Four years ago, Parnassus residents Kelly and Carl Forester and Trina and Robbie Reid took over a building that had once been the small rural township’s service station, diner and garage.
However, hard times had reduced it to an empty shell, along with other buildings alongside State Highway 1, 12km north of Cheviot.
The two families had an idea and, with hard work, soon established the Parnassus Roadhouse as the place to stop when travelling to or from Kaikoura.
Now they have stepped back, and Tinake Jansen and William Astred have taken over the roadhouse.
The couple arrived a year ago after escaping the big smoke to find sustainability and open spaces, as they created a new life for themselves in the Hurunui District.
Both Tinake and William were city folk.
Tinake is a trained goldsmith, born and raised in Auckland, while William is a carpenter who is used to the cramped spaces of big city living in his hometown of Paris, France.
This was their chance to leave their often claustrophobic fast fast-paced city life behind and settle in the Hurunui.
‘‘I love it here because when I get up in the morning and look out the window, all I see is wide open spaces, fields and mountains. It is a lot different from the usual tall buildings, cars and smog,’’ says William.
Tinake and William had a plan: They would buy a small property, embrace sustainability, breed a few goats and milk them to make and sell goat cheese.
‘‘It was a chance for us to create our own opportunities,’’ says Tinake.
To help things along, Tinake started working at the roadhouse. And, when the chance to buy the business came up, the couple leapt at it.
She had worked there over last summer’s tourist season and knew how popular the Roadhouse had become with residents, tourists and long-haul truckers.
‘‘Summers are very busy here. It’s become a popular stopping point for travellers seeking a cuppa and scone.
‘‘The tourists come here to find out what’s happening in our district, while for the locals it’s become a favourite meeting point for a coffee and chat, and for the drivers it’s a welcome rest stop on their long journey north or south,’’ she says.
The couple agree the business will be challenging, but they want to create a community hub for the district.
‘‘We would love to see Parnassus grow again and, once we find our feet here, we plan to offer more services to our customers and the local community.”
