Waikato in New Zealand plans for gondola tourism

Friday, February 16, 2018

Waikato located in upper North Island of New Zealand has put forward the plan to develop the gondola tourism to boost the tourism revenue.

The location for the proposed gondola is Ngāruawāhia and the Hākarimata Scenic Reserve.

There are more than 300,000 people walk, run and stagger the steps to the Hākarimata summit track each year and it’s now in the sights of the Perry Group – the family company and charitable trust with its name attached to the grandstand at the FMG Stadium Waikato, the Avantidrome and the recently opened Perry Bridge at Horotiu.

The development manager for the Te Awa Lakes project at Horotiu, which would see an adventure water park, homes and commercial hub anchoring tourism in the Waikato, which will boost the tourism.

Between Te Awa Lakes, there is a 7km stretch of Waikato River and the Te Awa River Ride cycle way, State Highway 1 and the railway line.

The sections along the river have already been identified for development, turning the area into an activity hotspot with a mountain bike park and elevated adventure course thrown in the mix, connected by road, path and river.

The Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment figures in February show the vast majority of visitors to Waikato which are domestic, with a 2017 expenditure of $1.9 billion.

That outstrips the international visitors spend in the same year of $643 million.

But there is a lack of attractions preventing visitors from staying in the region an extra night.

The gondola plan would have to scale regulatory hurdles, said Waikato District Mayor Allan Sanson. Waikato District Council and the Department of Conservation have interests in the mountain range, but he is glad someone is prepared to give it a crack.

The summit track at Waikato is the second most visited attraction behind Hobbiton. It’s packed from dawn till dusk and car parking is scant.

« Back to Page