Clint Lawson, of Muse3D Ltd, says Central Fire Station in Napier is one of his favourite destinations he has scanned. Photo / NZME
Clint Lawson, of Muse3D Ltd, says Central Fire Station in Napier is one of his favourite destinations he has scanned. Photo / NZME
Check out the ornate Oruawharo Homestead located in Central Hawke's Bay, then enjoy a glass of wine from Mission Estate while checking out their cellar, or take a tour of the Ongaonga Historic Village - all at your leisure from the comfort of your home.
The iconic Hawke's Bay touristdestinations are among a handful of stops, along with a number of accommodations, which have been rendered in 3D for virtual tours by Muse3D Ltd.
The company specialises in full-immersion, virtual reality tours of accommodation, venues, restaurants, wineries and historic buildings, owner Clint Lawson explained.
"We are now creating a website of all of our museums that will allow our future generations to explore our past."
The technology works by capturing 3D scans from multiple positions to create a virtual tour. Photo / NZME
The Ongaonga Historic Village and Museum is the next to be added to the catalogue, with Lawson anticipating it will take about a day to complete the scan.
"With the cancellation of the Ongaonga Spring Fair, many people were disappointed, and even now, Dennis Shaw, from the Ongaonga Historical Society, has told me that visitors were still turning up."
Lawson said a previous historic village that he scanned, the Howick Historic Village in Auckland, was uploaded in early March and was viewed more than 27,000 times, with many of the views occurring during the early days of the lockdown.
He said the virtual tour will allow viewers from around the globe to experience the hard work and history of Ongaonga and Hawke's Bay for themselves.
"It's about trying to help tourism in a country where everyone is being affected."
The popular Ongaonga Spring Fair was cancelled this year due to Covid-19. Photo / NZME
The viewings can also be educational with students able to engage in interactive viewings.
Other tours feature accommodation providers and eateries, enabling people to check out the interior of the rooms before booking.
He said virtual tourism, an online tourism directory featuring locations from around the country was created to " help a severely injured tourism industry during a very difficult time".
Its popularity also led to the creation of a regional specific website, featuring just Hawke's Bay locations.
Clint Lawson, of Muse3D Ltd, plans to scan the Ongaonga Historic Village and Museum to feature it on a website featuring virtual tours of Hawke's Bay tourist spots. Hawke's Bay. Photo / Supplied
Lawson said one of his favourite scans had been Napier's Central Fire Station Bistro, along with 4one5 Marine Parade - one of the city's oldest homes now a boutique hotel.
The tours are accessible via "anything with an internet connection" and doesn't require VR headsets, which Lawson acknowledged were not suitable or affordable for everyone.
Hawke's Bay Tourism Chief Executive Hamish Saxton said tourism businesses often sought new ways to showcase and promote their offerings, including using virtual technology.
"Excitingly for attractions such as Ongaonga Historical Village, which is generally only open on Sundays, virtual tourism can be a valuable tool in sharing their stories – every day – with a much wider audience.
"Only time will tell whether it drives an increase in visitation, however, it can be a useful tool for operators and assists in sharing Hawke's Bay's story with the world."
