Boats, baches for a break

Kiwis might have missed the chance to take a break during Easter weekend, but Queen’s Birthday Weekend will be an opportunity to take a break.

Data from Google Trends showed searches for motels in Blenheim was up 160 per cent this week, compared to the week prior.

The Lodge at Te Rawa’s coowner, Anne Brabazon, said that until May 25 only one of their five apartments was booked. However, on Monday morning people had been calling to make bookings for Queen’s Birthday.

‘‘We usually have guests from Australia, they come this weekend, but this year obviously they can’t,’’ Brabazon said.

‘‘Easter is usually our busiest weekend, more than Christmas, but this year we were in lockdown.’’

She said they would remain open over winter to make up for lost trade, where in previous years they would have closed.

‘‘It is great though, we’re getting groups coming out of lockdown – people are saying ‘where can we go’ and choosing to make a booking with us.

‘‘The Pelorus Mail Boat brings in a few customers too, and we always get a few people come in for day trips from their bach, because we are only accessible by boat,’’ Brabazon said.

Blenheim TOP 10 Holiday Park owner Leon She said they had taken more bookings for Queen’s Birthday Weekend compared to the rest of May, but it was not as many reservations as they were used to.

‘‘Normally we get more domestic tourists than international, some people might just be leaving it to the last minute this year,’’ he said.

Marlborough harbourmaster Luke Grogan said since New Zealand had shifted to level 2, he had noticed more boat activity in Marlborough.

‘‘We traditionally get the biggest bump in Easter and that’s when the boating season tends to end,’’ Grogan said.

‘‘We expect that this time of year it would normally be quiet, but with Covid [lockdown], people lost a lot of opportunity to finish their boating season.’’

He reminded those who were taking their boat out for the first time in a while to do all the appropriate preparation checks.

‘‘Make sure all of your gears are working and serviced. Check life jackets inflate and your radio works, but otherwise, get out there and enjoy it.’’

The Marlborough District Council rain data showed 16.5mm of rain fell on May 24 and another 23mm fell on May 25.

Niwa meteorologist Ben Noll said more rain could be on the way for Friday and Saturday.

‘‘It may not necessarily rain the whole weekend, it looks like it will ease. But at this point the back half of the weekend would be better for Marlborough,’’ Noll said.

High temperatures for the rest of the week were ‘‘mid teens’’, he said.

‘‘Anywhere from 14 to 16 degrees.’’