Too bad the sun’s on holiday

The annual influx of holidaymakers to the Coromandel Peninsula and Waihi Beach started yesterday, with most people just happy that it was not raining.

Holiday parks round the peninsula were filling up rapidly. Most are expecting to reach full capacity by New Year's Eve.

At the notorious Kopu Bridge near Thames yesterday afternoon there were no major delays, an unusual sight, police said.

Inspector Leo Tooman, Waikato police traffic manager, believed the weather had convinced many people to stay home.

"Some people got away a bit earlier but I think the weather has had a fair bit to do with it. There's been a lot of cancellations at camping grounds round the place. People are leaving it a bit later - I know I am."

But Dannae Prujean, from Waihi Beach Top 10 Holiday Park, said the site was so full she was turning people away.

There had been a few cancellations because of poor weather but other campers were still coming to fill up spots.

Constable Bryce Cockberton, of Waihi, said traffic was steady in the area but there were no major delays.

"We were down at the beach before and there's not many swimming. The weather might be having a bit of an impact on things."

Thames Coromandel District Council spokesman Peter Hazael said the area was filling up slowly. He also blamed the weather.

The peninsula's population grows from about 25,000 to 200,000 over the holiday period, he said.

At Waihi Beach it was a warm overcast day, perfect for 7-year-old Evelyn Jacobs, from England, and her cousins to try out the new cricket set they got for Christmas.

Thirty members of her family, involving three generations, took to the beach yesterday.

Pukekohe couple Dean and Lisa Jamieson with their son Jack, 11 months, said their trip to Waihi Beach to stay with family was an annual event.

"The weather's pretty crappy but I suppose anything's better than working," said Mr Jamieson.

"It's good to get away."