Between 800 and 900 campervans and caravans will roll into the West Coast next month for the NZ Motor Caravan Association's (NZMCA) national rally.
The rally will be based at the Reefton Racecourse, but members are being encouraged to explore the entire West Coast, with hopes some will stay right through until Easter.
The NZMCA is heavily promoting the Coast this summer, with a large campaign targeting its 116,000 members. The home page of its website advertises the rally with the tagline "all roads lead to the West Coast in 2024".
It is also offering members discounts at a raft of West Coast tourism businesses.
NZMCA West Coast branch president and national rally convener Ken Leslie said they were suggesting members drive from Music in the Mountains in Tapawera in late January down to Reefton for the four-day rally, from February 22-26, and they were hoping some would stay until Warbirds Over Wanaka at Easter Weekend.
Mr Leslie said many of the 800-900 were coming from the North Island.
Campervans and caravans will be parked in "avenues" at the racecourse, organised by an experienced parking and welcoming team of 35 to 40 people.
"It will be like a little city," Mr Leslie said.
"It will triple Reefton's population (of 900)."
Reefton hosted a regional Top of the South rally in 2020 with 475 vans; this year it hosts the national rally.
Mr Leslie said he was trying to promote and hype the rally.
"It's going to be really big for Reefton. What skids my wheels is it will be big for the whole district."
Inangahua Community Board chairwoman Linda Webb said the NZMCA was also keeping in touch with Reefton Inc to ensure businesses were ready for the influx.
"Making sure they are open. Last time was such a success."
Practicalities have also been sorted — for example, the town rubbish bins will be emptied daily during the rally.
Ms Webb said with peak summer here, there were already a lot of people in Reefton.
"The camping ground has been full over Christmas, and there are a lot of people at the racecourse, where the camping ground is for (NZMCA) members"
Speaking last year, NZMCA chief executive Bruce Lochore said it had decided to market the West Coast as a destination for summer 2024 and it was putting considerable resources into doing that.
With its 116,000 members, NZMCA is the largest organised domestic tourist group in the country.
— The Greymouth Star
