Flying Pig on South Island bike trail
The Flying Pig Cafe, a pinkpainted character cafe on the border of North Otago and South Canterbury, which has “piggy-backed” off one of New Zealand’s most popular and successful cycle routes, has been placed on the market as a freehold property with “dormant” business.
Located in the Waitaki District township of Duntroon, about 30 minutes’ drive inland from Oamaru, the cafe was purchased in 2007 and successfully operated by two Aucklanders who saw it while touring the South Island.
Unfortunately the Flying Pig ceased trading in early 2017 due to one of its operators battling a serious illness, and the business has remained inactive since.
“The cafe has been very sadly missed during this time,” says Kate Mullins, hospitality sales specialist for Bayleys Canterbury, who is marketing the Flying Pig’s land, buildings and business assets at 23-27 Campbell St, Duntroon, for sale by negotiation.
Mullins says the property and business is being promoted as a ‘dormant’ turn-key trading opportunity with live-in accommodation.
“The food and beverage business performed well over the years, but it
really received a major boost in demand when the Alps 2 Ocean Cycle Trail opened in 2014,” she says.
The cycle trail stretches over 300km from Mt Cook Village, through the Mackenzie Basin, down the Waitaki Valley, through Duntroon, and ends at Oamaru. It comprises a mix of off-road tracks and purpose-built cycle trails along with unsealed and sealed roads that take cyclists directly past the Flying Pig’s front door.
The distinctive building with wooden floors and high-stud ceiling on 2484sq m of freehold land, features an open fire place.
Mullins says the premises has effectively been mothballed since closing two years ago. The current owner is living at the premises and over this time both the interior and exterior have been regularly cleaned and maintained to a high standard — so there is minimal effort required to bring the property back up to a fully operational status,” she says.
“When functioning at its peak, The Flying Pig Cafe business operated from Labour weekend in October through to Easter, and was licensed to serve 30 customers inside and an additional 25 patrons outside. The town’s only other hospitality establishment is the Duntroon Hotel.
“A three-bedroom residence at the rear of the cafe was extensively refurbished in 2014 along with the installation of new electrical wiring, double-glazed windows, plumbing, and insultation.”
Chattels and assets being sold with the property and Flying Pig Cafe include:
full commercial-grade kitchen with ovens, hobs, grillers, fryers, microwaves ovens, dishwasher/drying equipment, and extensive stainless steel benching;
a full complement of front of house food service equipment encompassing refrigerated display cabinets, under-bar drink refrigeration cabinetry, barista coffee machine, cash register, tables, chairs, crockery and cutlery;
landscaped outdoor dining courtyard with its own inventory of hand-crafted wooden slab-style tables and chairs;
an 80sq m storage shed divided into three bays — each with its own doorway off the rear courtyard;
modern three-bedroom owner/ manager’s home; and
a commercial-grade ultra-violet water filtration unit which meets all of the Waitaki District Council’s food safety requirements.
“Flying Pig Cafe’s prime position on Duntroon’s main street, ensures it’s perfectly positioned to once again become a food and beverage pillar — servicing riders on the Alps 2 Ocean Cycle Trail along with many local and international tourists,” Mullins says.
“The cycle trail is now firmly ensconced on the ‘must do’ list of New Zealand’s leading cycle routes — up there with the Central Otago Rail Trail and the Central North Island Timber Trail.”
She anticipates potential buyers for The Flying Pig Cafe will probably come from a hospitality background with some experience in running food and beverage operations; or, like its previous operators, a couple wanting to escape the corporate ‘rat race’ of a big city and settle in the heartland of rural New Zealand running a lifestyle-based business.
“There is further potential to extend the cafe’s operating hours to include evening meals to cater for the cyclists and visitors staying in the village overnight,” Mullins says.
Duntroon’s tourist attractions include the Vanished World Fossil Centre — which is the heart of the Vanished World Trail for visitors wishing to explore the region’s fossil heritage — Elephant Rocks, Takiroa rock art site, a wetlands area and walk and a historic working blacksmith’s forge.