Ohakune: The best of both worlds

Look no further for a home and income in one of New Zealand's most beautiful destinations.

Lifestyle businesses conjure up images of city-fringe subsistence farmers relaxing on their 10-acre blocks - more style than business. The Sunbeam Lodge & Motels in Ohakune boasts the best of both worlds - summer months off supported by a substantial winter cash flow.

"When you work," says owner Mark Sandiford, "you really work - forget nine to five and weekends off. With the Sunbeam enjoying one of the snow industry's highest occupancy rates, there's no let-up over those four winter months, but that still leaves eight months, time for some maintenance, but mostly to kick back and enjoy the fruits of winter's hard labour."

However, Mark reckons that his summer relaxing is under threat as Ohakune continues to gain popularity as a summer adventure playground and an ideal central North Island location for special interest groups to meet.

Regulars at the Sunbeam in the off-season months are various HOG (Harley Owners Group) club members. Already this year, Sunbeam has hosted members of the Palmerston North club. They were followed a few weeks later by the Wellington chapter on their annual Queen's Birthday Weekend ride. After a bracing, day-long ride through the countryside, these hardy Harley enthusiasts welcome the sight of the Sunbeam and are soon crowding around the cosy log fire.

The evening follows a proven format - post-ride nibbles and drinks and a chance to warm up by the fire. Then Cathy, Mark's partner, helps to prepare a three-course meal in the restaurant. This is followed by a five-piece band that pumps out old favourites until late. It's a fun night for the club's members and the Sunbeam's owners.

The next morning they tuck into a hearty cooked breakfast before they hit the road. At around $75 a head for accommodation, nibbles, dinner, breakfast and entertainment, it's great value - and it's great off-season business for the Sunbeam. "We're lucky that in a small community there's such a range of musical talent on hand," says Mark.

The cosy house bar and 50-seat restaurant, with its large commercial kitchen, sets the property aside from similar accommodation, ensuring that these and similar groups are easily catered for. This is enhanced by the versatility of the accommodation range, the ability to sleep up to 120, a games room for kids and two spa pools, along with guest and commercial laundries.

"We aren't top end and we don't do backpackers, but we cater for everything in between," says Mark.

And let's not overlook those interesting characters from New Zealand's burgeoning film industry. Be it a major production or a crew doing a television commercial, there's usually someone in town in the off-season taking advantage of Tongariro World Heritage Park's spectacular scenery.

As always, the old property adage "location location location" applies. Part of the Sunbeam's success must be attributed to its prominent position on the mountain road. Ohakune has an interesting split. On arrival you encounter the practical end of town with its post office, banks and shops, while 2km up the road, towards the Turoa Ski Resort, is the Junction. This is the fun end of town that's packed with restaurants, bars and ski and snowboard shops.

"This is where people like to be," says Mark. "Location is everything. We are right by the Junction and we are the closest motel to the Turoa ski field.

"From a lifestyle point of view, the seasonality is its real feature. You'd have to be crazy to want to run a motel 365 days a year, hanging around all day on the off-chance someone might stop by.

While we probably do the same work, it's all packed into four months and then you pick the eyes out of the summer business."

Sunbeam Lodge takes Cathy and Mark away from their Auckland home to where they want to be in winter. It's busy but it's loads of fun, whether they're working, enjoying the company or taking advantage of the great skiing on the mountain that's on their doorstep.

Vital statistics:

ADDRESS: Corner of Mangawhero Tce and Foyle St, Ohakune.

FEATURES: Expansion opportunity on freehold land; 30 rooms of varying configuration; 50-seat restaurant and house bar; comprehensive commercial kitchen; two spa pools; on-site commercial laundry and guest laundry; staff house above four-car garage and workshop; woodshed; four-bedroom bungalow.

SIZE: Land area 4061sq m on three titles.

PRICE: $1.4m.

AGENT: Wayne Keene, CB Richard Ellis. Ph 377 0645 bus; 0274 985207 mob.