From city businessmen to pint-pulling publicans, the Cardrona Hotel's new owners-operators have traded in their urban existence for a more laid-back way of life in the Cardrona Valley, at one of New Zealand's most photographed country pubs.
A year ago, Christchurch friends-turned-business partners Cade Thornton (30) and James Jenneson (36) found themselves in need of a sea change, after a road trip south sparked a new outlook on life.
While visiting the Cardrona Hotel during the journey, the men had remarked it would be ''awesome to own a place like this'', Mr Thornton said.
Subsequently, on the last leg of their drive, conversation turned to their mutual discontent with their current careers and both agreed it was time for a shake-up.
''We're the generation which likes to try things. I know in the past what you do [career-wise] is what you do for life and I don't have that mentality,'' Mr Jenneson said.
An idea formed to buy the Governors Bay Hotel in Lyttelton and, after the owner agreed to sell the property, some considerable progress was made towards its purchase.
''But the goalposts just got moved right at the last minute so we bailed,'' Mr Thornton said.
Mr Jenneson was then delighted to discover the Cardrona Hotel listed for sale online and immediately phoned Mr Thornton, who was equally as excited by the prospect of owning ''the most famous hotel in New Zealand''.
Their initial meeting with the real estate agent did not fill them with a great deal of hope, however.
''I think they took one look at us and thought `these kids can't be serious','' Mr Jenneson said.
They persevered, and after many months of research and due diligence, things began to fall into place. On February 1 this year, the pair took ownership of the property after buying it for an undisclosed sum from its United Kingdom-based owner, Mark Westcott.
Mr Thornton, who owned a construction company and interior design and project management company in Christchurch, has been stationed full time at the hotel since it changed hands, learning the ropes from its former manager, Peter Byrne, who has been employed on a casual basis and whose experience the new owners consider invaluable.
Mr Thornton is embracing his new country-pub calling - ''I still haven't thought of it as a job yet'', leaving the grounds only once in two weeks when low supplies necessitated a trip into Wanaka.
''I had no itching to leave; I just needed deodorant basically,'' he said.
Mr Jenneson, an optometrist originally from Yorkshire, owns two Specsavers stores in Christchurch, which he is selling. He visits his new rural investment every second weekend while still working fulltime. ''For 15 years I've worked in a little dark room two metres by three metres ... I can't wait to get out,'' he said.
Once out of the franchise, he will remain registered as an optometrist and carry out locum work on the side.
''But then as this place [hotel] gets busier and busier, I'll probably give it up.''
The men insist they will be hands-on owners, doing a bit of everything for the first year.
''That's the best way to immerse yourself in the company. We'll get defined roles eventually,'' Mr Thornton said.
They have already received a warm welcome from the locals and hope to become key members of the community by helping promote Cardrona as a destination.
''I know a lot of things [proposed Cardrona developments] are a long way off but ... the more people in the valley, the better for us,'' Mr Thornton said.
''James and I eventually want to get into other things business-wise within the area - that's the big plan.''
The men will not tamper too much with the hotel's appearance, other than to give it a thorough spruce-up with the help of Mr Jenneson's handyman father, who is visiting from England for six weeks.
''We love it for what it is,'' Mr Thornton said.
However, being self-confessed ''ideas people'', the men want to start screening old movies and install a wood-fired pizza oven in the garden bar, and have ''big plans'' for marketing the hotel - particularly to cyclists and car and motorbike clubs - to keep business booming year-round, rather than just during the ski season.
Part of that is promoting all components of the business - the bar, restaurant and accommodation facilities, which extend well back from the deceptively small historic facade.
''We just see the potential in this place. That's what really gets us ... so many people walk through the front door and say `This place is like the Tardis','' Mr Thornton said.
For the first year or so, the men will ''doss'' in the hotel rooms, before looking for permanent accommodation in the valley. They hope their girlfriends, who both work in marketing, will eventually join them there.
Both keen outdoors people, the men are anxious to get hotel operations to a point where they can take the occasional day off and enjoy the many activities offered in the area.
''We've come here for the lifestyle, which currently we haven't got much of, but eventually we will have,'' Mr Jenneson said.
''It's a dream come true ... To me this is the best part of New Zealand.''
