Matakana tourism hub for sale
Land and buildings housing Matakana Country Park — one of the biggest hospitality and tourism operations in the Auckland region — are on the market.
The venue, 45 minutes north of Auckland CBD, stands upon a 17.97ha site, one comprising multiple food and beverage operations, tourism and leisure activities.
There’s also a large event and concert-hosting venue, equestrian arena and several retail outlets, says Bayleys in the North agent Mark Macky.
The property — at 1151 Leigh Rd — is for sale by tender (tenders closing December 7), and it features in Bayleys’ Total Property portfolio magazine.
Macky says it was developed by entrepreneur John Baker in the early 2000s, who was inspired while walking through the Butchart Gardens on Vancouver Island.
The freehold property opened with a single restaurant, a playground and rustic barn-like complex, which hosted a weekend arts and crafts market.
Macky says the venue is now one of the biggest tourism destinations in the district, offering huge potential to build on the existing infrastructure.
The land is zoned mixed rural under the Unitary Plan, while a Matakana 2 Precinct overlay allows for current consented commercial expansion.
Combined, the multiple tenancies — all on different lease terms and conditions — generate an annual gross income of $245,869.
“Additional revenue from functions and events is forecast to be $99,482 in the coming 12 months,” Macky says.
“Matakana Country Park benefits from being a vertically integrated tourism and hospitality venue, servicing a broad range of target markets.
“These from the local population utilising its food and beverage entities on a regular basis, through to visitors and tourists accessing the retail outlets, and bookings from the substantial number of wedding and corporate users.”
The venue is a popular summer outdoor music venue, attracting crowds of around 5000 to concerts over the last five years, says Bayleys’ Gary Caldwell.
Among the international and local acts to have performed there are Pat Benatar, America, Starship, 10CC, Lynyrd Skynryd, Six60, Shapeshifter, Shihad and Gin Wigmore. Canadian rocker Bryan Adams is booked at Matakana this summer, as is Kiwi music legend Dave Dobbyn.
Food and beverage outlets within the setting include The Stables Restaurant, used for hosting large functions and group bookings, the neighbouring blacksmith-themed Smiths Bar, and the coffee and muffinstyle Brambles Cafe.
Retail activities include Art Matakana, jeweller John Crockett Goldsmith, body artist Uptown Tattoo, team-building outdoor activities company Action Matakana, gymnasium studio Fitness Matakana, Matakana Pony Rides, horse-drawn buggy operator Matakana Carriages, Matakana Bicycle Hire, and a wellness and health clinic, The Remedy Room.
Matakana Country Park comprises eight separate parcels of freehold land — of which seven can be purchased individually, in any combination, or as one unified portfolio.
The lot composition encompasses land already resource consented, or currently used by:
The Woolshed function venue, Brambles cafe, Matakana Fitness gym studio, and Art Matakana; land and building housing Stables Restaurant and Smiths Bar.
There is an outdoor equestrian arena and track/outdoor music concert venue; a confidence and adventure course. Planned attractions include an automotive museum, a cheese-making premises and a vet clinic. A carpark lot and farmers market area are already in use.