They have since built a covered pool and spa complex and renovated nearly all the cabins and camp sites.
Their Dinosaur Garden was a huge hit with families and now boasted 18 replicas they had got from Skyline Rotorua.
"It's great watching the kids running round with sticks hunting them and it's educational
"We've called the garden Dinowood and our shop is called the Dinostore. We also want to build a Flintstone car for the kids to play in.
"It's a great feeling to get the award, it just goes to show we are doing the right thing."
Mrs Thornborough said anyone was welcome to take a look at the Dinosaur Garden.
At Waiteti Trout Stream Holiday Park, Mr Thorne has repaired and rejuvenated almost 150m of the the stream banks after major flooding in August 2012, with the help of the Bay of Plenty Regional Council.
The Thornes bought the park in January 2005 after staying there while on holiday.
"Our intention was to just keep the land, because it was run down and very old. We've pretty much renovated the whole place now," he said.
Their objectives were to improve the resilience of the Waiteti Stream bank and adjacent land and recover some eroded land and protect the lower camp sites from flood damage.
The work also helped reduce the impact of floods on the neighbouring Waiteti Marae.
About 240cu/m of rock was brought in to do the job at a cost of more than $40,000.
"We were not aware we were getting them [the awards], so it was a very nice feeling."
Taupo's DeBretts Spa Resort also picked up the Jason's Smart Business Award for a range of innovations and improvements.
About 300 delegates attended the 2014 Holiday Parks Conference at the Marlborough Convention Centre between June 23 and 26.
