Rotorua businesses were unsure how busy they would be this Easter given the tough economic climate - but they've all been pleasantly surprised.
Rotorua's motels were booked solid Friday, Saturday and Sunday nights and many are already filling up for the same time next year.
Motel Association of New Zealand's
Rotorua branch president Steve Osborne said traditionally Easter weekend was a busy one for motelliers because families saw Rotorua as a place to get away with lots to do.
This year however, they weren't sure how busy they would be considering the current economic recession, Mr Osborne said.
Mr Osborne said "everybody is pleasantly surprised" as visitors seem to be shrugging off the tough economic times and were continuing to enjoy their long weekend away, packing Rotorua's motels.
"I believe everybody's more than happy," Mr Osborne said.
Mr Osborne said Rotorua was a city that out of towners saw as a central location with plenty to see and do. He said Taupo and Tauranga were also full over the long weekend. But it wasn't only Rotorua motels that were fully booked.
Hotels and backpackers were also packed to capacity throughout the weekend, restaurants and cafes were busy and people were spending money in the Central Business District.
Cactus Jack Backpackers were so busy they had to turn about 50 people away over the weekend.
Weekend manager Liam McKenna said about 20 people turned up to the backpackers looking for a place to stay but they were fully booked.
He said a Rotorua resident even called them to let them know she had a couple of rooms spare if visitors needed a place to stay because she had heard accommodation providers were busy.
KiwiPaka owner/director Malcolm Munro said they were a "good busy" with people staying also taking up packages to do activities around Rotorua and spending money in the community.
He said they were full throughout the weekend with just less than half of their guests being New Zealanders.
A group of 20 people had turned up looking for a place to stay but they couldn't take them because they were over-full, Mr Munro said.
However, they kept four people and rang around other providers and found the remaining 16 people beds at the Regent Rotorua Boutique Hotel.
Distinction Hotel had 100 per cent occupancy on Friday, Saturday and Sunday and their three restaurants were also busy over the weekend.
Rotorua tourist attraction Rainbow Springs also reported a good amount of locals and visitors through the doors.
Customer services manager Mark Patterson said they had had an "excellent weekend" with members of the public walking in and making bookings.
"There just seems to be a lot of people around," Mr Patterson said.
Freo's Licensed Cafe was busy day and night throughout the whole weekend.
Manager Mohammad Zabadi said weekends were usually busy but this long weekend was extra busy. He said locals and visitors were dining out and believed that was due to the holiday, along with the weekend's good weather and the circus at the Village Green.
He said Eat Streat was also popular for diners.
McLeods Booksellers Ltd had a busy Saturday and Monday with most of the people visiting the store being out-of-towners.
Rotorua residents were also spending money in the central business district.
Tayla O'Driscoll spent yesterday in town with four of her friends. They didn't do any shopping because they didn't think the sales were that good but spent most of the day eating at different places. Courtney Swann, 15, was in town looking for winter clothes. She had bought a jacket and wanted skinny jeans.
Nothing she had bought was on sale.
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