By the time you arrive in Karamea, at the far northern end of the West Coast of New Zealand’s South Island, you know you have travelled somewhere.

Tucked between Kahurangi National Park and the Tasman Sea, Karamea lies almost directly west of Nelson, on the other side of the national park, and approximately 95 kilometres north of Westport.

Air services link Karamea with Nelson via Tākaka, while the road from Westport follows the coast north before winding over the forested Karamea Bluff.

The traffic thins, the scenery takes over and the landscape grows greener and wilder.

Then, rather appropriately, you find The Last Resort.

Now, this distinctive accommodation property is looking for a new owner.

It is the perfect name for a place near the end of the road. But for the walkers, cyclists and adventurous souls who arrive tired, hungry and probably rather muddy, it may feel more like they have reached the end of the rainbow.

Wilderness on the doorstep

Karamea is the gateway to the western end of the Heaphy Track, one of New Zealand’s Great Walks.

The track crosses Kahurangi National Park through mountains, alpine tussock, rainforest, rivers and palm-fringed coastline. Walkers generally take four to six days to complete it, while mountain bikers can tackle it between May and November.

The Last Resort is well placed to welcome guests before or after their journey, but the Heaphy is only part of Karamea’s appeal.

The area also offers kayaking, fishing, cycling and plenty of shorter coastal and forest walks. Nearby, the Ōpārara Basin is known for its ancient rainforest, caves and enormous limestone arches.

Its most famous natural feature is the 35-million-year-old Ōpārara Arch, reputed to be the largest naturally formed limestone arch in Australasia.

Karamea has been described as the West Coast’s sunniest spot. To the east are native bush, nīkau palms, rainforest and Kahurangi National Park. To the west, there is nothing but the Tasman Sea.

There are no traffic lights, shopping centres or fast-food chains. There is, however, scenery, silence and plenty of room to breathe.

More than a place to sleep

After several days on the Heaphy Track, a comfortable bed, hot shower, generous meal and cold drink can feel like the height of luxury.

The Last Resort is difficult to place neatly into one accommodation box, which is part of its charm. It has 26 units and 65 beds across self-contained villas, motel-style studios, ensuite lodge rooms, double and twin rooms and backpacker accommodation.

On any given evening, there might be a family settling into a villa, a couple relaxing in a studio, a group of walkers celebrating their completion of the Heaphy and several cyclists debating whose idea the trip was in the first place.

According to the sales campaign, The Last Resort has recently been renovated to meet four-star motel standards. However, it has wisely held on to the timber, craftsmanship and slightly quirky personality that make it memorable.

Much of the property was built using timber harvested from the surrounding forests in an earlier time, giving it a warmth and character that would be difficult to recreate today.

The most remarkable example is in the conference and events centre, where the central beam is formed from a 25-metre rimu tree.

It spans the room above handmade wooden panelling created from locally grown and milled timber, providing a wonderfully Kiwi setting for weddings, conferences and celebrations.

You can imagine it filled with people, music and laughter.

The Last Resort also has a fully licensed restaurant, café and bar, as well as a beer garden.

The restaurant serves breakfast, lunch and dinner, while the bar provides a relaxed meeting place for visitors and locals. There is New Zealand beer and wine, a pool table, bar snacks and plenty of opportunity to compare stories from the day.

Travellers tend to talk to one another in places like this. Perhaps it is the relaxed setting or the wonderful West Coast hospitality. Or perhaps everyone is simply delighted to have found such a comfortable place to rest.

Outside, guests can settle into the beer garden and watch the sun disappear over the Tasman Sea.

A new owner for The Last Resort

An additional parcel of land bordering the Karamea River, directly behind the resort, is included in the sale. Bush and Beyond Guided Walks is also available separately for an additional price.

Selling agent Dilan De Silva of Hero Property NZ Ltd believes the combination of character, location and opportunity makes the offering unusual. Having previously handled the sale of The Last Resort, he said it was a pleasure to be marketing the property for the second time in his career.

“Accommodation businesses of this scale and quality rarely come to market in such a special location,” he said.

“What makes it especially exciting is the potential still available. The additional land beside the Karamea River provides scope for future expansion, while Bush and Beyond Guided Walks could give a new owner the opportunity to create an even more complete West Coast tourism experience.”

The Last Resort is being offered as a freehold going concern, with the price available on enquiry.

But buying an accommodation business is never simply about the rooms, buildings and balance sheets. It is also about the life that comes with it.

At The Last Resort, that life might include welcoming walkers at the end of a great adventure, sharing a drink with locals at the bar, hosting a wedding beneath a magnificent rimu beam and waking each morning in one of New Zealand’s most beautiful small communities.

For the right buyer, reaching The Last Resort could be the beginning of something rather special.