Rodger and Donna Smaill have invested ''a few million'' to expand the business they bought in 2010, and have further plans. This coming season will be a big one as they step up promotion of a catch-a-salmon trial and heli-tours instigated last summer season, while investigating building a luge.
But they also see that investment as helping turn Omarama, at the T junction of State Highway 8 to Queenstown and SH83 from Oamaru, from a town people pass through or a stop for coffee, food and fuel into a destination.
Before they bought the winery and restaurant it was not making money but they investigated the potential and found about half a million people, including 15,000 camper vans, passed the gate each year.
With that potential market, the next step was to encourage people to turn off into the complex and, from there, espouse the attractions of Omarama as a place to stay ''a night or two'', they said.
That has been so successful, the restaurant and winery had been ''completely turned around'' financially and was now viable, Mr Smaill said.
They sold their businesses in Melbourne to fund the purchase. Both wanted to return to North Otago for the lifestyle.
That started a journey that was as far from semi-retirement as you could get, the couple's different approaches complementing each other - Rodger with the urge to get stuck in and Donna urging patience, investigation and trial.
For the first summer season after they bought the property it did not open, as they planned the shift from Melbourne to Omarama and considered activities which would attract people.
They changed the name from Clay Cliffs to Ladybird Hill after the hill behind it, which they knew as Ladybird Hill from holidays at Omarama as former Oamaruvians, then reopened in October 2011.
A track was built up Ladybird Hill, which provides a 360deg panorama of the Omarama Basin, and a giant flagpole put up at the top, which has become a landmark before the town comes in to view.
The top pond was restocked with 90 rainbow trout, bought from and licensed by Central South Island Fish and Game Council, for visitors to feed. They have now grown to impressive sizes, fascinating people as they skim the water or fight for food.
The restaurant, winery and surrounds, which had become run-down, were refurbished and redecorated and a two-storey custom-built children's adventure playground put in.
By their second season, a helicopter landing pad was put in to see if it was viable and would open up the market for people to fly in to visit Ladybird Hill and Omarama from Queenstown, Wanaka and other tourist spots.
The response prompted the couple to apply and be granted certification for the construction of a Civil Aviation Authority-designated heliport.
Last summer season, 40 helicopters used the heliport, including two in conjunction with Helicopters Otago bringing cruise passengers on a scenic flight then landing at Ladybird Hill .
The neighbouring former contractor's yard was bought to provide extensive car parking. It also has a house for staff.
This season, Ladybird Hill will focus on promoting and building the helicopter market, and Mr Smaill is confident it can treble flights.
Now it has added the attractions, Ladybird Hill is being heavily promoted to New Zealand and overseas markets.
Last season was the first in which people could catch salmon from the bottom pond, stocked with fish from Benmore Salmon on the Ohau Canal. Demand exceeded expectations as New Zealanders, some coming from three or four hours away, and tourists caught 1600 fish.
The fish are cleaned at a new fishing bay next to the restaurant. Successful anglers can have them hot smoked and eat them there, adding choices from the menu, or take them away.
They only pay if they catch a fish, some aiming for two - one to eat there and one to prepare and cook themselves.
The holding pond is at present being expanded and redeveloped to make it easier to catch a fish and to have more space for fishing with seating.
People do not need a licence to fish - the pond is licensed as a fish farm - but a fee is paid to licensing agent Central South island Fish and Game.
If that is not enough to keep Mr and Mrs Smaill busy, they have started a resource consents process to determine by the end of the year whether to build a luge on Ladybird Hill in probably their biggest investment since buying the property.
People would be pulled up the hill on the luges by a rope tow, then come down a track overlooking the restaurant and vineyard.
The length of the run and the cost is not known until investigations have been completed.
In the meantime, the winery continues to produce up to 5000 bottles of pinot gris and pinot noir wines from what is New Zealand's highest-altitude producing vineyard. All is sold through the restaurant, wine tasting, with meals or to take away.
The restaurant only serves Waitaki Valley wines, recognising and promoting its region. When the couple first started, they opened from October to the end of February This year, they open in August and eventually they hope to be open all year.
And are they finished?
''We have had to understand what works, do test runs and then decide to invest. We've laid a foundation,'' Mr Smaill said, to a bemused smile from Mrs Smaill.
