Full up for fun weekend
BY CHERIE HOWIE
Relevant offers
Classic Fighters
Air show scores V for victory
Marlborough's population could almost double this weekend if the predictions of Classic Fighters Airshow at Omaka organiser Graham Orphan are correct.
Mr Orphan, one of several involved in organising the three-day Easter show, said this morning while he did not know how many tickets had been sold he expected 30,000 to 40,000 people would attend the aviation extravaganza.
Twenty-five thousand people attended the 2007 airshow.
Mr Orphan said ticket holders were coming from all over the country and the world, including Israel, Japan, Hong Kong, Singapore, the United States, Canada and many European countries.
A huge number were also crossing the ditch for the event, which begins on Friday, he said.
"Most of Australia is coming."
Marlborough accommodation and transport operators are reporting a "chocka-block" long weekend, with Bluebridge ferries sailing full from this morning right through the Easter break, Bluebridge spokeswoman Wendy Pannett said.
Interislander spokesman Nigel Parry said they still had space on some sailings tomorrow and Friday. More than 2000 passengers would sail into Picton on Thursday and Friday, he said.
Moteliers said they were still being inundated with calls from desperate visitors, but many rooms had been booked out for a year.
Woodbourne Tavern bar manager Kerri Jamieson said the tavern's accommodation, Bellamy Motels, was "absolutely chocka-block", forcing them to turn away up to 100 people.
"We've had so many calls it's just not funny ... the boss is putting people in his daughter's house and some are in the flat at the back of the pub.
"We might even have to pitch tents soon."
A Middle Park Motel spokeswoman said most of their rooms had been booked a year, but they were also being inundated with calls.
Brydan on Rose Motor Lodge manager Jude Buckley said they have been booked out over the Easter weekend "for months".
Scenic Circle Blenheim Country Hotel front office manager Clinton Posthumus said close to 80 per cent of their Easter bookings were for airshow punters, while at least half those staying at Chateau Marlborough were also heading to Omaka.
Other visitors appear to have looked further afield, with Picton's Americano Motor Inn booked solid till Sunday and the East Coast Inn in Ward also full through Easter.
Restaurants are also gearing up for a big weekend, with some already booked out on Saturday night.
The expected influx comes just a week after the annual GrapeRide attracted 4000 visitors to the region, a fact not lost on Marlborough Chamber of Commerce president Brian Dawson.
"It's brilliant ... once again many thousands of people are pouring into the province and generally they have disposable income."
Mr Dawson said he was particularly impressed by the efforts of the airshow's many volunteers.
"There's a lot of senior and very busy people in our province who have put a lot of work into it," he said.
- The Marlborough Express
