The Russell-Orongo Bay Holiday Park has gone TV free in hopes to reconnect guests with nature.
The Russell-Orongo Bay Holiday Park has gone TV free in hopes to reconnect guests with nature.
In a bold move that puts nature front and centre, a Northland holiday park has removed TVs from all accommodation.
The Russell-Orongo Bay Holiday Park is inviting guests to trade scrolling and binge-watching for kiwi calls and nights under the stars.
The Bay of Islands accommodation is one of thefirst holiday parks to go TV free.
Park manager Shane Maddren said the park recently removed all 16 of its TVs. So far feedback from guests had been positive.
“We fully understand in today’s world everyone has a cellphone on them and generally they all have internet access, but we believe that just by removing the TVs it reduced the chances of them watching TV for no reason.
“We would like to exchange TV for Kiwi ... we have a high incidence of people seeing kiwi in our park, our peninsula has probably one of the largest number of kiwi,” he said.
Set among native bush, the park is one of the few places in New Zealand where visitors can see kiwi in the wild, with the native bird often heard by guests or spotted around the edges of the park after dark.
Weka can be seen wandering freely by day and up to 55 other species of bird call the park home.
Guests at the Russell-Orongo Bay Holiday Park can see weka wandering freely.
Maddren said the move was about helping people reconnect and recharge and joked that it might even give the country’s population a small boost.
“At the end of the day our country has a declining population. So, the least we can do is remove TVs from our bedrooms so that we can hopefully help increase the population.”
Park owner Tori Burns said they wanted to create an experience that’s truly about making memories as nature intended.
“Our guests tell us the most memorable moments of hearing kiwi calls and if they are lucky enough – seeing kiwi at night, watching stars by the fire pit, or seeing their kids exploring the bush – not sitting in front of a screen.”
Alongside its kiwi encounters, the park offers a saltwater swimming pool, wood-fired pizza oven, firepit for marshmallow toasting, and there is a boardwalk through mangroves just across the road.
Guests can enjoy stargazing under minimal lighting, explore nearby Russell township, or take part in classic screen-free activities from the park’s ‘Switch off & Explore’ guide.
The change reflects growing interest in digital detox holidays and eco-conscious travel, in New Zealand and internationally.
“We’re proud to be one of the first holiday parks in the country to take this step,” says Burns.
“By removing TVs, we’re giving guests a real reason to switch off, slow down, and reconnect – with each other, and with nature,” Burns said.
