July 8, 2025 • 6 mins
Buyer interest in Central Otago's iconic Cardrona Hotel is breaking records, and it's looking on track to become Trade Me's most-viewed property this year.
The 162-year old building - sitting right between Queenstown and Wanaka - is for sale through private negotiation.
Cardrona co-owner Cade Thornton joined the Afternoons team to discuss.
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Speaker 1 (00:09):
You're listening to a podcast from News Talk zed B.
Follow this and our Wide Ranger podcasts now on iHeartRadio.
Speaker 2 (00:17):
Arguably one of the most iconic hotels in New Zealand,
the Kadrona Hotel. It is set for sale later this year.
The owner is asked for offers in a month's time,
but it is looking like it's setting the record as
New Zealand's most viewed for sale property of all time.
This morning it was at twenty eight thousand, and we'll
find out how many people who have looked very shortly.
(00:38):
But the owner of the Kadrona Hotel is Caid Thornton
and he joins us on the line right now. Cade,
very good afternoon to.
Speaker 3 (00:47):
You, Good afternoon to you. How are you?
Speaker 4 (00:49):
Very good?
Speaker 5 (00:50):
Thanks, Kate, tell us the story about how you become
the you became the owner of the Codrona Pub.
Speaker 3 (00:55):
It's a long time ago now, twenty twelve. We Mate
and I were looking for changes after the earthquakes and
Christis and organized a bit of a getaway in the dune,
a bit of a roach around the South Island and
came across the Cadrona Hotel. Loved it. Never knew it
was the sale. I've got a great photo my business
(01:16):
partner walking in in the pouring rain, and then we've
got the crisis, sudden look at options, they didn't look out.
And then it was my mother who found this place
of sale. We thought, oh, well that wanted about afford
that or I got we'll go down and have a look.
And yeah, one thing led to another and after six
months we ended up owning it. I'm still probably in shock.
Speaker 4 (01:36):
Actually, what do you think.
Speaker 5 (01:40):
The Kdrona Hotel has captured the imagination of the country
now and for the longest time?
Speaker 4 (01:46):
What is it about it? Because it's a magical place.
Speaker 3 (01:50):
Yeah, I don't know what, there's not one thing I think.
I mean, it's been you know, in famous in New
Zealans forever. I think in space that went a long
way to help that. And I just think geographically where
it is, you know, it's between two tourist towns. Everyone visits,
so it gets it gets gets noticed, I think, and
(02:10):
in our time social media has become huge, so that's
really taken it internationally famous as well. I think everyone
who comes to the Zealand's got the photo.
Speaker 2 (02:19):
Yeah, Oh, it's on a hell of a lot of postcards.
There's for sure, this will be hard question for your kide,
but one or two of your best memories is owning
the hotel. What would they be.
Speaker 3 (02:32):
Best memories? Well, just just running the icon, you know,
twelve years worth of memory, really is There's so much
that goes on and just just being part of it.
It's always amazing when it snows bringing people out, you know,
that's always a really really fun time, beautiful time, you know,
(02:54):
very different to the rest of the country. When you
get to snow on the ground around the business, it's
I don't know, there's so many Prince Terry coming that
was always memorable. I've got married and had kids in
the time we've been here. It's just too many really, yeah, and.
Speaker 4 (03:09):
So and what well you miss the most about it?
Speaker 5 (03:10):
When when you when you leave and where are you going?
Speaker 3 (03:13):
Well, we're going to stay local with a family. We're
going to stay living here, but we actually plan to
travel around Australia for a year when we get the
time and everything sorted. Just once again, like the memories
of owning it. That will be the sad thing for me,
not owning it, But it is time for us. This
time for us to go.
Speaker 5 (03:31):
So a lot of people are obviously looking at this.
And as soon as I saw that it was on
the market, the Katrona Hotel, I texted my I text
my partner. I said, we should buy this, We should
we should move there.
Speaker 4 (03:42):
There's a really romantic idea of it.
