'Really, really busy' sunshine filled Labour Weekend for Rotorua

The weather didn't disappoint as visitors came in droves for a busy Rotorua long weekend.

According to MetService, Rotorua's temperature crept into the low 20Cs over the weekend and the crowds of people in the forest, on the lakes and out at the tourist destinations were making the most of the sunshine.

Destination Rotorua executive manager of visitor services Graham Brownrigg said the visitor count to Rotorua's i-Site's was up 23 per cent on Labour Weekend last year.

"It's been really, really busy," Brownrigg said.

"One of the big things this time is having more domestic tourists around."

He said at the city had been caught short with the demand for accommodation.

"There were a lot of people struggling to find a place, largely international tourists who were turning up unaware of how busy the long weekend would be.

Zac McIlroy (5) enjoys the sun and fun at Lake Tarawera Spring Fair. Photo / Stephen Parker

"We also had a lot of calls from domestic tourists, people who waited to check the weather then were caught out trying to find a place."

He said scenic flights, the geothermal parks, duck bus tours and trips to Skyline had been high on peoples' lists of requests but almost everywhere was busy.

Neeve, 13 and Seth Kushnirenko, 15, were enjoying a long weekend out in Whakarewarewa Forest. Photo / Stephen Parker

"The tree walk and the forest were very, very popular."

The Rotorua Bike Festival and Okere Falls Beer Fest were also big drawcards into the city.

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"It looks like we've pretty much been busy everywhere, people were coming in for events and staying for the weekend.

"There is so much available for people to do when the weather is fine and it's been fantastic, so hopefully a sign of what's to come for summer."

The boat ramps were all packed, and out at the lakes people were swimming, wakeboarding and enjoying the walkways.

Coastguard president Barry Grouby said despite how busy the waterways were, Coastguard hadn't had a single callout.

Image 1 of 10: Manita Grant, left, and Raine Cooper enjoying the sunshine.

Kirsty Kushnirenko had come over to Rotorua for the day with her husband and children.

The Whakatāne family regularly come over to go mountain biking and were looking forward to a day out in the forest.

"I am sure it's going to be busy out there on the tracks.

"As we came across Lake Rotoma was so flat we were wishing we had brought the boat."

She said they were lucky to have it all right there on their doorstep and she wasn't surprised the city was so busy on a weekend like this.