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Tourism rise spurs luxury lodge sales

Wai Hou Oma Lodge as a marketing potential.

Scott Cordes
Sat, 20 Dec 2014

The only four-star Qualmark-rated lodge on Northland’s west coast is for sale – ahead of a predicted sizeable growth in tourist numbers visiting the region.

Wai Hou Oma Lodge, 25 minutes’ north of Dargaville on State Highway 12, is a boutique luxury accommodation provider with four stand-alone units and an additional studio room attached to the owner/operator’s residence.

The lodge – established 10 years ago and expanded in 2009 – sits on 2.7 hectares of land immediately adjacent to the scenic attraction of the Kai Iwi Lakes. Three of the individual guest suites overlook a private lake. The suites are configured to sleep between two and six guests.

Rack rates range from $170-340 for two people, depending on room configurations and seasonality. The business has turned over $120,000 in its best performing year.

Guest amenities at the lodge include a helicopter landing pad in the middle of the lake, 13-seat conference room, gymnasium, spa complex overlooking the lake, and an eight-seat movie theatre. All units have full kitchens with ovens, microwave, fridge and dishwasher, as well as outdoor BBQ areas. 

Wai Hou Oma Lodge is being marketed for sale by Bayleys Dargaville through expressions of interest. Bayleys Dargaville salesperson Jude O’Connor said the lodge was strategically located as one of only two commercial accommodation providers on the coastal stretch between Dargaville and the Hokianga Harbour.

Ms O’Connor said the lodge had recently begun marketing its potential as a boutique venue catering for weddings of 10 to 25 people in the bridal party, with guests booking all accommodation for three nights. The lodge has already catered for four weddings.

Wai Hou Oma Lodge going on the market comes just weeks after the re-elected National government committed itself to a range of regional tourism growth initiatives for Northland’s economy. 

The initiatives were spearheaded by the start of construction of the Puhoi to Wellsford Road of National Significance in 2016/17 and continuing to advance plans for the creation of New Zealand’s most northern national park in the Waipoua Forest in conjunction with supporting wider initiatives to boost Northland’s tourism industry.

Ms O’Connor said Wai Hou Oma Lodge was perfectly positioned to benefit in particular from the looming Waipoua Forest national park conversion just 30 minutes’ drive away, while the Puhoi express route would enable Aucklanders to reach Mid and Far North regions considerably quicker – consequently making weekend breaks more attractive.

“Business forecasts from the lodge have calculated that the government’s two new tourism initiatives, combined, will add 7-11% to reservation numbers within two years,” she said.

Scott Cordes writes for Bayleys Real Estate

Scott Cordes
Sat, 20 Dec 2014
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Tourism rise spurs luxury lodge sales
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