Holidaymakers favour Coromandel hot spot

Holidaymakers flock to the beach at Whangamata on a hot and sunny afternoon. Photo / Derek Flynn

Whangamata remains the top spot for Kiwi holidaymakers over summer, according to new figures.

For the fourth year in a row, coastal North Island destination Whangamata has topped the list of accommodation bookings made through the website Bookabach.

The figures were taken from collated bookings between December 1, 2011 and January 11 this year.

Lake Wanaka jumped seven spots to take out the number two spot, while Raglan - with the cheapest average rental of $184 per night - took third.

The figures showed a strong preference among users for North Island spots, with Queenstown and Lake Wanaka the only South Island destinations making it into the top 10.

Queenstown and Oneroa, a Waiheke Island suburb, commanded the highest prices per night, with an average of $428 and $458 respectively.

Bookabach chief executive Peter Miles said the total number of booked nights for the top 10 destinations had climbed 25 per cent on last year's results.

"Bay of Plenty beaches remain popular despite the Rena grounding, with an overall increase in bookings compared to last year.

"Wanaka's high ranking also shows that Kiwis are no longer limiting their choices to the beach over summer. In fact, domestic tourism has really been booming in the Queenstown Lakes District, and we're certainly seeing that reflected in our bookings."

Mr Miles said there were minimal cancellations for bach bookings over the December to January period, despite the harsh winds and rain that lashed much of the country during that time.

Bookabach's top 10 summer holiday destinations

1. Whangamata, Coromandel Peninsula, Bay of Plenty
2. Lake Wanaka, Otago
3. Raglan, Waikato
4. Whitianga, Coromandel Peninsula, Bay of Plenty
5. Waihi Beach, Bay of Plenty
6. Taupo, Waikato
7. Mangawhai, Northland
8. Queenstown, Otago
9. Mt Maunganui, Bay of Plenty
10. Oneroa, Waiheke Island, Auckland