4 | REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT Tasman Holiday Parks T T Richard Loader A one-stop beachfront experience Picture perfect: Tasman Holiday Parks’ Papamoa facility is located right on the spectacular beachfront. When it comes to great beach holiday destinations, with its white sands and turquoise waters, few spots in Aotearoa would beat Papamoa, and Tasman Holiday Parks has a spot right on the beachfront just for you. Just a short distance from Mount Maunganui in the sunny Bay of Plenty, Tasman Holiday Parks’ Papamoa facility has a broad range of accommodation types to match all budgets and preferences, from budget friendly cabins right up to premium villas. “We cater for families with kids, empty nesters, corporates and businesses,” says Tasman Holiday Parks’ General Manager David Aflallo. “We have a conference facility right in the park so we’re a one-stop-shop beachfront experience. Soon we will have a new heated swimming pool that will add a whole new layer to the guest experience.” The new pool is part of three new development projects at Tasman Holiday Parks – Papamoa Beach that will be completed in time for the start of the high season. Eight new two-bedroom beachfront villas were completed in June this year. Finished to a very high standard, the villas have been designed with families in mind which includes a private BBQ area with a large deck that faces Papamoa Beach with stunning views. Currently under construction is eight poolside units, each facing the swimming pool itself and each well appointed. “There are six two-bedroom family units and two one-bedroom studios, designed more for couples and singles travelling,” says David. “Each unit has a deck opening to the swimming pool, and again with its own BBQ.” The heated 25 metre swimming pool, accessed by guests by gate code, offers a family friendly experience, enabling laps for the energetic, a shallow end for smaller kids, and accessibility facilities. “The surroundings are very relaxing and inviting with a lot of thought put into lighting so that it looks absolutely amazing in the evening. “We worked closely with the local iwi, Nga Putiki, on the poolside design to help tell the story of Papamoa, and we have used native plantings, telling the story about how those plantings were used historically by Māori. “We worked with the iwi throughout the holiday park’s journey to ensure their story is reflected throughout. I think that it is important for us to embrace that. We’ve recently replaced all the signage so that it is now in te reo Māori as well as English.” Both the poolside units and the pool are on track to be completed by early December, in time for the holiday park’s high season. “A key driver for these three projects was the park’s great location and the need to provide additional accommodation to meet the demand,” explains David. “We listened to our customers to understand what their wants and needs were. The heated swimming pool was also a response to the low season. We have a really beautiful beach, but we wanted to enhance the parks appeal as a year-round destination.” Reflecting on what has gone very well, David acknowledges that the contractors have done an amazing job, working around the clock to get the work completed. “The goal was always to open the new facilities in time for the high season. So, we had a very tight timeline to start with and we had to allow for wet weather. “AHS Group were contracted to build the poolside units as well as the beachfront villas, while Watts & Hughes were engaged to build the heated swimming pool. The designer was Steven Chambers from Stufkens + Chambers Architects, who have been involved in the master planning of the holiday park, and knew what we were looking to achieve.” Tasman Holiday Parks’ Papamoa facility has a broad range of accommodation types to match all budgets and preferences, from budget friendly cabins right up to premium villas.
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