Holiday revellers began pouring into Wanaka and Lake Hawea yesterday, with roads busy and shops and cafes full of people.
Retailers and business operators spoken to by the Otago Daily Times in the days after Christmas had said they did not think the numbers were as high as in previous years.
However, that tune had changed yesterday, with many locals reporting they had not seen so many people around at New Year for several years.
Ritual Cafe owners Paul Tregea and Chris Hadfield reported their most hectic day of the year, with 493 coffees (or one coffee every 45 seconds) made between 9am, when they opened, and 3.30pm.
Large groups of young people and families were out on the Wanaka beach front while the New World supermarket was extremely busy.
Streams of cars full of young people were heading to Albert Town and Lake Hawea to join the many other young campers who had set up earlier in the week.
Harbourmaster Marty Black said there were not so many boats on the lakes yesterday as the day before, because of the weather, and noted the streets were "chocker".
Senior Sergeant Allan Grindell said behaviour had not been too bad.
Wanaka police dealt with some minor driving complaints and a minor single-car accident near the top of the Crown Range yesterday afternoon but there had not been any reports of serious traffic issues to police by 5pm.
Concert-goers were praised for their good behaviour by Wanaka police yesterday after the first of the Lake Hawea summer concert series on Monday night.
About 2500 people were at the Feelers and Op Shop concert at the Lake Hawea Hotel but very few incidents were reported.
"By all accounts, last night was pretty good. Behaviour levels were pretty smart. That is good," Snr Sgt Grindell said.
