Dunedin couple Lynda and Neri Wall always come for a two-week break in summer, and many long weekends, usually with their three adult children and eight grandchildren.
Mrs Wall has been visiting the resort for more than 50 years — her parents owned a cabin in Lakeview before her father built a holiday house in Fernhill.
For the past 13 years they have camped on a leasehold site at the Frankton Motor Camp on the shores of Lake Wakatipu.
Every time they arrive they are struck by Frankton’s rapid growth and change, particularly in roading and new shopping developments.
"Every time you come up there’s something different," she said.
Daughter Keri O’Connor said she disagreed with people who complained the resort was increasingly being overrun by tourists.
"That’s the hustle and bustle of the town — I like it.
"I always feel like I’m overseas when I’m here — you hear all the accents."
Mr Wall was equally relaxed about Frankton’s worsening traffic congestion.
"That’s just part of being here, until they do something about it."
Mrs Wall said she recognised Queenstown’s growth had pushed rents "sky-high" and created a shortage of worker accommodation.
She remembered when the resort had one grocery store: "Those were the days when you would just walk everywhere and there wasn’t all the crowds."
They began coming to the motor camp 13 years ago because her sister and brother owned cabins there.
They now had their own "shed" complete with a toilet and shower — and a tent for extra space — half a stone’s throw from the water’s edge.
They loved the variety of activities on offer, the wide choice of day trips and the chance for their grandchildren to play with other kids in the camp.
"That’s the thing about camping — you make friends and all the kids play with each other."
