Prime beachfront business

Byron’s Resort motel and camping ground provides multiple income streams in a prime beachfront location.

For Tony and Michelle and their four children, Byron’s Resort meant one thing: the summer holidays, one glorious year after another. So what did they do when they heard their favourite camping ground was to be ploughed over and turned into shops and apartments? They bought the resort and saved it! The family’s passion for the much loved motel and camping ground at Otaki Beach has ensured that new generations of holidaymakers and independent travellers continue to enjoy one of Kapiti Coast’s great treasures. Now, after a 40-year association including seven years as owners, Michelle and Tony are selling the resort and its 2.1 hectares of land comprising 15 motel sites, 98 powered camp sites, popular Byron Brown’s Restaurant & Bar, and conference/function centre. The camping ground provides regular holidaymakers with the opportunity to secure their own site. Private owners pay annual levies for use of the resort facilities, thus contributing to the operational costs. A future owner has the option of selling off some or all of the remaining 39 sites to offset the purchase price and still receive an annual income. Included in the resort is the owners’ five-bedroom accommodation, a unique space in the industry allowing a large family to share the roles in running the resort. It is now run primarily by one of their sons and his partner, with the rest of the family helping out when needed. Byron’s Resort is just 150 metres from the popular swimming beach at Otaki. Aside from the 15 well-appointed, spacious motel units with kitchen facilities there’s the bonus of the leased restaurant; and fully self-contained conference/function centre with boardroom- style seating for 20 (or 40 theatre-style). The resort has a wide range of facilities – tennis court, squash court, petanque, children’s playground, swimming pool, sauna, table tennis and TV lounge. Campsite guests have use of a communal kitchen and bathroom. Otaki Beach has its own boutique shopping centre; Otaki township with its wide range of shops and amenities is 5km away. The area is expanding and developing, with the new Kapiti Coast expressway set to dramatically reduce the commute to and from Wellington, and enhance the region in general. Tony and Michelle and the family feel their own lives have been enriched through meeting people who have come to stay from all over the world. ‘‘The resort provides a relaxed lifestyle, and down time in the off-season. It has always felt like we’re on permanent holiday in our very own holiday park.’’ The complex trades exceptionally well and benefits from the added bonus of the lease rental of the restaurant and campsite owners’ levies.