It looks to be another busy New Year at Lake Wiritoa with Lakelands Holiday Park full of happy campers. Photo / Bevan Conley
It looks to be another busy New Year at Lake Wiritoa with Lakelands Holiday Park full of happy campers. Photo / Bevan Conley
"It's so close to Whanganui but still far enough away to have a holiday" - that's why John and Lesley McFarlane have been returning to Lakelands Holiday Park at Lake Wiritoa for 13 years.
Parked up on a deck chair outside their caravan, enjoying some breakfast at 9.30am, is howthey spent their morning when the Chronicle visited yesterday .
"It's a break from being retired at home," Lesley laughed.
John and Lesley McFarlane have been enjoying the relaxation at Lakelands Holiday Park for around 13 years. Photo / Lewis Gardner
And the couple are not alone in enjoying the warmer months at the park.
Jackie Dowman, who has owned the holiday park with her husband Darryl for a year, said this summer was busy, with the facilities completely booked out.
"We're full until the fourth of January and then things settle for the week, and then we've got another lot coming in so we're busy right through February and have a wedding here in March."
She said they have had holidaymakers from Feilding, Palmerston North, Turakina, Tauranga and a lot of locals from Whanganui.
"We get international people here all the time, we get a few that were going to go freedom camping but they said it's just chaotic."
She said on Christmas Day a family came over from Australia, who have been using their big A-frame building.
The couple have recently opened a new driveway to the park and subdivided the front end of the facility near the entrance. The land has been sold and three families are intending to build there.
"The weather's been near-perfect apart from a bit of wind and the lake's all good at the moment to swim in," Dowman said.
Kit Garretts, from Belgium, is making his way down New Zealand. Photo / Lewis Gardner
Kit Garretts and his girlfriend from Belgium had made their way down the Surf Highway to stay a night at the park.
"Campermate recommended this place because it's so idyllic and it's a great place to stock up and just relax here. It's quite funny - people from Whanganui, which is five to 10 minutes away, come here to relax. But no, it's great and I totally understand why you wouldn't go much further."
Guy Grinter and his family have been coming to the park for about the last five years and usually stay over New Year.
He said they bring their family boat and go wakeboarding, skiing, kneeboarding and biscuiting out on the lake.
"The kids love it. My eldest here, she's just getting into biscuiting and wants to give kneeboarding a go."
