Three top boutique hotels on market

Portage Resort Hotel in the Marlborough Sounds.

Three exclusive South Island boutique hotels have been put on the market for sale as freehold properties leased to prominent hospitality operators.

The trio are Distinction Nugget Point Spa Resort Hotel in Queenstown, Peppers Awaroa Lodge in Abel Tasman National Park and Portage Resort Hotel in Kenepuru, Marlborough Sounds. Managed by Peppers and Distinction on behalf of the vendor, the freehold hotels are being marketed for sale together or separately by John Binning of Jones Lang LaSalle and his colleague Chris Harding.

The closing date for all expressions of interest is November 5 unless the properties sell by negotiation prior to that date.

"These three top end resorts represent some of the finest properties the New Zealand hospitality and tourism sector has to offer," Binning says. "Each has its own uniqueness and individuality and they offer potential investors many appealing opportunities."

Distinction Nugget Point Spa Resort, built in 1988, is located above Queenstown's famous Shotover River, with Coronet Peak as a stunning backdrop. The resort, which caters to a distinguished clientele, offers 40 luxurious suites and facilities that include a health spa opened in 2010, a full gymnasium, tennis courts, squash court, a wine tasting cellar, library and home theatre.

Binning says the property occupies 8043sq m of prime land and is fully unit titled for future sale. "Forty of these are the individual accommodation units and accessory units with the remaining unit titles holding interest in the common facilities," says Binnings.

Adjoining the resort a further 11,840sq m of special tourism-zoned land forms part of the hotel's total estate offering development opportunities to enlarge the hotel or possibly develop separately.

Peppers Awaroa Lodge is in the Abel Tasman National Park which is cited as the top walking park in relation to tourist popularity. In 1991 a group of locals built the first buildings on freehold farmland leading to the development of the now 26 guest-roomed lodge which is the only provider of luxury accommodation allowed in the park. With no roads in the national park, the lodge can only be accessed via aircraft, by sea in water taxi or sea kayak or on foot.

"This four star lodge is well known for its advanced ecological principles and has recently been awarded silver status by the world renowned Earthcheck org," says Binning.

Large organic gardens supply the lodge with fresh herbs and vegetables. Set back 250m from the beach in Golden Bay, the lodge also features a separate pizzeria cafe bar and budget accommodation which has a wide appeal for hikers and kayakers.

"The site encompasses 19,941hectares of freehold National Park wildlife land and is the largest freehold land holding within the park," Binning says.

Peppers Awaroa Lodge sits on the northeasterly portion of the land that retains 85 per cent of natural forest cover.

The well known Peppers Portage Resort Hotel in the Marlborough Sounds has a stunning setting directly on the beach at Kenepuru. Originally built in 1886, it offers 41 boutique luxury suites all on the waterfront with spectacular views and a popular restaurant. A small walkers' lodge adjoins the hotel.

The property is midway on the Queen Charlotte walking and cycling tracks that follow the Queen Charlotte Sound skyline. "Its position creates a perfect base for adventurous visitors while in quiet tourism periods, the hotel caters for business meetings and incentive groups," says Binning. A short tarsealed road connects the hotel to the Picton Ferry operators.

The hotel has a separate locals' pub, the Snapper Bar, and an adjoining adventure sports hire centre stocking kayaks, boats, mountain bikes and fishing gear.

In 2012 a $1.4 million upgrade was undertaken to the hotel. The property is fully unit titled for future sale and part of the land by the sea edge is "Queens chain" conservation zoned and is licensed accordingly.

Harding says all three properties are situated in some of the most beautiful geographical areas of the world.