Tukurua’s holiday park reopens
The Marden family of the reopened GB Holiday Park at Tukurua, from left, Bailey, Karen, Ethan, Sofia and Dean. Photo: Gerard Hindmarsh.
Karyn and Dean Marden are the new managers of the Golden Bay Holiday Park at Tukurua, which re-opened for business at Labour Weekend.
Previously based in Otaki, Karyn worked as the administrator and membership co-ordinator for the Holiday Parks Association of NZ, while Dean worked as a security guard for Main Security around the Horowhenua area. They have three children: Ethan,16, Bailey,14 and Sofia,4. The two eldest now attend high school here while the youngest goes to Takaka Kindergarten.
Karyn said they were looking for a complete change. “This came up so we jumped at it. In many ways we are going into the unknown having never run a holiday park before, but we’re here to give it our best shot.”
The couple admit their challenge will be building the business back up after the camp closed down last April following an outbreak of norovirus there last summer. One major change that has been implemented is that camper numbers will now be capped at 350, almost half its capacity in past summer holiday seasons.
“Basically this means there won’t be such a demand on infrastructure, and campers will generally be able to spread out more. More space too means we can set up some old Kiwi holiday favourites like volleyball and swingball,” said Karyn.
The camp also intends to set up a school holiday programme called the Tukurua Kids Club for around five weeks from 27 December. The two-hour-a-day activities will include beach digs, face painting, treasure hunts, even painting up an old van. The camp will also join 300 holiday parks nationwide that have each pledged to raise $1,000 this summer for the Breast Cancer Research Trust.
In addition to its accommodation in the campsites and long-standing cabins, the park will now offer two recently completed luxury beach houses, the first stage of 12 additional beach and streamside units granted resource consent in February last year.
Karyn says bookings for the Golden Bay Holiday Park are “tight around New Year” but there are still plenty of campsites available otherwise.
“A lot of people have been coming here for years and years. Some of those will be returning but we will also be expecting to see a whole lot of fresh new faces. It’s a great opportunity and we look forward to providing a quality experience.”
Gerard Hindmarsh
