Aerial view of the Haruru Falls Resort in the Bay of Islands about three kilometres from Paihia.
Interested parties are being invited to purchase all assets of Haruru Falls Resort in the Bay of Islands including land, buildings and going business.
"The resort is nestled on the edge of the Waitangi River with spectacular views of Haruru Falls and is just a five minute drive from central Paihia and Waitangi Treaty Grounds," says Michael Osborne of Link Business Broking Northland who, with colleague Rudy Kokx, is selling the complex by tender closing Thursday October 29 at 4 pm at Link's Ellerslie office, unless it sells earlier by private treaty.
"This is absolute Bay of Islands waterfront resort offering the chance to buy motel units on separate titles plus management rights, restaurant, bar, swimming pool, holiday park and conference facility - and all freehold," Osborne says. "This is a very rare opportunity in an incredible location. The resort at the bottom of Old Wharf Rd occupies one of the most tranquil and naturally beautiful settings in the Bay of Islands and it's the only commercial property in New Zealand with a waterfall almost in its front yard," Osborne says. "Haruru Falls is also the only officially recorded 'horseshoe' waterfall in the world - other than Niagara's main fall in Canada - despite being only 1/100th in size," he says.
Haruru Falls Resort is a four star motel and hospitality venue set among two hectares of grounds in front of Haruru waterfall which means Big Noise in Maori and is directly opposite the native Kiwi Habitat tourist attraction.
The resort offers its guests a special experience while seeking to have a minimum impact on the surrounding landscape which is why it is Enviro Silver rated.
"Haruru Falls Resort became the first property in New Zealand to attain dual Qualmark four-star Holiday Park and four-star self-contained motel ratings in one day plus the Enviro Silver rating," Osborne says.
The accommodation at Haruru Falls Resort encompasses 28 hotel and motel rooms and three apartments plus one cabin and two tourist flats.. These are linked by upper and lower walkways to the property's adjoining four-star motel holiday park and run across the grounds past the swimming pool to the waters' edge.
For larger groups up to seven guests comprising four adults and three can be accommodated in the tourist flats.
Osborne says of the 28 strata titled motel units, 25 are available freehold as part of the sale with the remaining two units are potentially available for sale by private treaty.
"With each unit on its own title, the future possibilities are endless," Osborne says. "A purchaser could continue to operate the resort in its present format or reconfigure it into a facility like an education centre, health retreat or international conference venue."
Other assets include the 90 seat restaurant and bar complex with fully equipped kitchen; a dedicated conference centreseating 60 people theatre style in the one room; separate management officeand reception area with back office and tour desk; along with a three bedroom manager's house.
The holiday park comprises 35 powered campsites with separate laundry room, shower block, communal kitchen and shared backpacker's accommodation sleeping five people in bunk beds. Included in the sale is the 22 metre swimming pool and helicopter landing pad. The property comes with its own jetty, barbecue volleyball, giant chess set and trampoline areas.
Kokx says the resort was built in the 1960s and initially comprised four two-bedroom family units. In 1986 the restaurant and bar facilities were built and in 2007 the conference Centre was built.
Current charges for the motel units vary from $80 to $140 per night for two bedroom studios to $200 to $300 per night for a two bedroom apartments.
Kokx says the nearby small residential settlement of Haruru Falls is about three kilometres inland from Paihia.
"However, it has an interesting history and in the days of early European settlement, it was the scene of many firsts," he says.
"Haruru Falls was New Zealand's first river port and an 'aramoana' - sea road or ocean path - for the inland Maori tribes and for the early sailing boats. HMS Dromedary was one visitor and another was the Karere meaning messenger. It is reported there were nine kaianga (villages) between Haruru and Waitangi and missionaries once saw 60 to 100 canoes pulled up on the mud banks.
"Maori had a small settlement here where they traded and a two storeyed hotel with accommodation was built near the falls in 1828 which was first named and licensed as The Northampton Castle. Part of the building was later used as a store during trading."