Summer is gearing up on the coast as the region prepares for a busy Labour Weekend.

Mount Maunganui, Ōmanu and Pāpāmoa surf clubs are preparing for what is expected to be a long, hot summer, with lifeguards ready for growing numbers of beachgoers.

Tourism Bay of Plenty figures show short-term accommodation occupancy for Labour weekend is tracking at 64%, up from 57% at the same time last year.

Mount Maunganui Surf Club will raise its flags on Mount Main Beach for the first time since the January 22 tragedy at Mauao when the patrol season begins on Saturday.

Mount Surf Lifesaving Club chairman Brent Warner.

Chairman Brent Warner said the occasion would be both surreal and emotional after the club’s eight-month closure.

Since the clubhouse reopened in September, Warner said it had been encouraging to see members return, with training groups resuming and lifeguards preparing for the summer patrol season.

Warner said the club had been checking equipment, making repairs and running new lifeguard courses ahead of the first patrol.

Warner expected a long, hot and dry summer to bring potentially record numbers of people to the coastline.

“Really just looking to really have a good, calm, collected summer.”

Ōmanu Beach surf lifesaving club. Photo / Kelly O'Hara

Ōmanu Surf Club is also preparing for a busy season, and lifeguard co-ordinator Nickyla Halls said beaches had already been packed on recent weekends.

She said the club has about 240 lifeguards on its books, making it the country’s largest surf lifesaving club.

Every lifeguard must complete a refresher before patrols begin, including a timed run-swim-run, tube rescue and CPR assessment.

Rip currents remained a key concern, particularly around Arataki, where Halls said the club made several rescues last summer.

Water pipes in the area could add risk, and the club planned to increase its presence there when conditions warranted it.

Pāpāmoa Surf Life Saving Club lifeguarding committee chairwoman, Marama Mateparae.

Pāpāmoa Surf Club is extending lifeguard patrols to 7pm during peak periods as more beachgoers stay later into the evening.

Lifeguard committee chairwoman Marama Mateparae said the extended patrols would allow people to enjoy an evening swim while lifeguards remained on watch.

The club, which has about 150 lifeguards on its books, including 120 active members, will begin its season on Saturday with a beach blessing led by Ngā Pōtiki.

“It’s about setting the intention to focus on getting people home safely throughout the season.”

Mateparae said Pāpāmoa Surf Club patrolled the longest stretch of beach in the country, despite not having the largest membership base.

Another key focus was the club’s rapidly growing junior surf programme, which attracted about 450 children each Sunday last summer.

Mateparae said the club’s goal remained unchanged: “People go home safe.”

Tourism Bay of Plenty general manager Oscar Nathan.

Tourism Bay of Plenty general manager Oscar Nathan said operators were preparing for a busy summer season.

He said accommodation demand was tracking strongly, with Labour weekend short-term accommodation occupancy sitting at 64%, up from 57% at the same time last year.

Commercial accommodation demand was indexing at 86%, a measure of bookings already made.

“This trend looks set to continue until Christmas Day.”

Nathan said the region’s appeal remained strong, with Tourism Bay of Plenty research showing 87% of domestic respondents were likely or very likely to visit the region in future and 87% of recent domestic visitors said their trip met or exceeded expectations.

Among international visitors, 93% reported being satisfied or very satisfied with their visit.

Nathan said 77% of international respondents said January’s extreme rainfall had little or no impact on their perception of the Bay of Plenty.

He said Mount Maunganui remained a major drawcard because of its beaches, eateries, retail offerings and visitor experiences.

The region is also gearing up for a busy cruise season, with 79 ships scheduled to visit Tauranga between October and mid-April.

Nathan said Tourism Bay of Plenty was looking forward to a strong summer season and hoped some Mauao tracks would reopen in early summer.

The Ninja Run comes to Tauranga Racecourse this Labour weekend.

Tauranga’s civic leaders are swapping council chambers for an inflatable obstacle course ahead of Labour weekend.

Tauranga Mayor Mahē Drysdale, Western Bay of Plenty District Mayor James Denyer and Bay of Plenty Regional councillor Kat Macmillan will take on The Ninja Run at Tauranga Racecourse.

The trio will tackle a 2.5km course featuring 14 inflatable obstacles to settle regional bragging rights.

The event is also open to the public throughout Labour weekend and features attractions including a 13m Giant Samurai Waterslide and official race timing.

Zoe Blake is a multimedia journalist at the Bay of Plenty Times and the Rotorua Daily Post.