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Some Bay of Islands businesses are reporting their best trading since the��Covid pandemic��began as tourist towns, such as��Paihia�����Ի���Russell, fill up with international visitors and New Year’s revellers.��

The only clouds on their horizon are the closure of State Highway 1 over the Brynderwyns from late February next year, and the literal clouds which could put a dampener on this weekend’s festivities.��

Riki Kinnaird, co-owner of Russell’s iconic��Duke of Marlborough Hotel, said the New Year period had been fully booked more than a month ago.��

“That was normal trading for us pre-Covid, so it feels like that’s good. We’re quietly confident but still a bit nervous because of the rain.��

“Last year was also looking good, but we got smacked in the guts by��Cyclone Gabrielle, and we’re really concerned about the Brynderwyns closing in March.”��

Three cruise ships in two days, with a combined 5300 passengers on board, will add to the crowds in the Bay of Islands this weekend.��

Cruise ship ambassador Anika Whapshott said the cruise liner, Queen Elizabeth, was due on Saturday followed by Celebrity Edge and boutique vessel Silver Whisper on Sunday.��

Sunday’s influx would be managed by bringing the passengers from the larger ship to Waitangi jetty, while those from the smaller ship would head directly to��Paihia wharf.��

Whapshott said many passengers had pre-booked excursions but because all tours were operated by local businesses, that spending went into Northland pockets.��

Popular excursions included waka trips with��Taiamai Tours, kayaking to Haruru Falls and guided visits to Kawiti glow worm caves.��

A record number of cruise ships are expected to visit the Bay of Islands. Photo / ��һ�ǿ�������

The annual New Year’s Eve fireworks display, funded by local businesses and launched from a barge, drew as many as 5000 people to the Paihia waterfront, but that was highly weather-dependent.��

Whapshott said Russell had also been “absolutely bustling” in the past week, even when there were no cruise ships in the Bay.��

“It’s chock-a-block, really vibrant and fabulous.”��

Keri Te Kuru, manager of Admiral’s View Lodge in Paihia, said the motel was fully booked, bar the odd room which would be snapped up in coming days, until mid-January.��

The motel started getting busy in October and she expected that to continue until March or April.��

Occupancy during the past year averaged just under 80 per cent, which was approaching pre-pandemic levels.��

“We haven’t seen anything like this since 2020, before Covid,” Te Kuru said.��

Flying��Kiwi Parasail��co-owner Julia De Rosa said Paihia was packed.��

“The restaurants are busy, there’s an awesome summer vibe all around … It’s lovely to see so many people. I wish the sun would come out a bit more but we can’t control that.”��

Overseas visitors in particular were back in numbers, De Rosa said.��

“There’s a lot of Americans and Indonesians around. The internationals are definitely here, and they’re spending.”��

There were also plenty of Kiwis holidaying in Paihia but they were more cautious with their money, which she put down to cost-of-living pressure.��

Only the prospect of rain cast a shadow over the next few days’ trading, but she said Northland weather was so changeable it could end up being quite different to the forecast.��

��һ�ǿ����� that State Highway 1 over the Brynderwyns will be closed from late February for repairs means a good summer is even more vital than usual for tourism operators.��

Paihia is "packed", locals say. Photo / RNZ / Peter de Graaf��

Originally, NZTA planned to close the highway for seven weeks from February 7, but after an outcry from Northland businesses that has been postponed until February 26.��

The Brynderwyns will reopen for Easter, on March 27, and close again on April 3 until the job is finished.��

In total, the closure is expected to last nine weeks. Detours will be available.��

Duke of Marlborough co-owner Kinnaird was among those who called for the closure to be delayed further.��

Even with a good summer, Northland businesses needed March income, he said.��

The cost to Northland businesses of closing the Brynderwyns in March was about $1 million a day more than if the roadworks were left until after Easter.��

Kinnaird said that eclipsed the extra cost to transport operators of a later, and longer, closure.��

- RNZ��