By Neville Idour

Terrace Downs High Country Resort in Canterbury has sold at auction for $6.6 million.

It attracted strong interest and competition before falling to CPG Hotels, which is one of New Zealand’s largest privately owned and operated hotel groups.

CPG Hotels’ intention is to add to their current collection of hotels with another group of stunning boutique hotels across the country. Terrace Downs is likely to fall into that category.

t will be re launched under the Fable Hotels and Resorts brand which will deliver five star full service luxury. The first Fable to open will be Fable, Dunedin. Terrace Downs will not be far behind by the look of it.

The resort currently has 78 privately owned properties. Fifty two are luxury villa/apartments and there are 26 individual luxury chalets dotted around the property.

CPG has already given an indication of it's intentions as it is looking to purchase 10 villas. There is even talk of a hotel being built.

However, this writer feels first port of call should be to provide the facilities promised when the resort was first launched such as an indoor swimming pool, spa pools, a meaningful fitness facility and a spa facility. The lack of these was a major reason why the resort always struggled with occupancy. Not enough for the targeted clientele.

Current general manager Katherine Baker is enthusiastically looking for better times ahead. She was one of the founding staff in 2007 and she loyally served as accounts administrator until her deserved appointment last year. How does she describe her time since then?

“Tumultuous,” is her answer. Covid and then the mothballing has not made life easy for Baker.

This may finally be the turning point for Terrace Downs and it’s highly ranked golf course.