Ōhope’s new hotspot – Wharfside – is defying the odds in a turbulent tourism market, with visitors and locals flocking to the area over summer.
Launched as a trial by Whakatāne District Council to utilise a cargo shed at Port Ōhope Wharf, the venture allowed a base for VMAC Rides (e-Scooters and bikes) and Ōhope SUP & Kite to operate from over the summer. Several food trucks also set up at Wharfside, including Chez Louis Woodfired Pizza and Joe Cools ice creams. With the wharf, recreational and parking area having undergone an upgrade in recent years, and home to Fisherman’s Wharf café, Port Ōhope Wharf has become its own destination.
Whakatāne District Council Tourism Product Development Advisor, Richard Faire, says the venture has multiple benefits.
“The Wharfside trial over summer has not only provided a means to test alternative uses for existing infrastructure at Port Ōhope, but more importantly meant we could support the tourism sector as part of our tourism recovery programme. We really wanted it to be a destination for all to enjoy. It’s also been another positive example of collaboration and cross promotion between local businesses.”
Launching a tourism business in the middle of a pandemic might not seem the most sensible idea, but that’s just what Mike Ferguson did with VMAC Rides. Initially based at the Whakatāne i-SITE, Mr Ferguson says operating from Wharfside over the summer has accelerated business growth.
“As a relatively new tourism business trying to work around the challenges of operating in a COVID environment, we’ve really appreciated the support Whakatāne District Council has given us to be part of Wharfside. It’s really helped us grow and get established. Plus, having the strong support of near-by businesses such as the Ōhope Top 10 Holiday Park has made a big difference. It actually feels like the whole community has got behind us and we’re very grateful for that.”
Jean-Louis Desbats of Chez Louis Wood Fired Pizza has similar sentiments, with Wharfside helping counter the loss of summer events.
“It’s brought food and tourism business together and created a great vibe at Port Ōhope. It’s been really cool to see local families and those on holiday enjoying it and making the most of everything it has to offer. Most of the events we typically operate at over summer were cancelled due to COVID, so Wharfside has been a game changer for us during these uncertain times.”
Wharfside will continue to operate during weekends through autumn under a sub-brand ‘Weekends at Wharfside’.
With the trial set to finish at the end of April, Whakatāne District Council is working on a long-term strategy for the area, focusing on community and tourism benefits, catering to different target markets, and factoring in seasonality challenges.
Find more information on Wharfside »
Visit whakatane.com for event information »