Circle of life at luxury getaway
The five-star Zatori Lodge at the top of the South Island in Collingwood sports a helicopter landing space, wood-fired sauna and two-person bathtub overlooking the Ruataniwha Inlet.
Zatori owner Tracey Walker’s expectations of sale offers of ‘‘something over $2.5 million’’ are a little more modest than the asking price of the nearby $25m Westhaven Lodge getaway overlooking Whanganui inlet, another of several southern lodges currently on the market.
Zatori’s ringside view overlooks the Aorere River as it feeds into Golden Bay’s Ruataniwha Inlet, about 5 kilometres from Collingwood.
‘‘It has a lot of spirit attached to it,’’ Walker said.
‘‘It’s seen many births, deaths and marriages. I think it would have great potential as a yoga and wellness centre.’’
Walker is a long-time resident of Golden Bay who, as a marriage celebrant, has conducted many services joining couples there. She is also a Bayleys real estate agent who is conducting the sale herself.
When Zatori was a rest home for a period, one of Walker’s elderly relations passed away there. It has also been the cradle of new life because it was a former maternity hospital before being converted into a five-star lodge after she bought it in 2013.
It features two-winged accommodation with lounge and foodservice space in the middle hub of the premises.
In Zatori’s upmarket wing, nightly rack rates range seasonally from $229 to $399.
In the budget wing, nightly rack rates range from $60 in a bunk-bed configured room, through to $210 for a family unit sleeping up to four people.
The lodge has total sleeping capacity for 30 guests.
The core of the property was built as the Joan Whiting maternity hospital in 1942.
It was then converted and extended in 1970 to become a rest home and doctors’ consulting rooms before the 2014 refurbishment into 13 bedrooms and 11 bathrooms.
The expansive flat lawn has been used as a helicopter landing pad when the venue has been booked out by corporate and wealthy guests.
A central lounge can accommodate 60 guests for functions and meal service.
Walker said trampers heading for the Heaphy Track pass by, and the lodge has also become popular with bird watchers.
The lodge was being sold as a going concern with all fittings, artwork, and forward bookings. Offers close on December 10.
The business was licensed to sell liquor, and had its own vegetable garden and orchard, alongside a chicken run.
Zatori uses roof water with large underground water storage tanks and is also connected to the local supply. All water is filtered.
The former hospital’s electricity generator is still on site to guarantee power supply in the event of emergency power outages. The Takaka-Collingwood Highway is the sole road to Farewell Spit and Wharariki Beach.
‘‘It’s seen many births, deaths and marriages.’’ Zatori owner Tracey Walker