Staycations popular in Taupo

According to a variety of Taupo tourism industry operators, business has been busier than usual thanks to an influx of Kiwi holidaymakers.

Taupo i-SITE Visitor Centre has fielded enquiries from families wanting information on everything from visiting the mountains to indoor activities. Taupo i-SITE Manager, Gail Henderson, is finding that people want to make informed decisions about what they spend their money on. “It’s definitely been much, much busier than usual. They’re spending, but cautiously so,” she says. “Our Ultimate Family Pass and Mates Rates deals have been very popular.”

Taupo DeBretts Spa Resort also noticed a significant increase in domestic and local visitors. “Our accommodation was been 98 to 100 percent full during the school holidays, which is heartening,” says DeBretts Manager Jan Rameka. “The weather affected us very positively and drove most holidaymakers to the hot pools. We also had several holiday programme groups using the pools, plus families and friends coming back from mountain to warm up.”

Despite the inclement weather, Great Lake Hole in One was able to open for business every day of the school holidays, to the relief of owner Peter Battell. “We’ve had good numbers in and definitely had more New Zealand tourists,” he says. “We had three hole-in-one winners during the holidays too!”