Weekend visitors pack out motels

The Motels were full because of people attending events on in Rotorua such as the Blue Lake Multisport Festival pictured.

Rotorua motels were packed out as visitors flocked to the city this Auckland Anniversary Weekend.

With 900 children playing in the Northern Region Junior Inter-Provincial Series touch tournament over Saturday and Sunday, accommodation was in hot demand. Other events which attracted visitors from out of town included the Blue Lake Multisport Festival, Rotorua A&P Lifestyle Expo and Shakespeare Outside presents The Merchant of Venice at Rotorua Museum.

Attractions were also busy as visitors and locals made the most of the fine weather on Saturday. The inclement weather on Sunday meant fewer people ventured out.

Agroventures sales and marketing manager Mary Tolley said they had a massive influx of visitors on Saturday.

"We did quite good, more than we expected," Ms Tolley said.

"We were extremely busy, Sunday was a bit quieter. We had the A&P Show across the road and the rain probably scared a few people off but it was still an okay day.

"People generally do three or four activities because the packages are so well priced."

Union Victoria motel owner Bruce Beesley, who is also Rotorua Association of Motel's secretary, said he was full and knew of other moteliers also experiencing a boom in visitors.

"Town was pretty full from what I can make out. "There was quite a bit on. It's a funny weekend as it's just after Christmas and a lot of people have already gone back to work.

"A lot wait to see what's happening with the weather and then they wonder why the motels are full. Most of our guests were here for the kids touch tournament."

Rotorua police Sergeant Chris McLeod said drivers had been "remarkably well-behaved" over the long weekend. "The number of crashes we attended has dropped right off."