A high-profile Waikato adventure tourism business, within easy reach of Auckland and Hamilton and attracting enthusiasts from around the world, is for sale.

Thundercross Valley Dirt Bike Park, located at Glen Murray, 92 kilometres south of the Auckland CBD, and 69 kilometres north of Hamilton, is presented to the market by Richard Thomson and Ben Warren of PGG Wrightson Real Estate, Hamilton.

Developed over the past 20 years on a 300 hectare family farm, which is also for sale, Richard Thomson says the highly regarded tourism business comprises a variety of trails to suit all levels, and a fleet of hire bikes catering for enthusiasts, casual users and corporates.

“This is a unique and well proven offering, built around the adventure and excitement of dirt bikes. Its spectacular location and carefully designed 38 kilometres of trails give Thundercross visitors a unique opportunity for a fun day out. This long-established going concern is poised for a new owner to leverage several opportunities to develop the Park and take the business to the next level.

“Around fifty percent of New Zealand’s population lives within a two-hour drive of Thundercross. Currently drawing in more than 3000 visitors per annum, its attractive basin setting and mature bush, including a picturesque waterfall, alongside an existing set of consents that would be near impossible to replicate today, make this an easy business to walk into. While to date Thundercross has centred on dirt biking, its well-recognised and easily accessible location, ample parking and induction protocol provide scope to develop multiple complementary recreational and team-building activities including accommodation, paintball, ziplining and others,” he says.

Owner James Fowlie and family started development of the park in 1999, initially intending simply to give their teenage children somewhere to practice their passion. However, as local interest grew a more expansive vision emerged, and Thundercross gained resource consent to open to the public in 2000. Initially local riders turned up and left a koha in the gummie on the deck. Now Thundercross comprises a web of formed tracks around the farm, scaled to suit all abilities from learners to expert riders, employing two full-time working owners, one full time staff member plus a roster of casuals.

Richard Thomson says an incoming buyer’s most obvious opportunity resides in realising the potential to the farm’s old wool shed, which has been modernised and holds land use consent to operate as a public cafe.

“As the farm has not run sheep for many years, the building was upgraded to its current use as a sign-in centre. This includes a media room for induction purposes, a hang out space for staff and visitors as well as a food preparation and servery area, large deck with spectacular views and an office overlooking the Park entrance. While retaining the building’s rustic vibe, the current owners have made significant progress to upgrade and convert the wool shed into a public café. This site has ample parking for vehicles and trailers, café and disabled parking, plus a loading zone and staff parking, while ride-up access from the tracks direct to the building is feasible. Taken to its conclusion, this development would provide riders with a dedicated, external serving-hatch, outside seating and shelter, making it possibly the world’s first ride-up dirt biking café,” he says.

Thundercross has been the location for many TV advertisements and productions, most recently The Bachelorette NZ and The Circus.

Previously supporting sheep and beef, the farm is currently leased for dairy support, including some cropping. Offered by tender with a deadline of 29 May, the farm, which includes a consented quarry that was previously commercialized, and Thundercross are available for sale both together and separately.