27 May 2011

Wielding his magic stick and declaring “the world I love is around me today” Christchurch’s legendary Wizard officially opened the brand new Oast House ablutions block at Queenstown’s Top 10 Holiday Park ‘Creeksyde’ yesterday (Thursday 26 May).

The Wizard has been closely associated with the sustainably quirky property since officiating at the opening 23 years ago. He gave his blessing to the new building and praised owners Tonnie and Erna Spijkerbosch, saying their work was an “example of making the world a better place.”

His speech paid tribute to the workmanship of the Oast House and contrasted it to the concrete structures introduced with modernism.

Almost one hundred well-wishers attended the celebrations. Special guests included Lifetime Members Peter and Dorothy Inglis of Dunedin, who have visited the holiday park since opening and were gifted life membership for their 60th wedding anniversary there.

Not your ordinary ablutions block, the Oast House- inspired building combines classic Kiwi innovation, sustainability and creativity, leading it to be dubbed the ‘Hundertwasser toilets of the South.’

The Oast House reflects the artistic and sustainable enthusiasm of Mr and Mrs Spijkerbosch. Its entrance features two gothic gargoyles named ‘Jack’ and ‘Jane,’ named after an English couple who are regulars at the camp.

Inside, the ablutions block takes personal hygiene to a whole new level with life-size trompe l’oeil paintings welcoming guests to a three-dimensional world. Female visitors step into the Oast House through an image of a larger-than-life sized ballet dancer into a day spa environment with rock pools painted on the floor. Males pass a larger-than-life doorman to enter a Speight’s Ale House complete with bar stools and local barflies.

Unique features of the Oast House include its top door which is re-worked from the framework of the former Buckham’s Brewery shed that previously stood on site, and its brass door knobs and hinges which are also recycled. The interior decorating stayed in the family with Erna and Tonnie’s nephew and trompe l’oeil artist Marc Spijkerbosch creating the stunning artwork within.

In addition to the interior decoration, Queenstown adventure operators have rallied round to advertise inside the shower and toilet cubicles with amazing larger-than-life wraparound imagery.

They include Skyline, Ziptrek, Dart River Jet Safaris, Nomad Safaris, Appellation Wine Tours, AJ Hackett Bungy and Elevation Hang Gliding.

For more than a decade Creeksyde has proudly lived up to its title as the world’s first environmentally certified Holiday Park through dedicated recycling, re-using and being a successful, sustainable tourism business. The ablution block artwork joins several unusual findings around the holiday park, such as recycled mosaics, sculptures, outdoor BBQ kitchens creatively made from everyday objects.

ENDS

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