Ohakune wins TOP 10 Holiday Park Awards

Kordula Daniel owner of Ohakune TOP 10 Holiday Park (right) with Ah-Leen Rayner, head of marketing KiwiRail Tourism.

Ohakune Holiday Park has won three top honours at the 2017 TOP 10 Holiday Park Awards.

The holiday park was named runner-up in the Supreme Award and also won the Most Improved TOP 10 Holiday Park, Most Improved Club Membership Seller and the Largest Proportionate Club Membership Seller.

Kordula Daniel has owned the small facility since 1995 and says it has become increasingly busy. In the summer it benefits from people doing the Tongariro Alpine Crossing and in the winter, from skiers and snowboarders.

"We're very lucky, our only quiet months are May and June. Our July is almost as good as our January."

Ms Daniel said that after being less involved with the business for three years, she is back with a vengeance, taking over the reins again at the end of 2015.

"It's taken a lot of hard work to get to where we are now. I've been relooking at everything and investing in staff and upgrading our facilities. We're 80 per cent there now, but my aim in the next year is to become the best accommodation in the area - whether it's backpackers, motels or camping ground.

"You need to constantly improve to be the best. If you're standing still, you're really going backwards."

Ms Daniel has plans for a new spa pool area, refurbishing the communal kitchens and some other things she's not disclosing just yet.

TOP 10 Holiday Parks Group is the largest such organisation in New Zealand, with 45 of the 480 holiday parks/campgrounds in New Zealand, its chief executive David Ovendale said.

"In our experience, these types of holidays are growing in popularity both among Kiwis and international visitors. In the past financial year, our turnover grew by 12 per cent, consolidating an 8 per cent lift the previous year and reflecting increasing visitor numbers."