People in Golden Bay are hoping tourism will rebound as the road to one of its most idyllic beaches reopens.
Storm damage closed the road to Totaranui in the northern end of Abel Tasman National Park for about six months.
Tasman District Council has spent $700,000 to clear slips and fix damage and the road was due to reopen on Friday.
Golden Bay Promotions Association chairman Steve Wakeman says the closure has hurt local businesses, some losing 25 - 30% of their usual trade.
The Department of Conservation, which runs the Totaranui campground, estimates it lost hundreds of thousands of dollars of revenue.