Bay of Plenty camping: ‘Record year’ expected at campgrounds during summer

Jeff Griggs and Sandy Rhind, managers of Tauranga Tourist Park. Photo / Sonya Bateson

The traditional Kiwi summer holiday of pitching a tent or towing a caravan to a sunny holiday park is as popular as ever as families search for affordable holiday options during tough financial times, campground owners and operators say.

Many campgrounds in and near the Bay of Plenty have reported full or near-full bookings over the Christmas and New Year period and, with a mostly hot and dry summer predicted, the parks expect strong bookings to continue.

Tauranga Tourist Park manager Jeff Griggs said the waterfront park’s caravan sites, tent sites and units would soon be busy with holidaymakers as its peak season runs for eight weeks from Boxing Day to the end of February.

Many of the park’s sites are shaded by the bushy pōhutukawa at the edge of Tauranga Harbour. It has basic but well-kept and tidily-maintained units and amenity blocks and is surprisingly quiet given its proximity to one of Tauranga’s main thoroughfares, 15th Avenue.

Griggs said the park attracted about a 50/50 mix of national and international visitors, many of the latter from Western and Central Europe. Off-season they also hosted many travelling retirees and orchard workers on working visas, and the campground was usually packed during concerts and events.

“We get a lot of return business. Most of the people that come here are out and about during the day and we give them a nice, safe, central location to do that. It’s a base - a base with a pretty view.”

Griggs lived on-site with his wife of 55 years and said he loved the job because of all the people he met. Most of those were holidaymakers happy to be on holiday.

“It’s almost like being on holiday every day.”

The Tauranga City Council-owned Mount Maunganui Beachside Holiday Park at the foot of Mauao is fully booked through the Christmas and New Year period, team leader Mark Hales said.

Mount Maunganui Beachside Holiday Park.

“Many of our guests have been coming to our campground for a long time - some have been regulars for over 60 years,” Hales said.

“We know of one guest who is returning this summer for his 73rd consecutive year, which we think is pretty cool.”

The McLaren Falls campground, also council-owned, was expecting a busy holiday period. Only some of the campsites could be booked in advance and those had a solid number of bookings through to March. Other sites operated on a first-in-first-served basis.

Team leader Christopher Baker said camping provided great value for money while giving locals and visitors alike the chance to relax and enjoy the city’s “stunning” parks and beaches.

“One of the highlights for campers staying at McLaren Falls Park is the waterfall track where you can see glow worms after dusk.”

McLaren Falls Park

The Department of Conservation operates seven campsites in the Bay of Plenty, most in the Rotorua Lakes area, as well as huts and other minor campsites.

DoC Rotorua operations manager Zane Jensen said New Zealanders continued to love a summer camping trip and Bay of Plenty campsite bookings were generally looking strong.

“We’ve seen our biggest increases on last year at Rerewhakaaitu Ash Road and Matatā campsites, while the Whirinaki Recreation Camp is fully booked through to February. Our staff are preparing for what we expect to be a busy summer season – weather permitting.”

Jensen said people should book early where possible to avoid disappointment, especially during peak times. DoC campsites were different from privately owned campsites and required more planning, he said.

Users should check weather and travel information before arrival; use biodegradable products and avoid washing near rivers, lakes and the ocean; understand where to pitch tents; learn about any fire restrictions before lighting outdoor fires; and plan for waste as not all campsites had waste disposal.

Sapphire Springs managers Lisa and Antony Gunner said in a statement the team at Sapphire Springs Holiday Park and Mineral Pools was “excited” and prepared for a busy summer season.

“We’re seeing strong interest this year . . . many of our return campers have been visiting for years, creating a wonderful sense of community. We expect a busy season overall, and certain dates are already filling up quickly.”

Its pools were open to the public daily from 8am to 7pm, its “beautiful” bush walks were “perfect for enjoying summer days”, the Gunners said, and Te Rereatukahia Stream offered a refreshing splash for “the adventurous”.

Shelly Beach Coromandel Top 10.

Aaron McFarlane, managing director of Shelly Beach Coromandel Top 10, was looking at a “record year” and expecting the “busiest summer year we have seen”.

“We have lots of fun activities to keep close to 500 people a night happy and are in the process of getting our summer crews trained up ready for the 24/7 hum of summer fun including our holiday programmes, fishing competition and famous outdoor beachfront movies.”

Tim Bright, marketing co-ordinator at Hot Water Beach Top 10 Holiday Park, said its bookings were looking “extremely strong” over the busy holiday period.

“We have a great line-up of events over the busy period including bands, kids clubs, markets and fairs.”

Bowentown Beach Holiday Park owner Mike Crosby said the summer season was looking “solid” with full bookings from Boxing Day into the New Year.

“For us and a large majority of holiday parks, many of the guests during that period are seasoned, repeat customers with most rebooking upon departure the previous year.”

Crosby said some of their guests had been returning for 20 to 30 years, including regulars who had moved to the area and rented out their own homes while they camped.

“We see a consistent demand for our services, which is encouraging given the current economic climate.

“A major factor in this, I believe, is due to the nature of holiday parks, offering affordable holidays or weekend getaways no matter your experience wishes - camping, cabins, luxury villas etc.

“Often holiday parks host a range of accommodation, facilities, and entertainment options in some of the country’s best locations, meaning once checked in, guests don’t need to continue the spending if they wish not to.”

Cushla Bauer describes Tauranga Tourist Park as one of her favourite places to camp. Photo / Sonya Bateson

‘It’s like coming home’

Cushla Bauer has been visiting the Tauranga Tourist Park for 20 years - and even lived there in her campervan for two years while searching for a permanent home in the city.

Bauer, her husband, and their two schnauzers lived in a motorhome for nine years while travelling around New Zealand and said this park was one of her favourites.

It had “wonderful amenities that are always clean” and Bauer said she particularly enjoyed the water views and the easy access to the harbourfront boardwalk that links Turret Road to 18th Ave.

Bauer still pops into the park regularly to say hello and told the Bay of Plenty Times that “every time we come back, it’s like coming home”.

“It’s not too big, it’s peaceful, and having the water right there is just lovely.”