Visitors centre is home

NEW SITE: The Kumeu Visitors Information Centre has a new base after its official opening by Prime Minister and Helensville MP John Key.

After a short journey the Kumeu Visitors Information Centre has reached its destination.

The new centre at 49 State Highway 16, was officially opened by Prime Minister and Helensville MP John Key last week and is already catching the attention of visitors to the area.

Centre manager Bernadette Limbrick says there are plans to extend opening hours from this weekend as demand on services increases.

"With the better visibility, signage and being positioned on the left-hand side of the highway for easy access, we have already noticed an increase in visitor numbers."

The centre, which has two part-time staff and a roster of 12 volunteers is on its way to becoming an i-SITE.

When this is achieved it will be the only i-SITE in the west Auckland area.

The centre has been operated for 10 years in various locations around Huapai.

"We started small and as the visitor numbers to the region have increased, so too have we with our facilities," Ms Limbrick says

Mr Key, who is also tourism minister, was impressed by the new centre which will help guide visitors around "the best electorate in the country".

Through the centre people can book local accommodation, bus trips and the Interislander ferry as well as tickets for events like Art in the Garden.

Brochures, maps, timetables and information including local, regional and the rest of New Zealand are available. The new Toi Toi Gallery inside the centre will showcase work by local artists and the Kowhai Room has a range of New Zealand-inspired products for sale.

A bus-load of cruise passengers who had docked in Auckland for the day were treated to an unexpected special welcome to New Zealand, when they bumped into Mr Key at the centre during their trip to the nor-west on a Coast to Coast eco tour.

The Rodney District Council and business membership-funded centre will be open from 9am to 5pm, seven days a week during summer.

- © Fairfax NZ News