxing at the moment and helping with the transition for Nick and Claire before we decide what to do next."