It is hoped a strong Easter period will be a saving grace for the Queenstown Lakes district's holiday parks, just as their busiest Christmas yet had improved an otherwise lacklustre six months.
Queenstown Lakes District Council parks manager Greg Hartshorne yesterday presented his half-year report to the first finance and corporate committee meeting of the year.
After a small but rapidly curtailed spike in numbers because of the Rugby World Cup, an increase over the holiday period brought camping numbers for the period in line with last year's.
Mr Hartshorne hoped the return of Warbirds Over Wanaka over Easter would have the same effect for the camping grounds, despite bookings for the first quarter being down.
"I think it's going to get tough and we are going to go back to where we were in October and November ...
and while they say we have an increase of the Asian market flying in, they are not really the holiday camp market," Mr Hartshorne said.
"Our big hope is that the Australians don't head to America instead, on the basis that the Australian dollar is doing incredibly well against the American dollar."
He said figures made available after the third quarter would give a better view because of the large number of campers who stay on through January.
In addition, he said he had noticed a decrease in illegal freedom camping and although there were a few people who tried to get away without paying, they were in a minority.
"Most of the ones that park around are not campervan company vans but people who have come around and bought their own vans and station wagons. So it seems campervan companies are doing well in making sure they are aware of the policies down here."
