Paul O'Connell was too busy to talk yesterday morning. He was fielding calls from people rushing to book space at the Ranfurly Holiday Park for the Christmas and New Year break.
When he had time to speak to the Otago Daily Times, the situation he explained at the park he managed was similar to camping grounds across Central Otago - all near or at capacity, with good weather prompting last-minute changes of mind.
Reports from the camps suggested up to about 6500 people will be sleeping in tents, caravans, camper vans and cabins across Central Otago over what is the busiest time of year for the major holiday parks.
Omakau Recreation Reserve Camping Ground manager Sally McCauley said the site was ''chocka''.
''We have seven powered sites left.''
Of about 10 camps contacted, the bulk of bookings came from Dunedin, Invercargill and Christchurch. Many of the smaller camps said return customers made up a large portion of their campers.
Larchview Holiday Park owner Tracy de Woeps said about 20% of those coming to the Naseby park had been before.
Some families had been camping there for 40-50 years.
In Cromwell, Chalets Holiday Park manager Mike Griffiths said the park, booked out from December 10 until the end of January, was ''like the League of Nations'', filled with orchard and vineyard workers from about the world.
''This year, it is [booked out] earlier than normal. There's an increase in people. We focus towards the orchards.''
Most camps contacted were experiencing a trend of more customers yearly, or were small enough that they were always fully booked between December 24 and January 5.
However, weather and forecasts had a big impact on how people booked accommodation, and how long they stayed.
The only camp reporting lower numbers than usual was the Millers Flat Holiday Park.
Owner Russell Hannah said he did not know why, but the season so far had been quiet for the area.
Janice Graham, who works at the Alexandra Holiday Park, said it was almost fully booked - and that was how it should be during Christmas.
Many operators of the camps said they would experience two ''waves'' during the summer.
After New Year, there would be a quiet patch before a new group of campers turned up.
For most, the busy period would last until the end of the school holidays.
WANAKA
Wanaka camps are again reporting strong bookings for the holiday period, similar to previous years.
Most have some availability for Christmas but are fully booked for New Year, when the second annual Rhythm and Alps concert will be held in the Cardrona Valley.
Lake Outlet Holiday Park owner Glenn Tattersall said the season had started a lot earlier in terms of international guests.
Wanaka Lakeview Holiday Park manager Aggi Sanders had noticed a similar trend, with bookings over the past three months up by about 30% on previous years.
WAITAKI
Commercial camps in the Waitaki Valley are either full or only have a few sites left, but there is still room in the freedom camping areas around Lakes Waitaki, Aviemore and Benmore operated by the Waimate and Waitaki District Councils.
The region attracts thousands of campers during the Christmas-New Year period, many choosing to shun comfort and spend time around the lake edges.
Omarama Top 10 Holiday Park, with 105 powered sites and about 30 tent sites, is full for that period, including cabins and its motel accommodation.
The Otematata Holiday Park and Lodge's 55 powered sites and 15 camp sites are full, although there are some rooms available on odd nights.
The Kurow Holiday Park has a small number of powered sites and tent sites available.
CLUTHA
The good holiday weather has made camps busy in the South.
Newhaven Holiday Park at Owaka was booked out for Christmas, Brenda Wilson said.
As the holidays approached, the demographics of campers changed.
''We've actually been quite busy over the past couple of weeks but it's 80-90% overseas visitors.
''At Christmas, we start getting Kiwis.''
At Curio Bay Holiday Park, Steve Hill said the split between Kiwis and international guests was about ''50/50''. He said the improving weather had seen the camp return to ''on par with last year''.
Pounawea Camping Ground reported the usual Kiwis were coming to take up their spots.
Balclutha Motor Camp only had one spot left on Sunday and remained busy.
There is still plenty of room, however, at Taylor Park Motor Camp in Milton.
Where are the vacancies over Christmas-New Year?
Omakau Recreation Reserve Camping Ground
Capacity: About 1000
Vacancies: Extremely limited
Millers Flat Holiday Park
Capacity: About 300
Vacancies: Sites and cabins available
Larchview Holiday Park, Naseby
Capacity: About 250
Vacancies: Limited
Ranfurly Holiday Park
Capacity: About 220
Vacancies: Sites and accommodation available, but filling fast
Alexandra Holiday Park
Capacity: About 2000
Vacancies: Limited space available
Clyde Holiday & Sporting Complex
Capacity: About 500
Vacancies: The odd tent site
Cromwell Top 10 Holiday Park
Capacity: About 1500
Vacancies: Non-powered sites available
Cairnmuir Motor Camp, Bannockburn
Capacity: About 180
Vacancies: None.
Bannockburn Domain Camping Ground
Capacity: About 300
Vacancies: NoneT
The Chalets Holiday Park, Cromwell
Capacity: About 250
Vacancies: None.
Queenstown Lakeview Holiday Park
Capacity: 295 (250 sites + 45 accommodation units)
Vacancies: None.
Queenstown Lakeview Youth Park
Capacity: About 1500
Vacancies: Limited.
Frankton Motor Camp
Capacity: 63 sites (12 accommodation units, 39 sites)
Vacancies: None.
Arrowtown Holiday Park
Capacity: About 612
Vacancies: Limited before December 28, fully booked after that. About 200 sites available in the Youth Park on the adjacent rugby field.
Glendhu Bay Lakeside Holiday Park
Capacity: 2000
Vacancies: Limited tent sites over Christmas; fully booked New Year
Wanaka Top 10 Holiday Park
Capacity: 800
Vacancies: None.
Wanaka Lakeview Holiday Park
Capacity: 900-1000
Vacancies: Tent and camper van sites available
Lake Outlet Holiday Park
Capacity: 1000
Vacancies: Unpowered sites available
