Hotels, bed and breakfasts, motor inns and pubs all across Bathurst are booked solid for the Supercheap Auto Bathurst 1000 race week – and it’s New Zealand residents who are snapping up many of the best spots in town.
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Bathurst Heritage Motor Inn, Bathurst Quality Hotel, Panorama Bathurst, Governor Macquarie Inn and the Kings Hotel all confirmed they had been booked out across the event, which runs from October 8-11.
It’s no surprise that there are no vacancies less than two months out from big race, but what has surprised is the number of establishments reporting a big influx of guests booking accommodation from New Zealand.
Best Western Coachman’s Inn Motel owner Tony Owens had to start turning people away six months ago when they rang to inquire about bookings during the week of the Bathurst 1000.
“We have a lot of return guests,” he said.
“About 50 per cent are return guests and the other 50 per cent are new.”
Mr Owens said he has been taking bookings from people across Australia, but many of the guests who will be arriving in October are from New Zealand.
“They can get more for their dollar,” he explained.
“It is probably better for them because of the conversion rates.”
Garry Davis, the licensee of Bathurst Heritage Motor Inn, said New Zealand residents’ love of cars has a big impact on the number of Kiwis who make the journey to Bathurst for the race.
“We’ve always had New Zealanders stay here,” he said. “They like car racing.”
Many of the guests staying in the city over the Bathurst 1000 period will stay for about five days, helping to generate a lot of money for the local economy and small businesses.
“It is not only a boom for accommodation; every small business in Bathurst would benefit,” Mr Owens said. “It’s great for Bathurst and other areas in the region.”
Mayor Gary Rush echoed these comments, saying that Bathurst is “the envy of many other regions in Australia” to have such a major event held in the city each year.
Early estimates suggest Bathurst will see a $21 million boost to its economy, which is aided by so many people organising accommodation locally.
“The great race that occurs every October is a great boost to the Bathurst economy,” Cr Rush said. “It not only attracts people right over the country, it also has appeal internationally.”
