El Rancho's new entrance impresses

WELCOME: El Rancho director Bruce O'Brien, right, and deputy director Greg Mather, at the park's new entrance.

Waikanae Christian Holiday Park's visually stunning new entrance has been impressing visitors.

The Transport Agency has created the new entrance road, off Weggery Drive, at the popular holiday park, commonly known as El Rancho.

Its creation was because the previous entrance, off Kauri Rd, was needed as part of the Mackays to Peka Peka Expressway.

The new tar sealed entrance at 58 Weggery Drive provides easy access, is generously wide, well lit with LED lighting, provides a view of a historic chapel, has an estimated 30,000 native plants alongside it which will become increasingly appealing over time, and adjoins a beautiful wetland where there are plans to create a walkway.

"People love the new entrance," park marketing co-ordinator Michelle von Keisenberg said.

"And the thing we love, from a marketing perspective, is that El Rancho effectively moved to the beach without actually moving at all.

"We have a new address and a new post code.

"When you're marketing that online it's far more appealing saying Waikanae Beach than just saying Waikanae."

The new entrance to the 24 hectare park has been well used this summer as people flock to the holiday park.

The park, which welcomes everyone, offers a range of accommodation options, various activities including a new 60 metre long water slide, regular events, team building exercises, or just a place to relax and unwind.

MUST TRY: The new water slide at El Rancho.

It attracts a lot of returnees and there was "a great family culture", said the park's new director, Bruce O'Brien, who has been in the role for about three months.

He said children could also "experience an amazing positive environment where they are able to do things they wouldn't normally be able to do at home".

Mrs Keisenberg added, "You can actually see a transformation in a child across, say, a week long course."

El Rancho dates back to 1963.