Business success overwhelms visionary entrepreneur
An entrepreneur whose vision for running a boutique accommodation business escalated far beyond her wildest dreams is
selling up the enterprise as a roaring success after just four months in operation.
While many ‘start-up’ entrepreneurs plan to break even after several years of building up their clientele, Freshwater
Farm Cottages owner Heather Wilson has found the business exceeding all expectations in only one summer season of
trading.
The two cottages operated under the Freshwater Farms brand are marketed as honeymoon suites, or for special occasion and
romantic retreat getaways. The cottages are located near the township of Waimauku some 25 minutes north-west of
Auckland.
Freshwater Farm suites are decorated in a quirky French country ambience - with chandeliers, ornate wrought iron
ornamentations, outdoor two-person Victorian-style baths, and kitchen facilities.
The cottages, and Wilson’s own two-bedroom tastefully renovated 120 square metre villa home along with a standalone
studio structure, sit on 5.2 hectares of private land overlooking rolling pastures and mature gardens with native
wetland and trees.
With experience previously owning and managing the Kumeu Valley Estate function venue, Heather was mindful of the eight
‘local’ wedding operations which would automatically feed in a client base.
Wedding venues within the immediate vicinity of Freshwater Farm Cottages include Kumeu Valley Estate, Gracehills
Vineyard Estate, Markovina’s, Soljan’s Estate Winery, Settlers Country Manner, Allely House, Bridgewater and The
Brigham.
Wilson said that while there was a considerable array of wedding venues within a short drive, there were few boutique
accommodation providers in the district.
However, what started as a passion to create romance in the countryside has quickly escalated into a highly successful
venture.
Ironically now, it is Wilson’s own true-life romance which is luring her away from the fledgling business – with new
plans to retire and live part-time overseas with the “new man” in her life.
“Freshwater Farm Cottages was only ever meant to be a retirement project. I originally thought the business would
operate on a fairly low key basis. But it’s now at the stage where both cottages are booked regularly on Friday and
Saturday nights, and up to three days during the week as well,” said Ms Wilson.
“Enquiry levels and advance bookings are now at the point where I could easily convert my own home into a third
accommodation option – meaning an entire bridal party could book the venue. But I have intentions to fully retire from
business and spend years travelling instead, so it’s time to pass the opportunity over to someone else.”
Honeysuckle cottage at Freshwater Farm is a three-bedroom suite which books out at $285 per night or $850 for full
weekend wedding packages, while rosebud cottage is an open-plan suite charged out at $285 per night. Each has their own
kitchen – with self cooked breakfast ingredients supplied.
The property is being marketed for sale by Bayleys through a sale by negotiation process. Bayleys North West Auckland
sales person Debbie Berry said the accommodation business was backed with its own dedicated booking website.
“The opportunity is now there to take this business from a hobby to a serious accommodation provider – not only by
raising occupancy levels but also with the potential expansion of adding a third cottage to the pool,” Ms Berry said.
“As Auckland city continues to expand and the city’s population continues to increase, the wedding and special occasion
industry around the North West will grow in parallel. Consumers are becoming discerning and are now seeking something
more unique than a stark four or five star hotel. They are looking for character, romance, rose petals, candles and
seclusion – all the luxuries which Freshwater excels at.”
Ms Berry expected that interest in the cottage accommodation could come from buyers looking for a turn-key business in
which to ‘learn the ropes’ while holding down full time professions, or from the likes of former hotel management
seeking to branch out on their own and bring their broad corporate expertise to what was still in effect a ‘start-up’
venture looking at avenues for growth.
ENDS