One of the below-the-radar categories for tourism across the country is the bed and breakfast and home stay market, which tourism experts suggest could account for significantly more than the officially monitored visitor bed nights. And new online apps and sites are allowing increasing numbers to access private household accommodation.
In Rotorua, with tourism numbers trending up again, the B&B sector is small but strong, says the Bed & Breakfast Association New Zealand.
"If you take Rotorua generally across the accommodation sector, I think visitor numbers are up over the last season," said Mick O'Mahony, past president of the association's Rotorua branch, who runs the Mokoia Downs Estate B&B with his wife Teresa.
"Overall we would say that last season was a better one for us, and based on projected data from Tourism New Zealand, our members are also looking forward to another good season from spring onwards for 2014-15."
According to the association's most recent national survey, 30 per cent of its members advised that both bookings and income had increased by up to 25 per cent more than expected for the peak season ending March 2014, and 30 per cent advised they expected their bookings for the current winter season to increase by up to 25 per cent.