Rainbow Springs Multi-Million Dollar Investment Boosts Visit

News Release

Rainbow Springs Multi-Million Dollar Investment Boosts Visitor Numbers

Rotorua, May 16, 2012 – Rainbow Springs' multi-million dollar 'Big Splash' water ride investment is proving its worth with the Rotorua park tripling its visitor numbers last month.

Rainbow Springs Business Manager Andy Chapman says, "Visitor numbers have gone sky high since the Big Splash opened, nearly tripling compared to April last year, and we are of course thrilled. As we expected the Big Splash is becoming a major drawcard for Rotorua, giving international and local visitors an exciting and unique insight into New Zealand history and culture."

The Big Splash is a fitting addition to the park, which has a strong conservation role as a tuatara breeder and is New Zealand's largest hatcher of brown kiwi chicks.

Domestically there has been strong regional growth of visitor numbers to the park in April with Bay of Plenty visitors increasing by 12 times compared to April 2011; Rotorua 10 times; Waikato 9 and Auckland by 5. Domestic visitors accounted for 74 percent of visitors to the park in April, up 6.5 times compared to same time last year.

The Big Splash opened to the public in late January and in keeping with the park's conservation theme, the ride is a nine-minute long journey through time that features an informative narrative, state-of-the-art animation bringing to life dinosaurs, moa and the haast eagle, and an adrenalin boosting plunge at the end. Mr Chapman says that around 4,000 boats have carried riders on the Big Splash since its inaugural trip.

The $10+ million dollar project - which also includes a new 384-seat, free-flight bird show auditorium - is the largest single investment made in the park since it opened in 1932.

Rainbow Springs Kiwi Wildlife Park is an icon of New Zealand tourism and has been open since 1932. Spread over 22 acres of Rotorua parkland, Rainbow Springs is a conservation and breeding haven for endangered New Zealand species such as kiwi and tuatara. The park offers a unique wildlife experience for visitors, who can see animals in their natural environment, both during the day and night. Features of the award winning tourist attraction include New Zealand’s first ‘open to view’ Kiwi hatchery, and a range of wildlife including trout, tuatara and native birds.


Rainbow Springs, Fairy Springs Road, Rotorua

www.rainbowsprings.co.nz

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