Morris Minor convention adds to bustling Easter Weekend in Rotorua

A combination of Easter, the school holidays and Anzac Day has forced some Rotorua accommodation providers to turn people away this weekend because of demand.

With just two working days between Easter Weekend and Anzac Day, some visitors to Rotorua are taking extended holidays.

Holiday Inn duty manager Joanna Tagalog said they were fully booked for the school holidays.

"People keep calling in but we can't find them rooms.

"It's busier than last year. Usually after summer we're a bit quieter but this year we're busy."

Tagalog said the Holiday Inn had got into the holiday spirit by hosting "Easter fun".

A spokeswoman from Rotorua Thermal Holiday Park said the cabins on site were fully booked until the end of this week and there was minimal availability of non-powered and powered sites.

"Because of Easter and Anzac with only a few days between, people are taking extended holidays. We've just been turning people away in droves."

She said people were staying three to four days and she thought Rotorua was busier than usual.

Locals and visitors check out the 27th annual Morris Minor Convention. Photo / Stephen Parker

"The warm weather has helped. We've got the school holidays, Easter Weekend, Anzac Day and the stock cars have played a part. So all those things combined have made this week really jam-packed."

John Marshall drove all the way from Invercargill to visit Rotorua over the Easter Weekend and attend the 27th Annual Morris Minor Convention.

His 1952 Side Valve Morris Minor was towed on a trailer as it was too far to drive and it took three days to get here.

John Marshall from the Southland Morris Minor Club drove all the way from Invercargill to visit Rotorua at Easter. Photo / Stephen Parker

Marshall said he really enjoyed meeting other people and seeing their cars and had enjoyed the hospitality in Rotorua.

"I think it's really lovely here. The people here are so friendly. It's incredible.

"Last night we saw a poi performance ... it's given me insight into Māori culture and everything here."

Marshall also had mechanical troubles late on Thursday night and members of the Rotorua Morris Minor Club helped out in the middle of the night.

John Marshall from the Southland Morris Minor Club drove all the way from Invercargill to visit Rotorua at Easter. Photo / Stephen Parker

"There's some really good characters out there."

Blue Lake Top 10 Holiday Park manager Sheryl Murray said she thought the booking numbers had been lower than previous Easter Weekends but there were happy with how it had gone and they had still been fully booked.

"We've had a great weekend. It was later in April so it's a bit cooler but it's been fantastic.

"We're a big park but our rooms are busy and fully booked for the rest of the week.

"We're nowhere near full on the campsites for the rest of the week but still very happy with how it's gone."

The Lakefront was buzzing on the weekend with the Soundshell Market and Morris Minor Convention. Photo / Stephen Parker

Murray said there had been some last-minute bookings this year and other people extended their visits because the weather stayed fine.

"One family booked for three nights and extended to stay another three."

The park was also celebrating Easter with a 3000-egg hunt on Sunday morning, colouring in competitions and a hamper raffle.

In town, McLeod's Booksellers was open for business on Saturday, yesterday and again today.

Yesterday bookseller Mike Byrne said business was better than an average Sunday.

"It's shaping up so far to be a good day. There are a lot more people in town and the weather is good. It's very favourable.

"It's been mostly visitors and they are very complementary that we are open."

Byrne said it felt like sales were better than last Easter.

Down the road Robert Harris owner Manroop Grewal said business came in waves.

"Today [Sunday] has been quite quiet compared to the last two days. We've been busy and had lots of people coming in, especially families for breakfast and lunch."

He said business had been similar to previous Easter Weekends.