Distance no object for historic country hotel

The Whangamomona Hotel, world-famous in New Zealand as an essential stopover on the nation's first Heritage Trail, is being sold as a going concern by Ross McLauchlan and Belinda Brice of Link Business Broking. The hotel is located on State Highway 43 _ dubbed the "Forgotten World Highway" _ in eastern Taranaki, and is within the small settlement of Whangamomona. Frequently described as "the most remote country hotel in New Zealand", the hotel was built in 1911 and was used as a hospital during the 1918 Spanish influenza pandemic. "The kitchen still features the original oven, which has been kept for sentimental reasons and not for practical purposes," McLauchlan says.

The Forgotten World Highway runs for 155km, beginning in Stratford and ending in Taumaranui in the Ruapehu district, with more than 30 historic or natural points of interest en route. It follows ancient Maori trade routes and colonial pioneering bridle tracks through historic settlements and areas of virgin native bush.

"It's really a road of remembrance, with reminders of settlers who tried to scratch out a living in a wild and isolated country with its drifting mist, forested hills and abandoned mines," McLauchlan says.

Whangamomona township was established in 1895 to service the needs of the forestry workers and their families building a railway line through the area.

"Back in the 1980s, plans to reclassify the Taranaki town into Manawatu motivated the locals to declare the town a republic," McLauchlan says. "To commemorate the event, every second year Independence Day celebrations are held which draw crowds of up to 6000 people with featured Kiwi cultural and rural events like gumboot throwing, possum skinning, whip cracking and pig hunting."

McLauchlan says Whangamomona is also famous for McCluggages General Store, built in 1901 and closed in 1967, which has often been used as a film set. Remnants survive of the town's old Bank of Australia, the bakery, library, crockery shop and post office.

"We have been told that funding is in place to restore some of these buildings back to their former glory so passing tourists are able to look back in time at the town of Whangamomona," says McLauchlan.

There are specific plans to restore the Whangamomona Rugby Club building and a local church next year.

Brice says the hotel itself comes with .6547ha of usable grazing land. Accommodation within the hotel is comprised of three queen bedrooms, two queen plus single bed rooms, three single rooms, and a family apartment with a double bed, two king singles and two single beds. The apartment has its own bathroom and is fully self-contained. A manager's flat is located upstairs, with one double bedroom, lounge, bathroom and kitchenette.

Upstairs is a cosy lounge for guests with tea and coffee-making facilities and a television.

"Whangamomona Hotel provides excellent accommodation suitable for those wanting to experience true country hotel-styled lodgings," Brice says. "The menu has been changed since under new management and features good country fare."

Since buying the hotel, the owners have invested heavily in its upgrade, adding new dining room furniture, new carpet upstairs, new beds, new linen, repainting and installing a gas Infinity hot water system.

"The kitchen had been upgraded, including new flooring," Brice says.

"The pantry storage and refrigerator space keep the kitchen stocked for a good week, except during the busy Christmas-New Year holiday period, where there are heavy demands for meals from the tourists.

"The current owner says he serves up to 30 meals in an evening _ a task he has handled gallantly on his own, doubling as the hotel's chief chef."

Brice says the hotel attracts tourist every day, rain or shine, while the locals make themselves at home there in the evening, enjoying a meal and watching the rugby on big-screen TV. "There is a lovely camping ground further down the road with great facilities, including a swimming pool. "On Republic Day, when the hotel is overwhelmed with visitors, the camping ground is usually full as well."

McLauchlan says substantial improvements have been made to the hotel and it is in a "superb condition which should make it a pleasure to own and run".

He says the owners have reluctantly decided to sell the hotel, as they wish to fulfil their dream of travelling.

McLauchlan says the Whangamomona Hotel would benefit from having its own website linked to National Park and Taranaki tourist sites.