Whakatāne District Council has a new Sunshine Season guide available for visitors, or anyone still deciding where to spend their holidays.

The free booklet presents the district’s tourist attractions, events, exhibitions, eateries, and campsites.

The council’s tourism and events manager Nicola Burgess said the guide was designed and produced in-house by the Whakatāne District Council tourism and events marketing team and printed by Napier’s Brebner Print.

This is the second year the guide has been produced.

“It was first released for summer and autumn 2023/24 as an extension of the original events guide,” Mrs Burgess said.

“Rather than just focusing on events, the magazine-style guide also includes experiences, eateries, road trips and more to showcase everything the Eastern Bay has to offer for visitors.

There were 10,000 copies of this season’s guide printed before Christmas and distributed at Auckland Airport International and Domestic terminals, Wellington Airport, Interisland Ferry terminals and various local outlets – accommodation providers, Whakatāne isite, Radio 1XX, Wharfside, cafés and other eateries.  

Mrs Burgess said the cost to produce the guide was $14,500, which included printing and distribution costs. The 2024/25 council tourism marketing budget covers all costs for the guide.

Marketing and events was one of the activities council voted to increase levels of services in over its Long-term Plan 2024-2034, partly in response to the downturn in tourism experienced after the Whakaari-White Island eruption and Covid travel restrictions.

It aims to provide a link between visitors and local businesses, improve experiences for visitors and encourage them to to stay longer and experience the whole district.

With an operating budget of $30 million over 10 years and capital budget of $8.3 million, it accounts for 2.8 percent of rates funding, more than half of which comes from targeted rates.

Recreational cycle trails and new tourism product development are key projects associated with the budget.

The council’s Wharfside hotspot at Port Ōhope and Tio Ōhiwa oyster farm tours are the main features of the Sunshine Season booklet. Of course, the jewel in the crown is the award winning Ōhope Beach and the variety of ocean adventures available.