After a thriving summer season, the Port Ōhope Wharfside activity and food hub is proving to be a drawcard for both visitors and locals, establishing itself as the place to be in Ōhope and boosting revenue for local businesses.
This summer saw increased offerings at the popular spot, with a variety of food trucks, Dream Bean coffee, VMAC SUP and e-scooters, Mata Brewery, a pop-up isite and sales desk for Tio Ōhiwa harbour tours. The harbourside hub, situated at the Eastern end of Ōhope, meets demand from visitors staying nearby at the Ōhope Beach Top 10 holiday park, Ōhope Beach Resort and holiday homes.
Mata Brewery’s Tammy Vitakangas operated a successful pop-up bar at Wharfside over the peak summer period and says it’s the best summer the business has had to date.
“The summer has been fantastic and our Wharfside site has opened a whole new revenue stream for our business, to meet demand from beach holiday makers. Wharfside has clearly established itself as the place to be and we’re thrilled to be part of it.”
Ollie Dobbin who owns VMac rides, helped draw in Wharfside visitors by improving the building interior layout and introducing Dream Bean coffee.
Mr Dobbin says the collaboration between businesses and support from Whakatāne District Council is the key to Wharfside’s success.
“What a summer we've had! It’s been fantastic working collaboratively to make Wharfside even better this summer. As new owners we've loved learning the ropes of VMAC and providing wharf-goers with amazing Dream Bean coffee. Looking forward to next summer already!"
After launching in October last year, Tio Ōhiwa harbour cruises, which depart from Port Ōhope Wharf, had a successful summer hosting around 65 trips.
Wharfside was established in 2021 to utilise the large cargo shed, based at Port Ōhope Wharf. Following earlier landscaping works at the site, Whakatāne District Council recognised the opportunity to develop the building and outdoor area as a versatile community and visitor hub.
Whakatāne District Council Tourism and Events Manager Nicola Burgess says the successful initiative has further potential for the future.
“We’re delighted with the success of Wharfside, particularly for our local businesses who have supported the new venture. This summer has cemented Wharfside as the place to be in Ōhope and the multi-use space has the potential to host a variety of events throughout the year.”
Ms Burgess’ Tourism and Events team is currently planning a calendar of events at Wharfside for the remaining shoulder season, particularly around Easter and the school holidays. Scheduled events include the West End Wiggle Art Exhibition, Flavours of Plenty Tamariki Food Fair, and Weekends at Wharfside with Mata Brewery.
Wharfside is one of several activations managed by Whakatāne District Council Tourism and Events to stimulate the visitor economy. During the summer season, marketing activity focused on attracting new visitors and encouraging holiday makers to spend more while in town. Despite the challenging economic climate, the visitor market remains buoyant, with the return of international visitors boosting spend figures.
Total visitor spend for the Whakatāne District increased 4.3% to $145.6 million for the year ending 31 January. The retail sector benefits most, making up 72% of the visitor dollar and hospitality following at 17%.
Attracting more visitors outside the peak summer period is a priority for the Tourism and Events team. Events, such as the Local Wild Food Festival, which attracted 2300 people, including 45% from out of town, highlight the effectiveness of these initiatives. Upcoming events include the West End Wiggle during Easter weekend, and the return of Light Up Whakatāne this winter.