5 Oct 2021

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After 13 years running the Duvauchelle Holiday Park, Kaye and Ken Bramley are hitching up their own caravan and hitting the road.

The couple, who have managed the Christchurch City Council-own waterside holiday park through earthquakes, tsunamis warnings and a pandemic, are handing over the reins to a new management team so they can finally retire.

Kaye Bramley says they have loved running the holiday park, which has 122 camp sites as well as a tourist flat and cabins, but it is time to move on and enjoy a more relaxed pace of life.

“We’re both passionate about what we do and have really enjoyed it.  We’ve always treated the holiday park as our home and everybody coming to stay as our guests. We have met some wonderful, wonderful people.

“Some of our campers come and stay every year and we’re like a large family. We’re going to miss the place but it is a job where you’re on call 24/7 and it is time for Ken to slow-down,’’ Kaye says.

The couple own a caravan and the first thing on their retirement to-do list is a trip through the Catlins. Eventually they will settle on the West Coast so they can be closer to their son.

Kaye says while the couple will be sad to say goodbye to the Duvauchelle Holiday Park, it is reassuring to know that the new management team are keen to continue with a guest-centred approach to running the park.

The new team are Dale Hayes, Tracy MacLeod and her husband Kylee, who all have previous campground experience.

“They are as passionate as we are, so we’re leaving it in good hands.’’

Council Head of Recreation, Sports and Events Nigel Cox says the Bramleys have done a wonderful job managing the Duvauchelle Holiday Park over the past 13 years.

“The fact that customer satisfaction is sitting at 100 per cent is testament to Kaye and Ken’s warm, friendly approach to managing the park. We really appreciate all they have done and wish them the best for their retirement,’’ Mr Cox says.

The Duvauchelle Holiday Park is currently taking bookings for the summer. You can book online at duvauchelleholidaypark.co.nz.