Attractions

Wētā Workshop is to open its $15m World War I art and visitor experience in Le Quesnoy, France, next week.

The first Kiwi president of WAZA on her priorities in the role and the new opportunities for the capital’s attraction.

Wētā Workshop and Poutini Ngāi Tahu are bringing stories of the historic Pounamu Pathway to life, with the first experience centre expected to open in December.

Te Whai Ao Dodd-Walls Centre for Photonic and Quantum Technologies is investing in MOTAT’s new science and technology centre.

The government is providing $10m from the Regional Culture and Heritage Fund for Canterbury Museum’s redevelopment.

Christchurch Attractions is restarting its Punting on the Avon tours from the Worcester Bridge site from today.

Marlborough Museum now has a full team on board to protect the region’s history and taonga for the future.

Invercargill’s Transport World is preparing to host an insider’s journey into automotive craftmanship as part of its Back Shed tour, which returns next month.

Visitors to Wellington can experience extended reality through their mobile devices and see a new virtual sculpture hovering above the harbour.

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The operator will not allow large tour groups to return to its popular glowworm caves attraction.

Hanmer Thermal Pools & Spa is introducing two new hydroslides to its offerings, due to open on 11 October.

Reeves, who is the director of collections and research at Auckland Museum, has been interim chief executive since the departure of Dr David Gaimster in June.

Distinction Christchurch has taken the top spot in two categories at Grand Pacific Tours’ Supplier and Crew Awards this year.

The Department of Conservation expects to determine the fate of the popular Coromandel hotspot Cathedral Cove next week.

MOTAT is trialling tree-based biofuels to power one of its steam trams.

Murray and his late wife Gloria Powell established the Hilldale Game Park in December 1969.

Whakamana Cannabis Museum says it has secured a site at the city’s Hopetoun Alpha building.

The attraction is developing a new tool to support NZ’s popular wildlife, such as whales, and ecotourism too.

Orana Wildlife Park in Christchurch has introduced a new siamang gibbon to its family.

Kiwi Park tuatara Merri is on the road to recovery after surgery at Dunedin Wildlife Hospital to remove a large mass under his jaw.

Rotorua Lakes Council’s infrastructure and environment committee has voted in favour of strengthening and eventually reopening the city’s iconic museum.

The return of international visitors and competition for labour appears to have driven wages up significantly at the Queenstown-based group.

The operator’s CEO also says a new tour model at the Rotorua attraction has been “contentious” for some.

The attraction’s MD on the neverending work at the “big maintenance project”, new product, and frustration over DMPs and governance.

Regeneration and conservation projects are the latest to get co-funding from the $44m Innovation Programme for Tourism Recovery.

Operators across the host cities are reporting healthy bookings, particularly around match days.

The Matariki long weekend gave operators a welcome boost over the final stretch of the school holidays with decent weather also helping to fill tours and attract customers.

Central Otago District Council is seeking a building contractor for its proposed new Cromwell Memorial Hall, museum and events centre, with registrations of interest open for the project.

Hamilton Gardens has made it into the top 1% of travel experiences in the world according to Tripadvisor’s 2023 Travelers’ Choice Best of the Best awards.

The Queenstown-based operator is selling four businesses but also investing in an asset to serve its popular Walter Peak attraction.

Te Papa has secured hosting rights as the only New Zealand venue to showcase a new dinosaur exhibition from The Paleontological Museum Egidio Feruglio.

The 51% owner of the Rotorua attraction notes the new competition coming from Wai Ariki.

Skyline Queenstown has reopened to the public with fresh new 10-seat gondola cabins and a new top terminal.

Doppelmayr New Zealand says the successful completion and opening of the Skyline Queenstown gondola marks a new era of convenience, comfort, and efficiency for visitors to the attraction.

Canterbury Museum will open its pop-up museum in Christchurch with a free exhibition starting on the Matariki public holiday on 14 July.

Hamilton Gardens, Hamilton Zoo at Te Kaaroro Nature Precinct, and Waikato Museum Te Whare Taonga O Waikato are getting behind Matariki celebrations this year with a range of free events and activities.

Rangatira Investments says its recovering tourism attractions have helped it return a net profit of $20.4m for the year to 31 March 2023, up 122% on the previous 12 months.

Wētā Workshop Unleashed is introducing new languages to its Auckland experience offerings, with Mandarin and Japanese now available.

Revenue jumps by 49% to $183m, “with the reopening of international travel markets a strong contributor to that result”.

New Zealand tourism operators have topped the rankings in three categories across Tripadvisor’s best travel experiences in the world for 2023.

Te Pā Tū Rotorua’s summer season has hundreds of visitors through the doors every week with the reintroduction of cruise, but its quieter months are coming with a focus on food events and the returning MICE sector.

EcoZip Adventures welcomed over 150 Waiheke Island residents to its second annual Locals’ Day, raising $7,000 for charity.

The architects behind Taupō Airport, Te Kaaroro Nature Precinct and the Sir Howard Morrison Centre have received accolades for their work at the The 2023 Te Kahui Whaihanga New Zealand Institute of Architects Bay of Plenty and Waikato Awards.

Invercargill City Council has appointed architects to design a new enclosure for its tuatara as part of the city’s museum redevelopment.

The government has invested $51m in the hot pools attraction, which is expected to attract thousands of visitors to the region.

The Department of Conservation, pet insurance company PD Insurance, and SEA LIFE Kelly Tarlton’s have partnered to educate the public on cohabitation between dogs and marine life.

Auckland Museum will open a new exhibition showcasing the treasures and artefacts of ancient Egypt this month for the first time.

The Ticker hears from the operator’s new sales and marketing executive, who is also new to tourism and NZ as well.

Wētā Workshop, Mediaworks and media agency MBM have teamed up to create New Zealand’s first ever 3D effect digital-out-of-home, or 3DOOH, billboard.