Lodge adds beds to list

Waimarino Bulletin, Volume 6, Issue 241, 3 May 1988, Page 8 (Supplement)

Lodge adds beds to list

Teresa

O'connor

A lodge run by Turoa Skifields Accommodation Service will be opening to the public for the coming ski season. Beechers Lodge was completed summer 1987 at the entrance of the Turoa Alpine Village. Reservations controller Jill Crichton says the lodge should help relieve the pressure on winter accommodation because it sleeps about 30 people. Miss Crichton runs Turoa's central booking agency in Ohakune renting

out chalets, private homes and caravans to skiers and arranging farm stays. She says it is usually in the first week after the May holidays that they run out of accommodation. "At that time, lastminute bookings are impossible." The season is due to start on July 1 and Miss Crichton says they have already received quite a few bookings. Turoa is running a big promotion in the North Island so she is hopeful more skiers will be staying in the area this year.

Miss Crichton says that, with a bit of planning, there is normally enough accommodation for visitors, but the new lodge and extra units at three Ohakune motels will definitely help her to place everyone. Bad weather last year forced many skiers to cancel plans in the school holidays, but the season picked up with a late snow fall in September. Miss Crichton is optimistic about this year, saying that it's a colder season already, so things are looking good.