Tekapo positive as visitors crowd in

Tekapo has been buzzing in the first week of the school holidays as the Dark Sky Project reopens and thousands flock to the hot springs and ice rink.

Tekapo Springs sales and marketing manager Andy Murray said the springs have seen in excess of 1000 customers per day since Saturday.

‘‘We had a very strong June, we were probably just behind last year by about 5 per cent, so considering [Covid-19] that’s actually a really positive result for us,’’ he said.

‘‘July has started pretty gangbusters. We would expect it to be strong and normally it is week one of the school holidays that is busier, quite often the second week is determined by the amount of snow.’’

He said there was some good snowfall last week and more predicted this week.

‘‘It’s a new world out there and it will be interesting to see how it all goes but for us we kind of have to make hay while the sun shines,’’ Murray said.

‘‘What we need is a really strong July, and the support we are getting from locals is helping us achieve that, and even a reasonably strong August will set us up to ride us through until the summer months.’’

He said although signs were positive, it was important not to ‘‘pop the cork too early’’ because he would expect them to be busy at this time if it weren’t for Covid and it is the next months that will count.

‘‘Like all businesses, it is still going to be tough out there and if you can get close to breaking even at the moment I think you’re doing really well.’’

Murray said it was too early to tell whether the reopening of the Dark Sky Project would have a positive impact on numbers, but he said it was certainly good for the town.

The Dark Sky Project only announced its partial reopening a day before so they weren’t expecting an overwhelming response on the first weekend but interest has built, spokesperson Adam Dooley said.

He said it was great to see so many New Zealanders supporting ‘‘local’’ tourism operators.

‘‘Both locals and visitors in Takapo¯ [Tekapo] seem to be feeling positive and excited about the businesses that are reopening and seeing Kiwis making the most of it.’’

Jane Staley, of the Greedy Cow Cafe, said the business has been busy and although the cafe does not rely on the international market she has noticed a lot more domestic tourists than previous years.

‘‘It’s been very busy, it’s definitely up these school holidays compared to last year.’’

There is a lot of fantastic support from Kiwis but there are also fewer hospitality businesses open which is a factor, she said.

The Tekapo Tavern and Reflections Restaurant have still yet to reopen after a fire in November and the Astro Cafe on Mt John and the Dark Sky Diner have been closed since March due to Covid-19.

‘‘It’s hard to tell if it is from the fire at the end of our block or whether it’s a combination of [the fire and Covid-19],’’ Staley said.

Hundreds of children have been entertained and kept active during the first week of the school holidays in and around Timaru.

At the netball courts at Aorangi Stadium potential Silver Ferns of the future where being put through their paces by Old Boys junior netball coach Georgia Mohuanga yesterday.

She said it was good to be able to give participants the opportunity to train without the time pressure of after school.

‘‘I’m bringing them new tactics that I’ve been taught,’’ Mohuanga said.

At the YMCA Oscar programme children were worn out by 2.30pm and had settled down to eat icecream and watch television on Wednesday.

Supervisor Rachel Simpson said participants played mini golf, joined the YMCA pop up programme and had picnicked at

Caroline Bay before returning to the hall at Timaru South School.

Laylani Sloan, 11, said it had been fun, and she enjoyed all the activities.

‘‘It’s amazing,’’ Amber Yerbury, 13, said.

At the YMCA Holiday Pop Up Activities, about 60 children played bubble football, unihoc, basketball and rugby.

Co-ordinator James Coyle said the programme, run for free on Wednesdays and Thursdays over the holidays, went ‘‘very well’’.

Hockey South Canterbury was busy with 100 children on Wednesday and 90 yesterday.

Heading toward a stage performance at the end of the week is the Aidan Theatre Ignite holiday programme in Temuka.

Tutor and director Kimble Henderson said she had a small hardworking group of children who were pretty new to theatre.