For Immediate Release
31 October, 2012

Skyline Rotorua prepares for peak season with $1 million redevelopments

Skyline Rotorua is preparing for the peak summer season with a complete redevelopment of its mountain-top cafe, a major redevelopment of its Fairy Springs Rd carpark, the completion of its new wine tasting room and the opening of its new nature trails.

The combined current projects are worth in excess of $1 million, and follow the recent joint announcement that Volcanic Hills are to establish a winery on the grounds of Skyline Rotorua. The wine tasting room at the top of the complex is the first phase of the wine development, with the full winery due to open in March.

Skyline Rotorua general manager, Bruce Thomasen, says the current projects will complete a busy year for the tourism operator, which has already seen the opening and successful operation of the Jelly Bean concept store.

"Skyline Rotorua has been an icon of the Rotorua tourism sector for decades, and our gondola and luge rides are very popular with locals and visitors alike. However, it's important that we continue to improve and develop our operation to ensure it remains attractive, relevant and on the 'must do' list for a visit to Rotorua.

"Just as importantly, we want locals to feel passionate about this icon that is on their back doorstep, and excited about coming here again and again. Some of the changes we are making at the moment are designed to help achieve that."

The current projects include a major redevelopment of Skyline Rotorua's mountain-top cafe.

"Our cafe is being completely transformed into a 'foodie' marketplace, offering everything from gourmet pies and bakery food, to pizza ovens, fish and chips, a tandoor oven, crepes, deli section, ice-cream parlour and great coffee.

"We have an experienced, international staff, who represent a large range of cultures from around the world. We will be offering the best of international and kiwiana cuisine and we hope that the food selection on offer, combined with the 180 degree view, means that this will be a place that people will want to come back to regularly."

Mr Thomasen says the cafe re-development is expected to be completed by late November, with a small temporary café operating from the restaurant during the construction period.

The completion of the new cafe will coincide with the opening of the first phase of the Volcanic Hills winery project, the mountain-top wine tasting room.

"The wine-tasting room will be just one part of the Volcanic Hills wine experience, with visitors eventually able to tour the fully-functioning winery at the bottom of the Skyline and then taste the wines with a 180 degree view on our mountain-top."

The wine-tasting room will be open by late November, with the range of Volcanic Hills wines available for tasting and purchase.

Another feature to open prior to summer is Skyline Rotorua's new Nature Trails, which involve a series of interactive walks around the mountain-top site. The walks include informative and interactive panels designed to encourage children to engage with nature. Some of the highlights on the Nature Trails include "Weta Hotels" and a wind-up grinder that generates bird noises.

"We are proud and privileged to occupy a unique site at the top of Mt Ngongotaha and we take our responsibility to the environment and our surroundings seriously. We have worked with local restoration specialists to create the nature trails and we believe these will be an exciting addition to our operation for families and children."

Mr Thomasen says despite the major developments underway at Skyline Rotorua, there should be very little disruption to visitors.

"At the moment, the most visible and obvious development is that in our main entrance carpark. This work is progressing at pace, and will be complete within just a few weeks. In the meantime, there is plenty of parking available behind our main building."

Skyline Rotorua is open daily. For further information, check out http://www.skyline.co.nz/rotorua/

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