Speaker 5 (03:43):
You move there, you become a member of the community,
you serve people at such an iconic place. But how
hard is it to actually run something like the Kadrona Hotel,
Because I imagine the romantic idea of it. The rubber
hits the road pretty soon, and there's quite a lot
of hard work involved.
Speaker 3 (03:58):
Yeah, there's not not men like put your seat up,
drinking and wine in front of the fire. It's oh,
it's been grunt of a business these days. We've nearly
got fifty star half a year round. You know, in
the old days, winter was bigger than summer. Now summers
bigger than winter. I'm looking out the office window at
the moment and the place is fall to the brim
of skiers. It was always got a great, great vibe,
(04:19):
super positive place to work and community to enjoy. But
it's a I'm a hands on person. This is the
way I've always run it and it's yeah, it's just
consuming like any hospital business. But that's that's what a
lot of people thrive on, you know, and the right
person will just continue on like I have. Really it's
it's you know, there's good days and bed days, but
(04:41):
that's any business, right.
Speaker 5 (04:43):
So what would you be main advice be for the
for the new owners when you when you hand over
the keys, what.
Speaker 3 (04:49):
Did the staff say, come on, push, push, you know,
work hard with work card with a smile. I think
you know that's probably the big thing. Just keep working.
I mean, you know, and sometimes you know, the best
decisions that you make I can make here in the
day sometimes aren't the best decision for me. There the
best decision for the pub, you know, and you know
in a long term and sometimes you know that it
(05:10):
may not even be the best decision for the business
on that day. But I'm always taking a long term due.
I think it's probably listening in good Steed over the years.
Speaker 2 (05:17):
Yeah, so I've met and his partner. I want to
make an offer. How long have they got to present
their offer to your kid? Well?
Speaker 3 (05:24):
Expression Adventures closed on the fifteenth of allgress have you
so you know you've got to get your offer in
by then, plenty of homework to do.
Speaker 4 (05:31):
Have you got have you got a number in mind?
Speaker 3 (05:33):
I've got a number of mine.
Speaker 2 (05:36):
It's an ulterior motive here. He just wanted to try
and screw you dout on it.
Speaker 5 (05:40):
Just by the way you say that, it sounds like
a bigger number than I've got.
Speaker 3 (05:44):
I can't believe how popular it's been. I just looking
trade me in. What's thirty three thousand?
Speaker 4 (05:47):
Yeah?
Speaker 1 (05:48):
Wow?
Speaker 3 (05:48):
About ten thousand hits on our the website we've built
for the sale, you know, so forty thousand, that's what
I'm taking of that. There's a lot of emails coming in.
There's a huge amount of interest from from the right
people too, which is great.
Speaker 5 (06:00):
Well, it's a testament to not only the history of
the pub and it's iconic nature, but how well you've
run it for the last twelve twelve years, because it's
it's only grown and it's influenced across the country since
you've been there.
Speaker 4 (06:10):
So something for you to be very proud of.
Speaker 3 (06:13):
Oh, thank you very much. It's very kind.
Speaker 2 (06:15):
Kate, all the very best, and thanks very much for
having to yect.
Speaker 3 (06:19):
With us, no worries.
Speaker 2 (06:20):
Thank you for your time, all right, go Well, that
is Caid Thornton, the current owner of the Katrona hotel
and pub currently up for sale, and if you want
to make a bit, you've got to get in by
the fifteenth of August. Go Hi, go hi.
Speaker 4 (06:33):
I'm just texting him a number now.
Speaker 2 (06:36):
It's going to be too low already.
Speaker 5 (06:38):
If I do buy it and we move down there,
me and my partner, you'll have to move down as well, Tyler, Yes,
because we'll have to sit up the studio at the back.
Speaker 4 (06:45):
Perfect. So it's a big decision for you as well.
Speaker 2 (06:47):
I'll be a lifty in at the nighttime and then
come in for the radio show in the afternoon.
Speaker 4 (06:51):
Perfect. You'll be cleaning the toilets when you're not on here.
