Friday 1 September
Central Hawke’s Bay’s Spring Fling a blooming success
Central Hawke’s Bay’s Spring Fling festival launches today, with ticket sales already more than twenty percent ahead of
last year’s total effort.
The two-month-long celebration is jointly organised by Hawke’s Bay Tourism and Central Hawke’s Bay Promotions, and
features more than 30 events which showcase the very best of the Central Hawke’s Bay region.
With three events selling out before the official start of Spring and sales across every event, Central Hawke’s Bay
Tourism Coordinator Trudy Hales believes the three-year-old Spring Fling festival is captivating the public’s
imagination as a unique offering in the events space.
“One of most popular events, Dusk in the Daffodils, reached its initial capacity two days ago. Taniwha Daffodils owners
Esther and Angus Mabin released another 50 tickets this morning – they were gone in less than 15 minutes!”
Among other events to be proving popular, Gwavas Garden & Puahanui Bush Tours have sold out two of their four events, with capacity also close in the two September offerings.
More than 100 tickets have also been sold for the Steam into Spring Excursion Train Journey which sees visitors
traveling up from Paekakariki on a steam locomotive, before swapping onto a diesel locomotive at Woodville for the
remainder of the journey to Waipukurau.
Spring Fling marketing has focused on attracting visitors from neighbouring regions, with billboards in Paekakariki and
Masterton among other efforts which have seen a strong ticket uptake from Wellington and other North Island regions.
Mayor of Central Hawke’s Bay, Alex Walker says the Spring Fling is really putting Central Hawke’s Bay on the map as a
destination of fun, authentic rural events.
“I am incredibly proud of the way our community and tourism operators have embraced the event to showcase our beautiful
district”.
Ms Hales says it has been satisfying to see the public uptake and ticket sales moving so well early on.
“It’s rewarding for both the event managers and the wider Central Hawke’s Bay public, and they should feel proud that
people are keen to explore the district and take part in the rich offerings being held this year.”
Tickets and full event info at www.thespringfling.nz
ends