Catch the wave at Gisborne motel
A popular motel at Gisborne’s famous Waikanae Beach has gone up for sale with guest demand underpinned by an acute accommodation shortage in the region.
Ahi Kaa Motel on Salisbury Rd sits across the road from the popular swimming beach and a short walk from the city centre, making it a popular stay for vacationers and business travellers alike.
The 4.5- star Tripadvisor- rated property boasts a variety of stylish accommodation options with spacious rooms plus a comfortable manager’s house.
Its sale comes as Gisborne faces massive local demand for accommodation due to the number of motels and hotels being used for Ministry of Social Development emergency housing.
The need to house an influx of workers for multibillion- dollar projects to repair roads damaged by Cyclone Gabrielle has added to demand, with vacancies now hard to find across the city.
The well- appointed 15- unit motel at 61 Salisbury Rd, Awapuni, Gisborne, is being marketed by Mike Florance of Bayleys Gisborne, with tenders closing on Wednesday December 6, unless sold prior.
The motel is offered as a freehold going concern, giving a new owner complete autonomy over the asset or the option to lease it out to an operator.
“With a steady influx of tourists and repeat corporate travellers to the region, coupled with an acute accommodation crisis, high motel occupancy rates make this a very attractive business,” said Florance.
The property comprises buildings of some 630sq m on 2021sq m of land. The site offers around 40m of prominent street frontage and off- street parking for 15 vehicles. It is zoned Inner City Residential under the Taira ¯ whiti Resource Management Plan.
The guest offering consists of six onebedroom apartments with courtyards, three king studios, two kitchenette studios and a double spa unit, along with three villa studios. The property is fitted with air conditioning to each unit.
Other facilities include a guest laundry, office and a very comfortable manager’s house with private covered courtyard. Details on occupancy rates and business financials are available to potential buyers subject to signing a non- disclosure agreement.
“The property and business for sale is underpinned by a supreme location across the road from Waikanae Beach and a short walk from the CBD, set among the highly sought- after beachfront properties of Salisbury Rd.
“Motel guests enjoy multiple dining options nearby, with the new Midway Surf Rescue Community Hub offering culinary choices from fine dining to fish’n chips in a beachfront setting. Also nearby, the aquatic playground at the newly completed Kiwa Pools facility is a popular attraction for families and water enthusiasts.
“Being close to Gisborne Airport and the state highway that runs north and south of the city ensures the motel is easily accessed by out- of- town visitors,” Florance said.