Speaker 2 (06:53):
Yeah, I'm not above that.
Speaker 1 (06:54):
For more from News Talk sed B, listen live on
air or online, and keep our shows with you wherever
you go with our podcasts on IR Radio.
You're listening to a podcast from News Talk zed B.
Follow this and our Wide Ranger podcasts now on iHeartRadio.
Speaker 2 (00:17):
Arguably one of the most iconic hotels in New Zealand,
the Kadrona Hotel. It is set for sale later this year.
The owner is asked for offers in a month's time,
but it is looking like it's setting the record as
New Zealand's most viewed for sale property of all time.
This morning it was at twenty eight thousand, and we'll
find out how many people who have looked very shortly.
(00:38):
But the owner of the Kadrona Hotel is Caid Thornton
and he joins us on the line right now. Cade,
very good afternoon to.
Speaker 3 (00:47):
You, Good afternoon to you. How are you?
Speaker 4 (00:49):
Very good?
Speaker 5 (00:50):
Thanks, Kate, tell us the story about how you become
the you became the owner of the Codrona Pub.
Speaker 3 (00:55):
It's a long time ago now, twenty twelve. We Mate
and I were looking for changes after the earthquakes and
Christis and organized a bit of a getaway in the dune,
a bit of a roach around the South Island and
came across the Cadrona Hotel. Loved it. Never knew it
was the sale. I've got a great photo my business
(01:16):
partner walking in in the pouring rain, and then we've
got the crisis, sudden look at options, they didn't look out.
And then it was my mother who found this place
of sale. We thought, oh, well that wanted about afford
that or I got we'll go down and have a look.
And yeah, one thing led to another and after six
months we ended up owning it. I'm still probably in shock.
Speaker 4 (01:36):
Actually, what do you think.
Speaker 5 (01:40):
The Kdrona Hotel has captured the imagination of the country
now and for the longest time?
Speaker 4 (01:46):
What is it about it? Because it's a magical place.
Speaker 3 (01:50):
Yeah, I don't know what, there's not one thing I think.
I mean, it's been you know, in famous in New
Zealans forever. I think in space that went a long
way to help that. And I just think geographically where
it is, you know, it's between two tourist towns. Everyone visits,
so it gets it gets gets noticed, I think, and
(02:10):
in our time social media has become huge, so that's
really taken it internationally famous as well. I think everyone
who comes to the Zealand's got the photo.
Speaker 2 (02:19):
Yeah, Oh, it's on a hell of a lot of postcards.
There's for sure, this will be hard question for your kide,
but one or two of your best memories is owning
the hotel. What would they be.
Speaker 3 (02:32):
Best memories? Well, just just running the icon, you know,
twelve years worth of memory, really is There's so much
that goes on and just just being part of it.
It's always amazing when it snows bringing people out, you know,
that's always a really really fun time, beautiful time, you know,
(02:54):
very different to the rest of the country. When you
get to snow on the ground around the business, it's
I don't know, there's so many Prince Terry coming that
was always memorable. I've got married and had kids in
the time we've been here. It's just too many really, yeah, and.
Speaker 4 (03:09):
So and what well you miss the most about it?
Speaker 5 (03:10):
When when you when you leave and where are you going?
Speaker 3 (03:13):
Well, we're going to stay local with a family. We're
going to stay living here, but we actually plan to
travel around Australia for a year when we get the
time and everything sorted. Just once again, like the memories
of owning it. That will be the sad thing for me,
not owning it, But it is time for us. This
time for us to go.
Speaker 5 (03:31):
So a lot of people are obviously looking at this.
And as soon as I saw that it was on
the market, the Katrona Hotel, I texted my I text
my partner. I said, we should buy this, We should
we should move there.
Speaker 4 (03:42):
There's a really romantic idea of it.
Speaker 5 (03:43):
You move there, you become a member of the community,
you serve people at such an iconic place. But how
hard is it to actually run something like the Kadrona Hotel,
Because I imagine the romantic idea of it. The rubber
hits the road pretty soon, and there's quite a lot
of hard work involved.
