Pictured: Property owner Adele Dawkins with her two daughters, Lily (left) and Khloe (right), and sales consultant Brent Irving.
Qualifying as the world’s southernmost resort, RiverRidge Retreat is for sale.
Located in The Catlins and nestled within some of New Zealand’s most beautiful scenery, RiverRidge Retreat caters for weddings, conferences, celebrations, corporate events and holidays.
Adele Dawkins has owned and managed RiverRidge Retreat since 2011. She says running the business has been a joy.
“I’ve met so many awesome people from all over the world. We’ve had weddings from Sweden, South Africa, Australia, Germany, Wales, so many different places. Usually they stay for up to three days, with family and friends arriving on the first day, the wedding on the second day, and another day of further celebrations.
“Every single wedding is completely different. It’s such a privilege to be part of each one. I love hearing the speeches. Helping them organise such a special event, you get to know them well. It’s extremely rewarding, especially to see them years down the track and find out what they are doing with their lives,” says Adele, who a few years ago hosted the wedding of one of her best friends, when she doubled as both the organiser and the maid of honour, which made it even more memorable.
Adele’s daughters, Khloe and Lily, also love the weddings, though managing the business alongside family life is a challenge that Adele has reluctantly decided is stretching her too thin, so she’s brought in Brent Irving of PGG Wrightson Real Estate, Dunedin to offer RiverRidge Retreat to the market.
“With forward bookings for both weddings and other functions stretching into next year and beyond, RiverRidge Retreat presents new owners with numerous opportunities to further grow and diversify the business.
“Specialising in weddings, the business offers several options, from a ceremony site to the complete package of a fully catered wedding with accommodation provided, choice of cuisine and wedding coordinator.
“As well as the weddings and functions that serve as its mainstay at present, introducing activities such as horse trekking, fishing and hunting would make for worthwhile additional potential income streams,” he says.
Before Adele took it on, the resort was known as Catlins Woodstock Lodge and Function Centre and was best known as a venue for music festivals. In the past 14 years, RiverRidge Retreat has hosted more than 600 weddings, plus numerous corporate events and conferences for the likes of NZ Police, Alliance Group, Department of Conservation, PowerNet and PGG Wrightson. It also caters for retreats and family holidays.
At the resort’s focal point, a large rustic-style purpose-built function centre seats up to 130 and includes a full commercial kitchen, chiller, bar, and dance floor. Accommodation sleeping up to 74 comprises a mix of eco styled self-contained cabins, shared units, private rooms and glamping tents.
Off the beaten track and enjoying its own South Otago microclimate, The Catlins has a wide range of outstanding natural features, including rugged coastline, native bush, wildlife and waterfalls, all highly treasured by locals, and much admired by visitors.
RiverRidge Retreat is located at Tawanui, Owaka, 44 kilometres south of Balclutha, 126 kilometres east of Invercargill, and 124 kilometres south of Dunedin.
Offers above $1.2 million will be considered, and Adele is open to remaining with the business in some capacity, depending on the circumstances and requirements of a new owner.
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