Businesses ready for 'invasion'

Waimarino Bulletin, Volume 3, Issue 1, 28 May 1985, Page 1

Businesses ready for 'invasion'

Winter season businesses throughout the Ruapehu region are now making final preparations for this weekend's first big visitor 'invasion' of the season.

A number oi hotels are fully booked and a lucky few even have waiting lists. Piper's Lodge in National Park is one of the establishments which is turning people away. The lodge is full, mainly with tour groups from Auckland, Wellington and Whangarei. Mr Paul Piper stated that his company's bookings are better than last year for Queen's Birthday, and believes the reason is the early snowfall. Piper's Kings Court in Ohakune is also almost full for the holiday weekend, with only a few rooms still to let. If the mountain is not open for skiing by the weekend, Piper guests will be kept entertained with horse riding, white-water rafting and a trip to the mountain. Only single rooms are left at the Ohakune Hotel with most of their visitors coming from Auckland. A disco will be held at the hotel over Queen's Birthday. The Raetihi Hotel's bookings for the winter are steadily increasing and musical entertainment will be staged for guests this weekend. Mrs Iris Parr says she plans to have live entertainment most weekends throughout the ski season. She will also serve early breakfast for skiers from 6.30am so they can leave for the mountain early. The Mountain View Hotel at National Park still has vacancies for the weekend but Mr and Mrs Jack Quirk hope their newly upgraded bars will attract a lot of passing trade. The Quirks will be catering for bus tours throughout the winter and hope to gradually restore the rest of the

hotel to its former glory with an extensive renovation scheme. Oasis Hotel in Waiouru is fully booked on the 31st May and 1st June. Last year, the hotel was also fully booked over Queen's Birthday with guests coming from all over the country. 'Discovery' in National Park is half booked says Mr Graeme Horne, a partner at the motel. Many of their guests are returning after having spent an enjoyable holiday at the motel complex last year. Also half full is Buttercup

Camp, where the staff are planning to make the weekend a family event, with folk dancing and square dancing. The company can also offer scenic flights over the volcanic plateau, if skiers are unable to get on the mountain. But more snow will have to fall on Mt. Ruapehu before the stream of tourists turns into a flood. Several heavy snowfalls are still required before either skifield can open, and after two poor seasons all of the area's hoteliers are hoping that things will be better this winter.