Lake Karapiro Lodge sits on about 9921sq m of freehold commercially-zoned land. Photo / Supplied
A luxury lodge for sale at Lake Karapiro - New Zealand's premier freshwater sporting hub - attracts both corporate clients and family celebrations. Lake Karapiro Lodge is a six-suite commercial accommodation provider with nightly rack-rate room charges ranging from $295-$900.
The high-end Waikato hospitality venue has a large "barn" building with modern interior decor used for hosting functions.
The lodge was purpose-built in 2004 and has 730sq m of accommodation and venue space, sitting on some 9921sq m of freehold commercially-zoned land. The guesthouse was built by its owner, Ed Rompelberg, a qualified engineer and draftsman.
Lake Karapiro Lodge land, buildings and business are being marketed by Bayleys, with an asking price of $3.5m net. It features in Bayleys latest Total Property portfolio.
Bayleys' tourism group salesperson Carolyn Hanson says the lodge benefits from being close to Lake Karapiro.
"The sporting event calendar for Lake Karapiro is booked out throughout summer and is well patronised over the spring and autumn.
"There's waka ama, canoeing, kayaking, and of course rowing - all of these with events and competitions at school and club levels, on regional, North Island and national scales.
"To cope with the tens of thousands of competitors coming into the Waipa region, there is a variety of commercial accommodation providers operating in the Cambridge region, right through to Hamilton. These range from backpacker venues through traditional motels and hotels, and at the pinnacle is the luxury of Lake Karapiro Lodge.
"It has the attraction of being just five minutes' drive from the lake's launching facilities."
Hanson says the Avantidrome indoor cycling velodrome on the outskirts of Cambridge, a few kilometres away, has added another dimension to the region's sporting attractions and the potential customer base for the lodge.
"Like the water sports on the lake, the velodrome brings in competitors and supporters at school and club levels for most of the year," she says.
"Then there's the huge Fieldays agricultural expo held annually at Mystery Creek, Balloons Over the Waikato, and the growth in popularity of Hobbiton at nearby Matamata - all contributing to increasing visitor numbers to the Greater Waikato region."
Hanson says though Lake Karapiro Lodge had traditionally focused its marketing on accommodation, the infrastructure and landscaping enabled it to be hired as a year-round wedding venue.
"In summer, weddings can be hosted under a marquee on the lodge's front lawn with uninterrupted views over the lake while in winter, bookings can be hosted in the barn.
"Catering for either location is prepared on-site through the lodge's kitchen," she says. "Mid-sized function hosting is a definite revenue stream any new owner of the lodge could look at developing."
Luxury guest amenities at the lodge include an in-ground concrete swimming pool and adjacent spa complex.
The barn conferencing and function space is capable of hosting up to 30 guests in a seated format, and is adjacent to the main lodge building.
Hanson says Waipa District Council aims to increase the number of sporting events taking place on Lake Karapiro, and extend their duration, so competitors and spectators stay longer in the region.
Waipa District councillor Liz Stolwyk, who is also Lake Karapiro Mighty River Domain manager, wants to see longer events staged on the lake.
"These benefit everyone, including accommodation providers, eateries and retailers. A really good example is the flow-on effect of something like the waka ama events in January last year which brought an extra $5 million into the community."
Lake Karapiro Lodge homestead contains a 150sq m owner/manager's accommodation - separate from the main lodge amenities - with a bedroom, lounge, bathroom, laundry, and dining room.
The business is being sold with a number of reservations already booked in for the remainder of 2017.