Buyers eye top-rated Picton lodge business

A top-rated boutique accommodation business that lays claim to being the closest guest stay to Picton’s interisland ferry terminals is up for sale.

With over 14 guest rooms offering diverse accommodation options for up to 38 guests, Tombstone Motel, Lodge & Backpackers is an established feature of Picton’s busy visitor scene.

Just minutes on foot from Bluebridge and Interislander ferry services and town centre hospitality offerings, the lodge woos local and international guests with harbour views, a free self-service breakfast, and use of a terrace, garden, hot tub, and games area.

The property is a popular launch pad for Cook Strait crossings and South Island adventures, and a convenient gateway to the scenic Marlborough Sounds and Queen Charlotte Track.

Tombstone boasts an average rating of 4.8 out of five from hundreds of guest reviewers on global travel site Tripadvisor and a ‘Wonderful’ 9.2 rating on Expedia.

The business is now on the market as a freehold going concern through Bayleys Real Estate.

The freehold land, buildings, business and chattels behind Tombstone Motel, Lodge & Backpackers, located at 16 Gravesend Place, Picton, are being offered to buyers by way of a deadline sale closing on Thursday 29 October (unless sold prior).

The sale is being marketed by Michael Ryan and Wade Cornelius of Bayleys Marlborough.

Ryan says the buildings of approximately 688 square metres are underpinned by a residential-zoned freehold landholding of some 1,917 square metres.

“At the heart of the operation is a modern accommodation building that caters for guests seeking private rooms with ensuites, private rooms using shared bathrooms, or a bunk room.

“The guest rooms are complemented by extensive shared facilities including communal kitchen and dining areas, guest lounge and recreation spaces, outdoor areas, spa facilities, guest laundry, free off-street parking and other operational amenities – along with dedicated owner/manager accommodation.

“The property has been progressively developed and configured to meet the needs of visitors, creating a proven and well-tailored operating platform for an incoming purchaser. But the enterprise also retains flexibility for a range of future ownership and operating models, whether it’s continuing under a hands-on ownership model or transitioning to an alternative management structure,” says Ryan.

Cornelius says the operation benefits from reliable year-round demand drivers.

“The constant flow of travellers crossing Cook Strait, combined with Tombstone’s reputation and profile on key marketing platforms, helps to sustain occupancy at levels that ensure a strong and dependable trading performance,” he says.

The location close to the ferries, visitor information centre and State Highway 1 heightens its convenience for travellers and tourists.

“Picton’s gateway position at the centre of the country’s transport and tourism network sees it welcoming hundreds of thousands of visitors each year.

“The town is also a premier visitor destination in its own right, and a base for exceptional boating, fishing, walking and cycling opportunities.

“Renowned for its stunning coastal scenery, vibrant marina, cafés and restaurants, and proximity to Marlborough's internationally acclaimed wine region, Picton continues to attract strong visitor demand, making it an outstanding location for tourism and accommodation businesses,” Cornelius says.

Information on business revenue, profit, assets and staffing is available to potential buyers subject to a confidentiality agreement.