Rotorua a hive of activity for school holidays

051015sp13 School holiday tourism influx. 05 October 2015 Daily Post photograph by Stephen Parker

Rotorua continues to be one of the country's school holiday "hot spots".

Visitor numbers have been strong despite mixed weather conditions last week.

The weekend was extremely busy with most accommodation at a premium and restaurants and cafes a hive of activity.

The i-SITE team has been pretty frantic attending to the large numbers of visitors coming through the doors. Rotorua i-SITE and visitor centre manager Graham Brownrigg said, "there's been a lot of interest in the Tulip Fest and we've noticed many visitors asking about Thursday's big community parade for the launch of the new Green Corridor through the inner city as well as biking our trails."

It's a similar story for motel operators. Pohutu Lodge Motel owner Barry Mabey said the first week very good, particularly last weekend when "the whole town sold out".

"The week ahead looks average at the moment and I suspect there is a lot of weather watching going on."

Fiona Suurenbroek Rotorua Association of Motels chairwoman agrees the week was very busy.

"On the whole guest numbers appear to be up on last year with a lot of international visitors and Australian families visiting - many Aucklanders' too.

"Most people have been enjoying family activities, the Ice Rink & Ice Slide has been popular and the Skyline, Agrodome and Rainbow Springs," she said.

Rotorua Museum has also been run off its feet.

Event coordinator Kathy Nicholls said "its been a great week so far".

"We've been really busy in the museum especially on the days it was wet. "We had a thousand come through for the craft sessions last week, including a lot from Australia and Auckland, as well as the regions and we are preparing for our big family day on Saturday."
Waihi family Charlotte Pooley-Watson and her daughters, nine-year-old Kate and four-year-old Georgia often visit the city but this time they've chosen to enjoy what's on offer for free, paddling in the Blue Lake, walking the "fairytale" Redwood Forest trails and finding geocaches at Kuirau Park". "We normally go to all the attractions but we are doing it on a budget this time. It's been beautiful. I'm amazed at how much we could do for free and we had so much fun doing it."
Doing things differently has given them a chance to relax, explore places they've never been to before and appreciate their family. "If you do the big things you get caught up in the touristy part of it. Last holidays we queued for an hour to get on the luge," said Mrs Watson.
Metservice meteorologist Lisa Murray said the weather for the last week of the school holidays "looks pretty good". "On Wednesday the westerly may pick up a little bit but nothing too major. Thursday will start fine although there may be a brief period of showers during the day as the southerly change comes through." The weekend is looking good at the moment," she said.

Holiday weather
? Today: Fine with westerlies. 19C
? Wednesday: Mainly fine, westerlies picking up. 20C
? Thursday: Mainly fine, possibly a brief period of showers around the middle of the day with a southerly change. 17C
? Friday: Fine with light winds. 16C
? Saturday: Fine, southwesterly breezes developing, chance of rain. 15C