Speaker 3 (03:58):
Yeah, there's not not men like put your seat up,
drinking and wine in front of the fire. It's oh,
it's been grunt of a business these days. We've nearly
got fifty star half a year round. You know, in
the old days, winter was bigger than summer. Now summers
bigger than winter. I'm looking out the office window at
the moment and the place is fall to the brim
of skiers. It was always got a great, great vibe,
(04:19):
super positive place to work and community to enjoy. But
it's a I'm a hands on person. This is the
way I've always run it and it's yeah, it's just
consuming like any hospital business. But that's that's what a
lot of people thrive on, you know, and the right
person will just continue on like I have. Really it's
it's you know, there's good days and bed days, but
(04:41):
that's any business, right.
Speaker 5 (04:43):
So what would you be main advice be for the
for the new owners when you when you hand over
the keys, what.
Speaker 3 (04:49):
Did the staff say, come on, push, push, you know,
work hard with work card with a smile. I think
you know that's probably the big thing. Just keep working.
I mean, you know, and sometimes you know, the best
decisions that you make I can make here in the
day sometimes aren't the best decision for me. There the
best decision for the pub, you know, and you know
in a long term and sometimes you know that it
(05:10):
may not even be the best decision for the business
on that day. But I'm always taking a long term due.
I think it's probably listening in good Steed over the years.
Speaker 2 (05:17):
Yeah, so I've met and his partner. I want to
make an offer. How long have they got to present
their offer to your kid? Well?
Speaker 3 (05:24):
Expression Adventures closed on the fifteenth of allgress have you
so you know you've got to get your offer in
by then, plenty of homework to do.
Speaker 4 (05:31):
Have you got have you got a number in mind?
Speaker 3 (05:33):
I've got a number of mine.
Speaker 2 (05:36):
It's an ulterior motive here. He just wanted to try
and screw you dout on it.
Speaker 5 (05:40):
Just by the way you say that, it sounds like
a bigger number than I've got.
Speaker 3 (05:44):
I can't believe how popular it's been. I just looking
trade me in. What's thirty three thousand?
Speaker 4 (05:47):
Yeah?
Speaker 1 (05:48):
Wow?
Speaker 3 (05:48):
About ten thousand hits on our the website we've built
for the sale, you know, so forty thousand, that's what
I'm taking of that. There's a lot of emails coming in.
There's a huge amount of interest from from the right
people too, which is great.
Speaker 5 (06:00):
Well, it's a testament to not only the history of
the pub and it's iconic nature, but how well you've
run it for the last twelve twelve years, because it's
it's only grown and it's influenced across the country since
you've been there.
Speaker 4 (06:10):
So something for you to be very proud of.
Speaker 3 (06:13):
Oh, thank you very much. It's very kind.
Speaker 2 (06:15):
Kate, all the very best, and thanks very much for
having to yect.
Speaker 3 (06:19):
With us, no worries.
Speaker 2 (06:20):
Thank you for your time, all right, go Well, that
is Caid Thornton, the current owner of the Katrona hotel
and pub currently up for sale, and if you want
to make a bit, you've got to get in by
the fifteenth of August. Go Hi, go hi.
Speaker 4 (06:33):
I'm just texting him a number now.
Speaker 2 (06:36):
It's going to be too low already.
Speaker 5 (06:38):
If I do buy it and we move down there,
me and my partner, you'll have to move down as well, Tyler, Yes,
because we'll have to sit up the studio at the back.
Speaker 4 (06:45):
Perfect. So it's a big decision for you as well.
Speaker 2 (06:47):
I'll be a lifty in at the nighttime and then
come in for the radio show in the afternoon.
Speaker 4 (06:51):
Perfect. You'll be cleaning the toilets when you're not on here.
Speaker 2 (06:53):
Yeah, I'm not above that.
Speaker 1 (06:54):
For more from News Talk sed B, listen live on
air or online, and keep our shows with you wherever
you go with our podcasts on IR Radio.
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