Little room at inn great news for city

This summer is shaping up to be another record breaking season for Rotorua tourism with attractions, accommodation and eateries brimming with holidaymakers.

Rotorua Visitor Centre and i-Site manager Graham Brownrigg said it had been a busy couple of days with an influx of both domestic and international visitors.

"There is no accommodation available in town and it is all booked out over the next few days so that is a pretty good indication of how busy Rotorua is. There have been a lot of domestic visitors as well as international tourists - it has been a good mix so far.

"Yesterday we had just as significant a day as we did at the same time last year which was great to see. Last year we had peak numbers coming through so to be on par this year is fantastic."

Mr Brownrigg said the Redwoods' new Treewalk attraction had been "slammed" on its first day of business with "way more sales than we had anticipated".

"That's just Rotorua's newest attraction, the other popular spots are doing just as well as they did at this time last year. While we're only a couple of days into the busy season, it looks like the rush will go on for longer than previous years which could mean we're in for another record breaking year."

Rotorua Association of Motels president and owner of Cedarwood Lakeside Holiday Retreat Fiona Suurenbroek said it had been non-stop since Boxing Day and they were now having to turn people away.

"Our members are all at full capacity and so when we have to turn people away, we try find them somewhere else but it's pretty full everywhere.

"From December 26 it has been absolutely full on. Our phones are ringing off the hook with people wanting to stay for a couple of nights to enjoy the warm weather.

She said the rush was on par with previous years and usually quietened down around mid-January. "You never know though. If the weather plays ball we could be in for a long, busy couple of months."

Capers and Pig & Whistle owner Gregg Brown said they too had been flat out.

"It has only been two days since we reopened after Christmas but it has been pretty hectic.

"It is still a bit too early to tell if it has been busier than last year but I would say if these last few days are anything to go by, we will be in for a busy summer period."

Mr Brown said the rush was mainly holidaymakers. "We're not seeing too many locals, it's pretty much all out of towners making the most of this nice, hot weather."