Big plans for Mercer
Mercer wants to be on the tourism map.
The North Waikato town is trying to be more than a blink-andmiss, food and gas pit stop.
There’s the New Zealand award-winning cheese located straight off the exit ramp. And not too far away is the John Hill Estate in Hunua, the Hampton Downs racing track and the famous Tuakau Hotel.
Hamilton & Waikato Tourism chief executive Jason Dawson said he had noticed a jump in visitor activities and experiences being developed in North Waikato.
There’s a lot more tourism opportunities being explored in this part of the region, he said.
Businesses at Mercer Airfield are trying to get visitors to the area - starting with skydiving.
Go Skydive New Zealand opened in April, the first skydiving company to start up since 2012. The company gathered visitor research from information centres and other tourism activities in North Waikato.
‘‘People often ask, what’s there to do before I go to Auckland?’’ Go Skydive NZ director Darren Fletcher said. ’’We found visitors that were at the tail end of their New Zealand visit were looking for places to stay and things to do before they had to drive to the airport.
‘‘They didn’t want to stay in Auckland if they didn’t have to, and had a few days to kill. So, what can I do?
‘‘We want to be one of those options. People here, know it’s here. But we want visitors to know that it’s here.’’
The Mercer backpackers is also located at the airfield. Manager Kim Clarke said they wanted to promote the accommodation for tourists passing through, to girlfriends’ weekend getaways.
The nine-room facility has a set cost of $35 per person. There is also a cafe situated in a dome built in 1983.
‘‘It’s a convenient yet unique spot away from the major cities, but with still plenty to do in the area.
‘‘Grab some cheese and wine, those brave enough can do the skydive and relax and stay right here.’’
Clarke also operates Simsity, a racing car simulator that is often on site at the airfield. She said that can be a ‘‘bit of fun’’ too, taking turns on the track.
Dawson said the backpackers had been operational for a while now, and the skydiving was one of the best drop zones in the country.
‘‘The new skydiving operation is a fantastic asset for our region and helps drive our ‘stay and spend’ message for the region.’’