Holidaymakers head to Stewart Island and Southland destinations

Monday, 27 December 2021

Greymouth couple Peter and Paula Cox at the Invercargill Holiday Park and Motels on Monday as part of their three-week South Island holiday.

Accommodation businesses on Stewart Island and in Southland are filling up as New Zealanders start their summer holidays.

Stewart Island Backpackers owner Aaron Joy said a large number arrived on Monday.

“Everyone's got their Christmas over with. Now it’s travelling, meeting up with family. We can sleep about 70 [in rooms] a night, and we’re pretty well full from now on for a couple of weeks.”

The backpackers’ tent site was low in numbers mainly due to international travellers unable to enter the country, Joy said.

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“As long as the rooms are full, we’re happy.”

Invercargill Holiday Park and Motels owner Diane Todd said she had more than 20 groups arriving on Monday. However, after Tuesday bookings were “a bit quieter”.

Riverton Holiday Park and Camping Ground is virtually full to mid-January with 70 to 80 people booked most nights.

It’s co-owner Veronica Wylie said the property can hold 100 holidaymakers but this summer the number was reduced to create more room for everyone.

It had 30 camp sites, including 10 spaces that were created after more land was bought last year.

Te Anau Top 10 Holiday Park owner Brad Molloy said his business had 250 to 300 holidaymakers most nights up to January 1.

Full capacity is 350 people.

“Today and tomorrow is definitely filling up,” Molloy said.

Some regulars at the holiday park were extremely loyal, he added.

“We’ve got four families that have been camping with us for the last 20 years.”

Catlins Newhaven Holiday Park co-owner Deborah Frandsen expects to be busy for the next week with about 45 people staying most nights.

“Our cabins are completely booked until the New Year and our camping [area] is pretty much booked up as well … we’ve got a few empty spots,” Frandsen said.

“Starting today it’s quite busy for us, which is fabulous.”