Get it Off in New Zealand!

Naturist's in New Zealand!

Katikati Holiday Park is now living up to tourism’s 100% Pure New Zealand branding.

The guests, from overseas and around the country, wear no clothes during your stay, but they will put on a top if they are getting sunburnt or the weather turns chilly.

Katikati Naturist Park in Wharawhara Rd has been named as one of 29 national tourism awards finalists, and will contest the visitor accommodation category along with six other operators.

The naturist park, owners Kevin and Joan Sampson, is joined by Waihi Beach Top 10 Holiday Park, boutique operator Stafford Villa in Auckland, budget hotel Nomads Capital in Wellington, and upmarket hotels and resorts Grand Mercure St Moritz in Queenstown, Holiday Inn Wellington + The Langham, Auckland.

The Sampsons, who opened the 3.5ha park more than 12 years ago, are delighted to be among such distinguished company. “Over the years we’ve had positive feedback from our customers and we’ve tried to run the park in a professional way,” said Mr Sampson, a former Treasury economist.

“We’ve sunk a lot of money in the property, and we wanted to see how we stacked up against other operators,” he said.

The park has chalet and cabin accommodation, and sites available for camping, caravans and motor homes.

In the financial year ending March 31, the Sampsons hosted more than 3000 visitors, representing 13,000 guest nights. They have had visitors from 17 countries, staying an average of four nights, and can accommodate up to 200 people at one time, particularly in the busy January and February summer months.

Mr Sampson said the national judging process was very rigorous. They sent off a six-page expression of interest in February and after being accepted in to the second round, they then had to fill out a 26-page document detailing their business.

The national finalists were named at Tourism Rendezvous New Zealand (Trenz) in Rotorua, and two judges will make a three-hour site visit to Katikati within a fortnight. The winners will be announced at a Tourism Industry Association NZ gala dinner in Christchurch on August 5.

Waihi Beach Top 10 Holiday Park, operated by Ian and Vicki Smith, was last year named the best holiday park in the country _ but this time the Smiths have competition from the naturists just down the road.

Whakatane-based White Island Tours is also a national finalist, for the second year running, in the visitor activities and attractions category.

The coastal Bay of Plenty region has an unprecedented three national finalists, the same as Destination Rotorua.

Tim Burgess, general manager of Tauranga-based Tourism Bay of Plenty, said that having three finalists was “`massive. Those businesses are judged against the very best in New Zealand they are not soft awards.”

He said the finalists helped give the region a national profile.

By Graham Skellern