Holiday huts in forest

Press, 9 December 1988, Page 5

Holiday huts in forest

By

JANE DUNBAR

Cheap accommodation at Balmoral Forest, North Canterbury, is being offered this summer by a student who has set up a small tourism business. Mr Anton Wilke has leased a set of Timberlands huts and cleaned them ready for people to stay in. The huts each have a stove, refrigerator and sink, and can sleep from one to six people. They share a television room, and there are barbecue and picnic areas

around, as well as a tennis court nearby.

The huts are beside a river, and jet boat, horsetrek and rafting excursions are available within a short distance. The Hurunui Hotel, which has a restaurant, is about 3km away. The huts would suit people travelling around New Zealand using youth hostels, said Mr Wilke. They were also good for families who could not afford to travel far or pay much for accommodation. The greatest number of

bookings came from retired people, he said. Adults are charged $ll a night and children $6. Family discounts are negotiable.

Mr Wilke has completed a parks and recreation diploma at Lincoln College, and has been accepted into next year’s tourism course at Otago University.

The idea for leasing the huts came after doing a feasibility study on such a venture for his Lincoln diploma.