100-Year-Old Holiday Park Raised Four Generations of Kiwis

Four generations of David Pattinson's family have pitched tents at the same New Zealand beach, and he's far from alone in this century-long tradition.

Tāhuna Beach Holiday Park in Nelson is turning 100 this year. Since opening in 1926, the beachside campground has become woven into the fabric of countless Kiwi families, who return summer after summer to relive childhood memories and create new ones.

Pattinson first arrived at Tāhuna Beach as a six-month-old baby in 1960. His parents started camping there in 1956, and now his children and grandchildren continue the tradition. Today, he runs the place as chief executive, delighting in correcting staff about historical details like where the TV lounge used to be decades ago.

"If you come from the South Island, everybody pretty much has got a story of holidaying at Tāhuna Beach in their childhood," says Pattinson. The park's website hosts blog after blog of families sharing their multi-generational memories.

In its 1970s heyday, Tāhuna Beach was the largest holiday park in the Southern Hemisphere, holding over 6,000 people. Today it accommodates about 2,500 guests across everything from fully-serviced apartments to classic unpowered campsites, maintaining what Pattinson calls "your traditional holiday park experience."

The Fitchett family represents another living link to the park's history. Robyn Fitchett's mother first camped at Tāhuna in the early 1970s in her parents' motor tent with green roof and white sides. Her parents introduced their spouses, who brought their children, who now bring theirs.

This year, the Fitchetts upgraded from a tent to a vintage 1970s Zephyr caravan. Their teenagers Daisy and Marcus sleep in a two-man tent, just as their mother did generations ago. They spend Christmas with camping friends they see only in summer, year after year.

Sunny's Take

What makes Tāhuna special isn't luxury amenities or Instagram-worthy glamping. It's the tractor rides that thrill kids today just as they did in the 1960s. It's families gathering in the same spots their grandparents chose decades earlier. It's the simplicity of kids riding bikes freely between campsites while parents relax knowing everyone looks out for each other.

The park has evolved thoughtfully, adding 4,000 native trees and modern touches like wifi and mobile charging stations. But the magic remains unchanged: sandy feet, salty air, and summers that feel infinite.

"Friends always speak about trips overseas," says Robyn Fitchett, "but the simplicity at Tāhuna can't be beat." After 100 years of raising generations, this slice of New Zealand coast proves that the best vacations aren't about going somewhere new, but returning somewhere that feels like home.