A former wellness retreat in the heart of the Waikato owned and run by fashion entrepreneur Annah Stretton is up for auction.
The lodge – formerly known as Te Atawhai – on Te Kawana Rd on the outskirts of Te Aroha consists of five bedrooms, each with their own ensuite, surrounded by landscaped gardens and a pond.
While it only operated for two years as a commercial accommodation venue, while it was a going concern Te Atawhai commanded rates of up to $2200 for a four-night health and wellness package encompassing yoga, massage, meditation and fitness sessions.
Annah Stretton opened Te Atawhai in mid-2016, however the business operated for only two years.
Now the 365-square metre lodge sitting on 10,000sqm of freehold land is up for auction at 11am on March 7 through Bayleys Hamilton.
All the furniture, fittings, Manchester, whiteware, and guest-room amenities are included in the offering. The two-storey lodge has open-plan communal living, cooking and dining areas and an office on the ground level, with guest bedrooms - each with their on ensuites - on the upper floor.
The guest amenities include an in-ground salt water swimming pool and a grass tennis court.
"With the physical infrastructure already in place, it would be relatively straightforward for any new owner of the property to establish a new lodge or commercially-run B 'n' B-style accommodation business at the address," salesman Josh Smith said.
"With a vast flat lawn space immediately in front of the lodge's portico entry capable of sustaining a sizeable marquee, commercial activity could be scaled up for the property to operate as a wedding reception venue. Should the venue morph into a luxury lodge, the lawn could also sustain a helicopter landing pad."
Stretton also recently put a five-bedroom, three-bathroom home in Tamahere up for sale.
The designer and philanthropist – who owns retail stores throughout New Zealand, and works with charities like women's refuge and UNICEF – has her head office in Morrinsville.
She is also an author of seven books, and is an Order of Merit recipient for her services to business, fashion and community.
At the time Te Atawhai began operating in mid-2016, Stretton said the idea came from business partners Rebecca Skilton and Sherryll Gordon, and she came on board after a recent introduction to "wholeness".
Te Aroha's reputation as a location pandering to wellness dates back to the 1880s when geothermal hot springs were established in the town domain. The town's mineral pools quickly became a tourist magnet – drawing in tens of thousands of holidaymakers from across the Auckland, Waikato and Bay of Plenty before the township's spa drawcard was eventually surpassed by the bigger and more spectacular geothermal attractions of Rotorua.