Motel Business For Sale
Franz Josef Glacier, South Westland, New Zealand



Best Value, Best Views, Best Location

The internationally recognised South West of New Zealand World Heritage site is one the great natural areas of the world.

Each year, over one million tourists visit this magic part of New Zealand, most stopping to marvel at the Franz Josef and Fox Glaciers. These ancient ice falls descend steeply from the Southern Alps to terminate in primeval lowland rainforests. Both glaciers are easily accessible and are major tourist attractions.

Glacier Gateway Motels are the closest accommodation to Franz Josef Glacier, the more scenic of the two glaciers:

• strategically situated on State Highway 6, the main north-south highway along the West Coast.
• just 500 metres south of the village of Franz Josef, and next to the Wahio River.
• adjacent to the Access Road that leads to the glacier car park.
• across the road from Westland Tai Poutini National Park.

Glacier Gateway Motels are a well-appointed accommodation complex in a peaceful native bush setting. Most rooms in the motel enjoy commanding views towards the glacier and the Southern Alps.

Owner's residence, glacier views, motel units, and family cottages

Many guests to Glacier Gateway Motels come to visit the glacier and then stay on to enjoy some of the many adventures that the area has to offer. Franz Josef Glacier is experiencing a healthy growth with a new $6.5 million Hukawai Ice Centre, new heli- and fixed-wing excursions to the glacier, new hot pools, quad bike tours, horse trekking, hunting, fishing, and lot more exhilarating outdoor adventures.

After 10 seasons of busy trading the owners of Glacier Gateway Motels have put their successful accommodation business on to the market. This exceptional business caters for the strong family and budget travellers and is not experiencing the downturn in trade that is impacting on the top end of the travel market.

If you are looking for a business that provides a home and two incomes, we recommend that you look seriously at Glacier Gateway Motels. Franz Josef Glacier has everything – good community facilities, primary and secondary schools, medical care, and an excellent lifestyle for the whole family.

Comfortable, affordable units ranging from studios to family cottages

Glacier Gateway Motels is part of the Budget Motel Chain with a core clientele from New Zealand and Australia:

• 16 x Studio Units sleeping 1-3 persons – each has an ensuite bathroom with shower and toilet, tea and coffee-making facilities, and most have a microwave oven. One Studio Unit is fitted-out as an Access Unit.
• 2 x One Bedroom Units with spa bath, perfect for couples seeking romance. Each Unit has full cooking facilities with microwave oven, and an ensuite bathroom with shower and toilet.
• 5 x Two Bedroom Cottages, ideal for groups and families. Each has full cooking facilities with bench-top hotplates, microwave oven, and an ensuite bathroom with shower and separate toilet.

Choice of single, double, queen and king-size beds

Rooms are nice, clean, quiet and warm. Facilities include a television (free-view 5 channels, in-house video channel), telephone, refrigerator, toaster, table and chairs, cutlery and crockery. Beds are fitted with electric blankets.

Guest services:

• Cooked or continental breakfast room service.
• Guest spa and sauna.
• Guest laundry with coin operated washing and drying machines.
• Children’s playground.
• Intercity bus stop at the gate.
• Ample parking for cars and boats.
• Tour desk at office for local attractions and tours.

Units have views across the lawn to the Southern Alps

Leasehold property

The owners are selling the leasehold to land (1040 square metres) and buildings that comprise Glacier Gateway Motels at Franz Josef Glacier. Units and cottages are built of low maintenance concrete block walls on concrete floors and with iron roofs. Interior walls are a mix of painted plaster board and painted block-work. Floor coverings are both carpet and lino.

Other features include a motel kitchen, motel laundry, and a 2-bedroom staff apartment that sleeps up to 4 staff. Staff accommodation in Franz Josef Glacier is always at a premium and providing staff accommodation on-site is a real advantage in staff retention.

Owner's residence
The business includes a 3-bedroom owner’s residence that is located above the office/reception area for best mountain views.

Lease
The 30 year lease (15+15+15 years) was renewed in 2006. Rent reviews are every 2 years.

Assets being sold

A complete list of lessee fittings, fixtures, and chattels being sold is available.

2-bedroom cottages are ideal for groups and families

Day to day management

Business Hours:
Monday to Sunday – 8.00 am to 7.00 pm.

Staff:
The Motel is operated by the two owners with assistance from one full time and 4 part time (seasonal) workers.

Advertising and Promotion:
The business advertises via roadside signage, a listing in Yellow Pages, ads in Travel Guides, and via business's web site http://www.franzjosefmotels.co.nz. Other guests come via recommendations from Travel Agents, Information Centres, Barter Card, and membership with the Budget Motel Chain.

Call Kevin or Linda on +64 3 752 0776 (day and evenings)
or 027 518 6598 (anytime)

Franz Josef Glacier

Franz Josef Village is a picturesque village in the heart of the South West New Zealand World Heritage Area. It is about 140 km south of Greymouth and about 280 km northwest of Wanaka and is a favourite stopping place for tourists. The village has a great selection of shops, Health Clinic, primary school, high school, and community services.

Most travellers visit the Franz Josef Glacier to see the ice fall that nestles in a valley lined with lush green rainforest. Approximately 7000 years old, the glacier extends 12 kilometres from the high snowfields of the Southern Alps and almost to the sea. Others take guided walks on the ice, heli-hike, or make scenic flights over the glacier in fixed wing aircraft or helicopters.

The town offers a range of other attractions including an indoor ice climbing wall, scenic bush walks, off road 4WD excursions, quad bike adventures, skydiving, paintball, and eco-cruises on nearby Lake Mapourika. Other eco-tourism ventures include rental and guided kayaking trips on the beautiful Okarito lagoon to visit the Kotuku (White Heron) colony. This is the only breeding colony of these graceful birds in New Zealand.

The West Coast of New Zealand is an environmental treasure with swift–flowing streams, primeval forests, serene lakes, and wild ocean beaches. There is much for visitors to see and do locally and further afield. The gold mining town of Ross is an hour away and it is only another 30 minutes to Hokitika to see the very best of greenstone (jade).

To find out more about Franz Josef Glacier click on:

http://www.glaciercountry.co.nz/
http://www.franzjosefglacier.com/
http://www.nzescape.com/franz-josef-fox-glacier-attractions.html
http://www.glacierhotpools.co.nz/
http://www.glaciervalley.co.nz/
http://www.glacierkayaks.com/
http://www.acrosscountryquadbikes.co.nz/
http://www.horsetreknz.com/
http://www.glacierhelicopters.co.nz/franz.asp
http://www.hukawai.co.nz/