It has been four years since the New Zealander behind the development, B-Group chief executive Andrew McIntosh, announced a 35-room luxury lodge would be built at 67 Brownston St, the site of the former Wanaka mini-golf course.
Two years later, Mr McIntosh announced the hotel was being built in modular form in China, site works would begin in November 2019 and it could have its first guests in April or May 2020.
Mr McIntosh said the Covid -19 pandemic and then the arrival of the Delta variant had delayed construction, but this week site clearing began ‘‘in the expectation we will start building early next year’’.
The development would include a ground-level cafe, a rooftop bistro and wine bar, 35 guest rooms, an internal guest courtyard with outdoor fires, a wood-fired pizza oven and a petanque pit.
The build would take about nine to ten months, and if there were no more delays, it was hoped the hotel would be open late next year when borders were likely to be open, Mr McIntosh said.
