Guest nights grow 8.5 percent to nudge 7.4m in New Zealand Holiday Parks

Holiday Accommodation Parks of New Zealand President Lisa Cornelissen says HAPNZ percentage growth exceeded that experienced by the hotel, motel and backpacker sectors with March alone delivering 35 percent growth.

After their most successful summer ever, holiday park operators are being warned to prepare for an even busier peak season in 2016-17.

HAPNZ is a strong supporter of the New Zealand Responsible Camping Forum which is led by Tourism Industry Aotearoa.

Discussing Tourism airs big issues and opportunities for NZ regions

Tourism businesses around New Zealand are being invited to discuss the big challenges and opportunities facing them and their region at a series of events organised by Tourism Industry Aotearoa.

Starting in Queenstown on 12 July, TIA will take the one-day Discussing Tourism events to six locations around the country - Queenstown, Christchurch, Nelson, Wellington, Rotorua and Auckland.

Volkswagen Amarok Adventura powers up with V6 diesel and ecoComfort electrically adjustable front seating

Autonews reports. First shots of Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles Amarok Adventura on the move: the Ute is powered in future by a latest generation 3.0 litre V6 turbo diesel engine.

For the driver and front-seat passenger, the Amarok provides 14-way adjustable ergoComfort seats, which have already won awards for their back-friendliness.

The Adventura achieves 550 Newton metres of torque and 165 kW at this highest power output level. It can reach a top speed of 193 kilometres per hour and accelerate from 0 to 100 km/h in 7.9 seconds.

New Zealand Holiday Park ignites national smoke-free goal as it butts out cigarettes

In what is believed to be a New Zealand-first, TOP 10 Holiday Park Russell has declared the property smoke-free.

The popular holiday park in the Bay of Islands will be an entirely smoke-free zone from May 31, coinciding with World Smoke Free Day.

Next Generation Holiday Parks, who manage the property, said the initiative supports the New Zealand Government's goal of a smoke-free country by 2025.

Online resources help adjust visitors to driving in New Zealand

Ministry of Transport research and statistics shows that in the 12 months to Feb. 22 there have been 316 road deaths in New Zealand.

In 2014 the New Zealand Herald reported that in about three-quarters of crashes, visitors were found at fault, including 11 crashes that were fatal.

About two percent of NZ's road fatalities are caused by tourists, but challenging driving conditions in the South Island can be a trap for visitors and concerns are growing as accidents increase.

GoSee gives High 5 to North Island New Zealand highway to steam, hiss and bubble adventure

State Highway 5 at 247km is the second shortest of New Zealand's eight national highways but it is the North Island's direct route to an amazing geothermal world which steams, hisses and bubbles.

It opens the door to New Zealand's iconic Te Puia, at Rotorua and the living Maori village of Whakarewarewa, giant Californian Redwoods in Whakarewarewa Forest, Huka Falls, Waimangu Volcanic Valley, and excellent Holiday Park accommodation.

Walk, hike, bike pure New Zealand outdoor options range from stroll to blood stirring adventures

Get a mountain high or a river rush the simple way, with one of the region's great walking, hiking and biking trails.

From casual strolls along the river to overnight bush excursions and winding mountain biking tracks the Hamilton & Waikato region has something for everyone.

New Zealand's national walkway, Te Araroa (Long Pathway), passes through Hamilton & Waikato region.

RMA needs to facilitate, not hinder and discourage, sensible NZ eco-tourism development.

Changes to the Resource Management Act must balance care for the environment with the pressing need for new infrastructure to cope with New Zealand's tourism boom, Tourism Industry Aotearoa says.

TIA Chief Executive Chris Roberts today told the Local Government and Environment Select Committee that many tourism operators felt the RMA often hindered development. RMA requirements could be difficult, expensive and time-consuming.

Original Waitomo Caves unique among New Zealand's dramatic underground wonders

Millions of years in the making, the Hamilton and Waikato regions caves, including the world-famous ones at Waitomo, provide a playground unlike any other.

As if it is not enough that nature has carved out a glowworm-studded underground marvel, enterprising locals have added adventure activities to enhance the experience further.

Six reasons to visit i-SITEs when you travel New Zealand

Anytime you are visiting a new town or city in New Zealand, the best place to stop in at is an i-SITE.

This is not an optometrist to treat your tired travel eyes.

Would be nice, though...

An i-SITE is a visitor information centre with a team of local people who are experts in everything there is to see and do in their hometown.

Motorhome adventures in North and South Island of NZ - Part 1

You know your are in trouble when you are totally lost and the view from your motorhome is all steeply downhill.

We were so high in sheep country somewhere on a hilltop ridge near Onewhero that birds were flying below us.

At a 'bargain' $160 a day we three perched across the unyielding cab seat as it lurched and jolted along the one-way winding dirt road. Our backs were to the wall in every sense -

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