No vacancy signs go up

CAMPERS at popular holiday spots throughout Northland have bedded down for the busy festive season, forcing campgrounds to turn people away.

An upsurge in demand - buoyed by sizzling temperatures - has seen some holiday parks fully booked from October through to February.

One of the biggest campgrounds in Northland, Camp Waipu Cove which can accommodate up to 1500 people, has been turning away visitors a week before Christmas.

"We could sell it five times over the amount of bookings we've had and we're turning away hundreds," manager Anton Trist said.

He said the campground had been getting busier each year, with campers arriving earlier compared to previous years.

Mr Trist said it looked as if the camp would be fully booked until the end of the Northland/Auckland Anniversary weekend on February 1.

The nearby Waipu Cove Cottages and Camping ground has 12 sites and six cottages that cater for 90 people in total and all are fully booked until February.

Owner Sharleen Voss said she had been receiving about eight to nine emails and half a dozen phone calls daily from people inquiring about spaces at the site.

"Some families have been coming here for the last 18 years and the average stay is eight to 10 days. We've had to turn plenty of people away because all our sites are fully booked," she said.

German couple Michael and Mareike Mueller and their children Marius and Marit arrived at the Whangarei Top 10 Holiday Park in Kensington on Thursday and were supposed to leave for Russell yesterday.

"Our friends have been to New Zealand and we read about the waterfall here (Whangarei Falls) so why not visit the place? We now realise getting to places here involves big drives," Mrs Mueller said.

Park owner Kevin Lloyd said his business was fully booked for two weeks from Christmas Day.

"We've had a very good year and the weather's also been good. We're accepting the next wave of visitors for Christmas and New Year holidays," he said on Thursday.

Whangarei Falls Holiday Park and BBH Backpackers' owner, Martin Wright, said guests who initially planned to move to other parts of Northland ended up staying in Whangarei longer.

"People don't really understand what Whangarei has to offer. Most come enroute to Paihia and they constantly extend their stay in Whangarei after we explain to them what the place has to offer," he said.

Taupo Bay Holiday Park has a "few gaps" but they are filling up fast.

"This year, all our tent sites are gone for the New Year so we're going to be fairly busy for most of January," camp manager Jodie Rogers said.

The Bay of Islands' Holiday Park in Paihia is also fully booked. The site will host 700 participants during a youth camp between December 28 and January 2 .