The land, buildings and business sustaining one of the upper South Island’s most recognised country hotels have been placed on the market for sale.

The Tapawera Hotel in the rural township of Tapawera some 30 kilometres south west of Nelson has been owned and operated by the same family for nearly 25 years since they built the premises in 1996.

Located on a prominent corner site at 84 Main Road, Tapawera, The Tapawera Hotel has become an integral part of the rural community in the Motueka Valley – and a popular haunt for visitors, including adventure-seekers bound for Kahurangi National Park.

The Tapawera Hotel is now being marketed for sale as a going concern through Bayleys Nelson. Salesperson Gill Ireland said assets included in the sale incorporated two buildings with a combined floor space of approximately 536 square metres on two separate titles totaling 3,236 square metres of freehold land.

“This is a classic country pub and restaurant, which is a valued meeting place for the community and an intrinsic part of this area’s social fabric,” Ms Ireland said.

“The 440-square metre main building consists of a bar, a restaurant and commercial kitchen, a bottle store, four accommodation units and a three-bedroom manager’s residence and office.

“The section behind the main building houses another four accommodation units with a total floor space of 76 square metres. The property also has a pleasant outdoor seating area and plenty of off-street parking.

“The country and western music nights it has hosted for 23 years are a much-anticipated social fixture which regularly attract big crowds. These, and the home-cooked roasts served up at weekends, have become a bit of an institution in the area,” said Ms Ireland.

The eight motel units comprise of five units with queen-sized beds, two with twin beds and one family unit. All rooms are self-contained with kitchenette and bathroom, with a per-night rate of $75 for all rooms except the family room which is $120 per night. The rooms have an average annual occupancy rate of 80 to 90 percent.

Ms Ireland said the hotel’s owners had established strong relationships within the local community and with key organisations such as the Motorhome Association – which supported about 500 caravan visits per year to Tapawera Area School.

“They also work closely with cycling groups, truck drivers, agricultural businesses, travellers and local Nelson businesses – including hosting special visits from retirement homes, whose residents enjoy coming out to Tapawera for lunch and afternoon tea and a change of scenery.”

Ms Ireland said the Tapawera Hotel served a base of clientele from a wide catchment in the Motueka Valley. It was the only establishment in Tapawera offering food and alcohol after 7pm.

The Tapawera Hotel site at 84 Main Road is zoned Commercial under Tasman District Council’s resource management plan.

“This hotel, bar, restaurant and accommodation business is complemented by a range of other amenities in Tapawera – such as a Four Square superette, service station, mechanic, cafes and a school,” she said.

Holidaymakers at the busy Quinney’s Bush camping ground also came into Tapawera for the town’s amenities and hospitality services, and were frequent visitors to the bar and restaurant.

Tapawera serviced a hinterland dominated by primary industries - traditionally dairy farming, Ms Ireland said.

“In recent years, increasing areas have been converted to hops cultivation supporting burgeoning craft beer production in New Zealand and offshore – and this has delivered a significant new revenue strand to the local economy.”

The township was also strategically positioned on Nelson-Tasman’s Great Taste Cycle Trail – which was developed to promote recreational and culinary tourism in a multi-day loop around the region, she said.

“Tapawera is a popular hub for adventure-seekers. As well as cycling, fishing and river kayaking, it is an important gateway to world-class tramping, climbing and caving opportunities in Kahurangi National Park.

“The township’s location halfway up the Motueka Valley also makes it a handy base for the Kaiteriteri beaches and Abel Tasman National Park at one end of the valley and the alpine attractions of Nelson Lakes National Park at the other.”