Visitors are snapping up bach bookings this summer, with Martinborough proving the biggest hit.
Of more than 200 Wairarapa baches listed on website Bookabach, 96 per cent were consistently booked out for December and January.
Bookabach travel expert Simone Scoppa said this was a major increase from last year’s bookings.
“Due to travel restrictions easing just before Christmas last year, demand for the region was low, so we are seeing a much higher percentage of travellers coming back to their favourite holiday homes in the region this year. We are optimistic after seeing recent school holidays and long weekend demand that Summer is set to be a busy one for holiday home hosts, not only in the region, but across the country.”
Wellington visitors made up most of the bookings, and a quarter were from Auckland.
Martinborough was the most popular area for visitors in Wairarapa. Of the 120 baches listed on the website, about 4 per cent were still available.
“Martinborough has always been a favourite for travellers,” Scoppa said. “Locals from Wellington tend to come to the region for a weekend break, others come to visit the nearby vineyards or visit family and friends.”
A Martinborough villa Olivio Nor placed second in the Bach of the Year Awards this year. The villa was commended for its Tuscan design, olive trees and view of the Tararua Range.
Nationally, the most popular regions for bookings were Northland, Coromandel, Bay of Plenty and Rotorua, but there was an increasing demand for rural locations.
Search demand for baches had increased in Wellington, West Coast and Canterbury regions by more than 50 per cent, often for converted barns, country cottages and farm stay accommodation.
Looking ahead, 2023 bookings showed the Wellington region as the top destination, with a 14 per cent increase in traveller demand in the last year.
Holidaymakers quick to book for summer
