Loftus Stanford and Taylah McWhinney, the new owners at Huka Falls River Cruise have established a ‘semi-permanent’ shop front at Aratiatia Dam and refreshed the brand with a new website.
McWhinney says priority was put on upgrading the booking system, with a focus on streamlining the focus for trade. Huka Falls River Cruise has also trialled a price rise for children and will now be doing the same with adult prices from October.
Stanford says the showcase in Auckland has provided an ideal opportunity to update agents on the changes and prepare for contracts to be organised.
Meantime two jetboat operators have had a name change and a few tweaks to their operations.
What were previously Rapids Jet and River Jet, now under the AWA umbrella and iwi ownership, are relaunching as Manutaki and Manukura respectively.
Tiaana Anaru, sales and marketing manager with AWA, says the rebrand will go live on 1 October – making this week’s event an ideal opportunity to introduce the brands to trade.
‘Manukura will be a more educational and relaxed trip and will initially be for trade and group bookings only. Passengers will be able to take the jetboat up to the (Orakei Karoko) geothermal valley and return with Volcanic Air, or vice-versa, or take the jetboat both ways.’
Anaru says Manutaki remains a faster paced, 35-minute thrill experience open for both trade bookings and the public.
The Taupō Sculpture Trail was officially introduced the industry at the Auckland event and launches in November this year. It will provide guided tours from 9am to 10.30am through to February, with a retail cost of $39. All proceeds will go towards establishing more sculptures on the lakefront.
Christine Robb, of Taupō Sculpture Trust says the walk will start at the Taupō Fiore Station and finish at the Boom Boom (dinosaur) sculpture in Riverside Park. Local guides will provide insight not only around the artworks but also the geology and culture of the region.
The new build Ana Tui will open at Acacia Bay, about eight minutes’ drive from Taupo CBD, on 1 December. The property will be the latest addition to the Luxury Villas of New Zealand portfolio.
Co-owner and director (along with Lisa Hayden) of Luxury Villas NZ, Vicki Febery says Ana Tui will be ideal for family groups looking for a relaxed way to explore the Central Plateau. A private chef service will be available and a number of wellness focused facilities will be on site.
