An upmarket venue and accommodation centre is being developed beside the Rangitikei River at Mangaweka.
Awastone Lodge will be a conference centre, wedding venue and family holiday getaway. It's scheduled to host it's first big wedding for up to 60 people in January 2014.
Mangaweka couple Tricia and Paul Eameshave owned the property nestled on the edge of the Rangitikei River for two years and have already got a caravan park and campsite set up.
Mrs Eames said the plan was to build an events centre incorporating a large bar/restaurant venue and comfortable family accommodation, all using sustainable materials.
They hope to have accommodation for 24 people a night, she said. "The systems we are building are looking to the future by using sustainable resources for many of our services."
Chefs will be hired for the bar/restaurant with the plan to make Awastone a serious tourist destination.
The Eames also own and run the Mangaweka Camping Ground just across the bridge. "We want this to be a special family destination, a comfortable and relaxing place to holiday."
The site was previously a backpackers accommodation.
