Founding owners farewell popular Oparau Roadhouse
The Oparau Roadhouse, near Kawhia will change owners after 26 years.
The 1.3 hectare site on State Highway 31 has become a popular destination for travellers.
The bright yellow building stands out among the rolling green hills that surround it.
The site has welcomed freedom campers for years.
There are also two houses on the property which are included in the sale. One has four bedrooms and the other has two.
Bill and Brenda Rogers opened the store in 1990, building it from a small convenience store with a mechanic’s workshop out the back into a one-stop-shop for everything a traveller could need.
There’s a petrol station, Lotto shop, New Zealand Post and accommodation. It also sells crafts, food, groceries, bait and tackle and liquor.
‘‘If we don’t sell it you don’t need it,’’ Bill Rogers said.
It’s become famous for many reasons. In July it was one of three Lotto stores across the country to sell a winning ticket in the $40 million jackpot.
The tickets were sold at Oparau Roadhouse in Kawhia, Pak ‘n Save in Dunedin and online to a MyLotto player from Hamilton. Winners received almost $13.3m each.
Then there is the pies. Brenda Rogers makes the pies by hand, spending hours in the kitchen crafting the recipe for punters.
The pair are selling up because they want to spend time travelling, visiting those who have stayed over the past 26 years.
‘‘When it’s your baby, you grew it from nothing, it is sad,’’ Bill Rogers said.
‘‘It’s an amazing journey what we’ve done here.’’