Family escapes to a different part of the country with the added advantage of extra income from a holiday rental income were the big appeal for these Timaru-based owners and, at three hours’ drive from home, Wanaka was an easy choice for this family investment project. 

The Long House Wanaka is a classic Kiwi holiday home that perfectly lives up to its name. With five bedrooms, five ensuite bathrooms and room for 20 guests, it’s long in possibilities and lifestyle. Add in a beautiful lakeside just 100 metres away, cycle and walking trails, a couple of top ski fields and a national park within easy reach, along with all the excitement of a thriving resort town, and this southern lakes property has a ton of holiday appeal for extended families and multi-generational groups of friends. 

Equipped as both a summer and winter destination, the Long House has everything that a comfortable holiday home needs for memorable holidays. There’s a spacious open plan living area with a log fire for winter, and a long sheltered verandah and a bbq for late summer evenings while the roomy kitchen is well-equipped to cater for family meal times.

“The location is exceptional but we also fell in love with the relaxed atmosphere and the way the house adapts for families and groups,” Karen says. “It’s very casual and not at all fancy which is why it works so well for families and groups.” 

While a three-hour journey is a good distance for a family escape, Karen realised that it wasn’t workable for managing a holiday rental. Bachcare’s full management service provided the solution with seamless processes, a personal approach and the ongoing opportunity for family stays. At the same time, it has delivered a satisfying volume of bookings despite the pandemic scenario.

“I like having a property manager on hand for meeting and greeting guests, taking care of the property and looking after the details,” Karen says. “And, when I’ve been a guest, I’ve also appreciated that face-to-face contact.”

Those personal relationships are a big part of the Bachcare success for Karen: “My property manager is wonderful, as is my Relationship Manager. I can contact Bachcare by email and receive an almost immediate reply to a query.”