Te Anau flying high on TripAdvisor ratings
Such are the accolades that Te Anau TOP 10 Holiday Park receives on TripAdvisor, that is ranks third most highly rated
accommodation in the area – behind two luxury resorts.
“Not bad for a holiday park,” says manager Rochelle Peychers “when you consider the calibre of the competition.”
Te Anau received the best TripAdvisor Rating at the recent annual TOP 10 Holiday Park Awards.
With 330 reviews to date, Te Anau notched an overall rating of 4.5 out of 5.
“Given the large number of reviews, it’s far easier to get a negative one. It’s a particularly special award for us. We
try to offer the best possible end-to-end visitor experience. We treat potential guests who ring or email to enquire in
just the same way as we treat our customers who are staying with us at any given time. It can take 20 emails before
someone finally makes a booking so it’s important to provide an excellent customer service experience at every step.”
Rochelle has been managing the Te Anau park for the past two years, working with owners Bryan and Georgia McChlery who
have run the complex for the past 20 years. Bryan’s parents originally ran the park.
Born and raised in Te Anau, Rochelle has degrees in Psychology and History. This is her first foray as a manager but she
has previously worked in local businesses.
Set on 2ha, the Te Anau park features 45 rooms, 100 powered sites and around 10 non-powered. During Christmas/New Year,
Kiwis flock to the popular park – some have been coming for over 25 years. But the rest of the year is dominated by
international guests; Rochelle estimates about 70% from overseas and 30% domestic.
Always looking to enhance the visitor experience, Rochelle and the McChlerys this year opened three outdoor Hot Tubs and
Sauna - solar powered and chemical free - overlooking Lake Te Anau. They have also introduced a new purpose built cycle
hub on site that provides safe bicycle storage and a D.I.Y bike repair station free for guest use.
“It’s the ultimate cyclist’s experience,” says Rochelle.
Not surprisingly, more plans are in the pipeline for some “exciting changes in the next six months,” she promises.
David Ovendale, TOP 10 Holiday Park chief executive says the TOP 10 awards aim to recognise and celebrate the hard work
and excellence achieved by the holiday parks that consistently excel at what they do.
The awards celebrate the excellence and achievements of the 47 franchisees throughout the New Zealand. The Supreme Award
in turn recognises the top overall holiday park in the TOP 10 Group.
The Supreme Award was won by Northlands Kauri Coast, followed by Rotorua.
Other holiday parks to receive awards included:AwardWinnerRunner upBest Web ProfileCoromandel TOP 10Christchurch TOP 10People’s ChoiceRotorua TOP 10Christchurch TOP 10Top Service AwardWaitomo TOP 10Seal Colony TOP 10Largest Qualmark IncreaseRotorua TOP 10Te Anau TOP 10
Ovendale said New Zealand Holiday Parks currently generate 6.7 million guest nights annually, representing 19% of all
commercial guest nights in the past year. Yes
Domestic visitors make up 68% of patronage with the international marketing delivering 32% of guest nights.
“As New Zealand’s premier holiday park group, TOP 10 have greater appeal to the international market with 49% of our
guest nights attributable to international visitors.
“To support this, the TOP 10 Group has just launched an international, multi-day, “voucher style” passport specifically
targeting overseas customers before they leave their country of origin.”
While staying at New Zealand Holiday Parks, visitors contribute, in terms of direct expenditure, just under $1 billion
annually to the New Zealand economy.
ends