Rotorua's Arawa Park racecourse hosts hundreds of motorhomes and caravans for national rally

Arawa Park Racecourse packed and bustling with the 65th NZMCA National Rally.

Hundreds of motorhomes and caravans converged in Rotorua for a long weekend of catching up, meeting new people and experiencing what the city had to offer.

The New Zealand Motor Caravan Association held its 65th national rally and annual general meeting in Rotorua over Easter.

In all shapes, sizes and vintages - but near uniformly glossy white - the mobile baches parked up in neatly organised rows across Arawa Park racecourse in Rotorua.

The association's Rotorua area 32 secretary John Somerville said it was a fantastic long weekend, with 588 vans and about 1100 people attending.

"The atmosphere was great and there were so many things put on."

Rally activities included a trade display, craft stalls, walking and cycling groups, a pet programme, Rotorua Duck Tour, workshops, Ki te Hoe Waka Paddle Rotorua, entertainment, ukulele lessons and more.

Furry travel companions even had the chance to get into the action with a dog competition, which saw 30 people and their pooches compete - "It was absolutely spectacular".

Furry companions were able to get involved in the weekend's action with a dog competition. Photo / NZMCA

Somerville said there were about 60 people every morning out on bike rides.

"We also had really great entertainment and there was lots of dancing.

"People came from right up north to right down south, and there was such a range of different motorhomes and caravans."

He said their organising committee had been wonderful and an "amazing" number of local members volunteered to help.

Most visitors had hit the road by early yesterday.

Before the rally, Somerville had said they were trying to emphasise what Rotorua had to offer through all of the weekend's activities.

Some Rotorua tourism and hospitality businesses have said the rally contributed to an unexpectedly busy Easter for the city.

Rotorua's Trevor Cochrane was one of the hundreds of travellers who went along to enjoy all the rally had to offer.

He said it was his first time going along to one of the association's national rallies and he thoroughly enjoyed it.

Cochrane said it had been great to go on one of the bike rides and help show visitors from all over New Zealand around his hometown.

"A lot of people catch up at the rally, some have been in the association for 30 years.

"It's great to catch up, meet new people who have the same interests, and do all sorts of things.

"There was entertainment every night and we enjoyed that."

Arawa Park Racecourse was bustling with the 65th NZMCA National Rally. Photo / NZMCA