Lodge ticks boxes for lovers of the outdoors

The dining room and lounge are popular with apres-ski guests staying at the lodge in Ohakune. Photo / Supplied

Formerly known as Miro Ridge Lodge and rebranded as Apr s Ski Lodge following a refurbishment, a well established Ohakune tourist accommodation venture is being marketed for sale as a business going concern with freehold land and buildings.

Garry Knapp of Bayleys Ohakune says the business at 22 Rimu St near the Ohakune Junction "apres ski precinct", successfully operated under the Miro Ridge Lodge banner.

"It was sold last year and refurbished before being rebranded as Apr s Ski Lodge," Knapp says. "Now the ill health of the current owner means the lodge is back on the market in time for the upcoming ski season."

Knapp says the business would particularly suit an owner-operator who wants to combine an outdoor lifestyle with running a popular business in a proven location handy to the ski-fields. "Alternatively, it could suit an investor who recognises the inherent value of such a well-located property."

"As Miro Ridge Lodge it had a strong and loyal following. With the buildings and décor smartened up and improved, a new owner could literally walk through the front door and start hunting down the bookings for the ski season ahead.

"For someone living in Auckland or Wellington hankering for a change of pace and change of lifestyle with around $550,000 plus in their pocket, this is an option that should be considered. It's just waiting for someone with a bit of get-up-and-go to see the business cranking up again and there's a ready market for this kind of operation."

Knapp believes the owner-operator setup is probably the best business model but with the lease historically sitting around $40,000 to $50,000 per annum, an investor might wish to secure the land and buildings and put an experienced operator in place.

The buildings comprise a 1920s standard early Californian bungalow dwelling, with a mid-1990s double-storey addition, situated on a 2024sq m site made up of two separate titles each 1012sq m and zoned commercial. The lodge comprises nine double bedrooms, six bathrooms and reception, dining and lounge areas. It has a compact commercial kitchen, a bar and a two-bedroom manager's flat. In addition, there are drying rooms for wet ski gear, a large double garage and "arguably Ohakune's largest spa" housed in a separate cedar spa house.

The property is fully fenced and has an asphalt carpark area for 17 cars. The buildings face north and there are native bush and mountain views from the property.

"This ski lodge has traditionally been a very popular accommodation choice with a winning formula and reasonable prices for Ohakune," Knapp says. "In convivial, relaxed surroundings it also provided breakfasts and home-styled dinners. A small licensed bar on the premises also proved to be a popular watering hole for guests after a day on the mountain."

Knapp says the lodge's business generally comes by word of mouth, repeat clientele or via the website.

"The winter ski season naturally provides the core of the business. However, the summer season is starting to build up in the Ohakune district as the area is being promoted more as a year-round outdoor pursuits destination."

Knapp says the property will appeal to a keen purchaser who can look beyond the existing business operation and appreciate a sizeable commercial land holding in a strategic location.

"Already in two established titles, a plan exists to subdivide the property leaving the carpark space untouched while undertaking a commercial development on the balance of the site which has mountain and native forest views. With council approval, it could be possible to get the required number of carparks for the accommodation business on to one site thus completely freeing up the second lot which could be subdivided then sold off as a commercially zoned site.

"This path would potentially liberate a new owner in terms of cash flow and could sweeten the deal from an economic perspective without disturbing the existing business operation." .

Knapp says the Mt Ruapehu area is attracting Australian tourists who recognise it as the biggest ski area in New Zealand with the longest vertical ski descent in Australasia.

"The Ohakune town centre and Junction has recently been upgraded with tiled footpaths, feature seating, heritage areas and boardwalks. Of particular interest is the restoration of the Old Coach Road and its incorporation into the new Mountains-to-the-Sea cycleway being promoted by the Government. This is a cobbled road between Ohakune and Horopito which was in use 100 years ago to transport passengers by coach between the two railheads.

"When fully restored it will comprise a premier section of the tourist cycleway and will feature walks traversing native bush, old railway viaducts and tunnels."