Coromandel baches still number one for many Kiwis

Media release
Coromandel baches still number one for many Kiwis

Bookabach announces the top 10 bach destinations this summer

Owning a bach at the beach may now be out of reach for many New Zealanders, but with increasing numbers of baches becoming available for rent, holidaymakers were still heading to the coast in droves over the Christmas break.

From 1 December 2009 to 11 January 2010, the most popular destinations for bach stays on Bookabach (www.bookabach.co.nz) were once again Whangamata and Waihi Beach. Another Coromandel holiday spot, Whitianga, was the third favourite this year; last year’s third most popular spot, Mangawhai Heads slipping to number ten.

Two South Island holiday spots, Lake Wanaka and Queenstown, made the top 10 this year, at number 6 and 8 respectively.

Queenstown’s average tariff was the highest on the list, at $394 per night, while Raglan offered the lowest in the top 10, at $176. Overall, the average tariff per night was up from $219 to $249, with holidaymakers staying fewer nights perhaps to offset the higher rates, the average stay falling from 5 nights to 4.7.

For families that don’t own their own holiday home, renting a bach and sharing the cost between extended families or friends is an economic way to take a summer break, and an increasingly popular one: booking requests during 2009 were up 61% on 2008 (from 88,372 to 142,303), while confirmed bookings rose 80.3% (from 15,132 to 27,282).

Bookabach added more than 1000 new property listings during 2009, as more bach owners opted to rent out their properties.

“Our growth over the past 12 months reflects an increased awareness amongst bach owners that renting out a holiday home is a great way to offset operating costs,” Peter Miles, CEO of Bookabach, says.

A recent Bookabach survey of owners and property managers found 52 percent of respondents cited offsetting the cost of owning a holiday home as the primary reason for renting out their property, while for 43 percent secondary income was the main reason. For 5 percent it was their primary income.

That’s giving more Kiwis a chance to recreate the summer bach holidays they remember from the days when a house at the beach was within reach of the average family.

ENDS

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