Meet Your Hosts - Brian & Pam at Ahuriri Motels, Omarama

When four guests arrived at Ahuriri Motels earlier this year, the first question they asked was, “Does the bloke who owns these motels have a Harley-Davidson motorbike?"

 

 

It seemed word had spread about owner Brian’s passion for his Harley after a group of mates stayed in the motel on a “blokes bike weekend away”.

They were all going to Mt Cook the following morning, but one of the Harleys had broken down leaving a man behind.  Brian came to the rescue by offering him his own Harley for the day.

"To begin with the guy thought Brian was joking, but when he realised it was a genuine offer he borrowed the bike and was able to catch up with his mates for a great day of riding," says Brian's partner and co-owner of Ahuriri Motels, Pam.

"He returned to stay with us for an extra night until transport arrived the next day to get him and his bike back home to Southland.  He's since been spreading the word about the motel owner who parted with his precious Harley for a day!"
 

Brian’s love affair with motorbikes started as a young lad growing up on a farm. As he got older they became a toy for leisure and he bought his shining blue Harley-Davidson Sportster late last year.

He enjoys riding to Hawea to visit his daughter and grandchildren, or exploring the roads around the McKenzie region for their spectacular views.

While Pam isn’t a motorcycle rider herself, she does get involved for a good cause. “I rode a 50cc scooter from Timaru to Nelson fundraising for cancer three years ago.”

Spring, summer and autumn are all good times of year for motorbike riding in the region, with trips timed during the week enjoying less traffic on the road.

A good hour’s ride gets you from Omarama to Mt Cook and provides stunning views of the Alps and lakes along the way. Riding over the Lindis Pass from Omarama to Wanaka/Cromwell is a great winding road that takes about an hour-and-a-half.

 If you’re a motorbike enthusiast planning a trip around the South Island, book your accommodation at Ahuriri Motels. If you’re looking for accommodation elsewhere in New Zealand, Host Accommodation has more than 80 motels, motor lodges and hotels located up and down the country.