Australian company Hampshire Holiday Parks took over the lease on five camping grounds in the region in late 2023, including the Glendhu Bay site on the shores of Lake Wānaka.
Looming changes to boat parking, lake access and prices had long-time campers fearing their much-loved camping tradition was about to change for the worse.
However, Glendhu Bay Campers Association president Doug Fraser said there had been positive outcomes from the meetings he had attended concerning possible changes at the campground.
"They've notified that the pricing will go up overall an extra $2 per person per year this coming year. That's just an issue that we have to grin and bear — we want to maintain an affordable camping experience for New Zealand families," he said.
"One issue that came up through the year was ‘rollover provisions’. That’s the ability for campers to come back year after year to the same camping site on the same date."
Mr Fraser, who has been holidaying at the Glendhu Bay campground for over 70 years, said being in close proximity to friends and family was a tradition for many campers.
"It’s important we have those rollover provisions so that each year we know that we can all come and camp in reasonably close vicinity and enjoy each other's company."
Hampshire Parks last year raised concerns about vehicles being parked on the lakefront and boats being launched directly from there, saying
it was "affecting the operation of the camp and the beachfront area generally".
However, the campers association made its case to the council that removing boat parking and launching on the lakefront would be a safety risk.
Andrew McCone, a summertime resident of the camp for the last four years, said if the proposal to limit boat launches from the camp shore was approved it would negatively impact a majority of campers in the area.
"Most people here are affiliated with the water. It’s probably why 80% of people come here.
Melanie Foote, of Christchurch, who first visited the camp as a child, said the new owners had done well upgrading the space.
"Not being able to launch from the shore was big talk among campers.
"Glendhu Bay isn’t a cheap holiday any more — it costs about the same as any other campground in the area," she said.
When the Otago Daily Times visited the Glendhu Bay campsite this week, a sign outside notified that the campsite was fully booked.
Hampshire Parks did not respond to a request for comment this week.
