Caravan accommodation in demand

Waimarino Bulletin, Volume 3, Issue 12, 13 August 1985, Page 6

Caravan accommodation in demand

Ross and Kath Gillespie (pictured) from New Plymouth are joint partners with Toby and Janice Richardson of Whangarei in a new business venture — Ohakune Caravan Accommodation in Rochfort Park. They brought in the 40 caravans — 20 from New Plymouth and 20 from Whangarei — in early June after receiving approval from the Minister of Crown Lands to lease this former railway station area. Ross and Kath are "really rapt" not only with the response so far but also with the obvious potential of caravan-type accommodation for 12 months of the year as summer activities in the area become more popular. "We've already been booked out on a couple of occasions," said Ross. "Our busiest nights are Fridays and Saturdays but we've also had people staying for up to a week or more and many of them return for a second or third time and we've only been open since Queen's Birthday Weekend!" They are thrilled — and perhaps a little surprised — at the standard of cleanliness and consideration shown by their guests most of their visitors clean up after their stay and leave the caravans much as they found them. Their visitors seem to come from all over the North Island: from Wellington, Palmerston North, Taranaki, Tauranga, Hawkes Bay and Auckland. All bookings are done

through the Turoa Skifield Information Centre which, for the first time this year. has a toll-free line throughout New Zealand as well as the direct dialling 'hot-line' between Ohakune and Auckland which has been operating for a number of years. By operating a 'master plan' of hotel, motel, ski chalet and caravan bookings in Ohakune, Turoa can offer a range of available accom- ' modation at any one time to suit a variety of pockets and purses. Ohakune Caravan Accommodation charge $44 per night for their 4-berth caravans which are equipped with cutlery, crockery, gas stove, fridge and heater guests only have to provide their own bedding and pillows. Ohakune Caravan Accommodation took over the Rochfort Park site after AHI Turoa sold the remaining 40 of their original 120 caravans last year. Ross and Kath who, like the Richardson's, are experienced caravan operators with their own separate

companies handling car; van saies and hire, say that for them providing caravan accommodation is a new experience. They plan to stay on site for the winter season not only because they are keen skiers but to see what the pitfalls are and iron out any problems in order to operate all year round. I They also plan to develop and landscape the site but the planting programme they have in mind may have to wait depending on how busy they are this season. "We hope and expect to have very heavy bookings over the August school holi-

days as well as a very high occupancy rate as families come to Ohakune to ski with their children."