By KELLY LONEY - Taranaki Daily News
Last updated 05:00 26/12/2009
South Taranaki beach and motor camps are upbeat about how this summer season is shaping up.
Kaupokonui Beach Motor Camp opened to full bookings today and is set to host busy grounds for five weeks.
It's caretaker Vince Leatherby's first year in the job and he's taking calls from keen campers from Wellington to Auckland.
While most spots are taken, there's always room for overnighters, said Mr Leatherby.
"I'm a friendly man and people are more than welcome at my place."
The new $200,000 shower and facilities block at Kaupokonui was up and running by Christmas Eve and this year the camp shop is fully stocked, and will open from 9am to 6pm.
By Christmas Eve, Waiinu beach camp, near Waitotara, already had a smattering of campers and South Taranaki District Council staff were expecting it to be almost full through the first two weeks of January.
Library Plus in Waverley takes registrations for the council managed campground.
Staff said many of the campers were locals who continued working while based at Waiinu. There was also a steady flow of overnighters staying on their way through Taranaki.
Opunake Beach Holiday Park's peak time starts today, with most but not all spaces already booked.
Camp leasee Craig Russell said the camp is "pretty solid right through until January 10 to 15".
He said there was "the usual crew coming" and many farmers had rung to extend their camp bookings since the increased milk solids pay-out was announced.
Mr Russell had heard from other campground managers that in general New Zealand camps were fuller this year with people who, because of the economic recession, had put their overseas holidays on hold, deciding to stay local instead.
King Edward Park Motor Camp manager Lu Katene said that while there were bookings from now through to the end of January, it was difficult to know how many people in motorhomes would be staying.
"They just turn up, one day we can be empty, the next day full."
Likewise for Ohawe Beach Camp.
Manager Phoebe Paraha was expecting to be busy from Christmas through until the first week of January with several bookings, mostly tenters. "I'm anticipating being busy. I'm not stressing, just plodding along."
In Patea, Carlyle Beach Motor Camp operator Ken Bentley was expecting a usual season with the camp's 30 sites filling up over the period until New Year with mostly families from around Taranaki and Wanganui.
"If the weather stays good, we're looking good."
