Leaving Footprints In The Sand
With Nick and Cath Uit den Bogaard
At Comfort Resort Blue Pacific
Behind every great business is a passionate couple with a heart for serving others. With over two decades of love poured into Comfort Resort Blue Pacific, Nick and Cath Uit den Bogaard are preparing to trade the working day for late sunsets and coastal road trips.
After 25 colourful, heart-filled years at the helm of their beautiful beachside escape, the couple is ready to pass the torch, and the keys, to a new owner ready to carry on their legacy.
Tucked away on the golden sands of Blacks Beach, just north of Mackay, Comfort Resort Blue Pacific has long been a treasured destination for travellers, corporate guests, and locals looking for a coastal getaway close to home.
But it’s the magic behind the front desk, the familiar smiles, the personal welcomes, and the friendly approach that’s kept guests returning, year after year, and generation after generation.
Nick and Cath never saw themselves as "managers" or "owners," but rather hosts, fixers, listeners and problem-solvers.
“We’re of the firm belief you don’t stay in the same business for 25 years if its not a great business”, Nick said.
For them, being present, boots on the ground, and getting involved, was their way of enjoying the lifestyle the business offers.
“We’ve always done it together,” Cath explained.
“We have our own special roles, and it all just fits together.”
She’s the face of the place, managing bookings, chatting with guests, running the socials and sometimes…diffusing the occasional high-stress holiday moment with her trademark calm.
“Take a breath. Let’s have another look,” she’ll say, gently guiding guests and staff alike through the stay experience.
Nick, on the other hand, has a sharp eye for detail. You’ll often find him trimming the hedges, or managing paperwork behind the scenes.
“I love my yard work…I like to make sure the front lawn is perfect,” he enthused.
With a hospitality resume spanning many motels before he took on Blue Pacific, Nick had a fair idea what worked, and what didn’t.
Cath, too, brought many years of industry experience, having worked across tourism roles in Victoria, Tasmania and Queensland with the South Australian Tourism Commission and North West Qld Tourism and Development Board. When the couple took over the resort in 2000, it felt like destiny.
“We were the perfect match,” Cath says. “And not just in marriage.”
Over the years, they raised their son among the palm trees and beachside barbecues.
“He was five when we moved in,” Cath remembers.
“He grew up here, and he loved it.”
Running a business as a couple is often, but not always, a beach stroll of course.
So, what’s their secret? “Always communicate,” Cath affirmed.
“And never forget to kiss each other goodnight,” Nick nods.
With tears filling both of their eyes, Nick confirms, “She’s my best mate.”
“And we’ve always backed each other up, through thick and thin”.
Now, as Nick navigates some health challenges and the couple prepares to check out for the final time, they’re looking ahead to a new kind of adventure…this time, on wheels.
“We bought a caravan,” Cath says with a twinkle in her eye.
“It’s time to go and do some travel ourselves.”
As they reflect on the past, they speak truthfully about the highs and lows.
“You need to be ready for the good, the bad, and the ugly,” Cath says.
“That kind of skill…you can’t learn it from a textbook. You’ve got to adapt to it.”
“If you lose that passion for the place, the business suffers,” she adds.
“And above all, you’ve got to be a people person.”
They’ve had guests arrive worn down by the weight of the world – tired, stressed, sometimes even grieving – and leave lighter, smiling, and recharged.
“People come here to reconnect, to celebrate, to relax…and it’s been a real privilege to be part of that,” Nick says.
To the people who will purchase this piece of Paradise, Cath offers a mix of heartfelt advice and cheeky wisdom.
“Pay yourself first,” she says firmly.
“And be brave. Always, always remember, never judge a book by its cover.”
Nick chuckles. “Oh, and keep the lawn tidy.”
The couple will leave behind not only just a property, but a living, breathing family resort, and they’re doing so at a time when Comfort Resort Blue Pacific is shining as brightly as ever.
Recently recognised with the prestigious Best of Queensland Hotel/Motel Accommodation award at the 2024 Mackay Isaac Tourism Awards, the resort has proven itself not only as a leader in guest satisfaction but as a trailblazer in sustainable tourism.
With Gold secured for 3-3.5 Star Accommodation for the fourth year running and 5 Gold awards and Franchisee of the year 2022 with Choice Hotels, Nick and Cath are leaving their home in very good shape.
What’s more, the resort recently committed to the World Travel & Tourism Council’s Hotel Sustainability Basics program – a future-forward initiative focused on efficiency, environmental care and community connection.
“Just because you’ve been doing this for over 25 years, doesn’t mean you stop learning,” Cath says.
“We’re always open to new ideas.”
That curiosity and commitment to evolution is baked into the business, from the eco-initiatives to the beachfront upgrades, and even the grassed lawn overlooking the Coral Sea where guests can relax on sun loungers with a cold drink or fire up a BBQ under the stars.
It’s a lifestyle, yes…but it’s also a legacy.
For the right owner, perhaps another couple or family with a shared vision and a bit of pluck, this opportunity is more than a business acquisition.
It’s a chapter waiting to be written.
A love story to be continued.
Nick and Cath aren’t looking for replacements. They’re looking for torchbearers. People who will love this place, and its people, just as they have.
And now, as they prepare to drive off into the sunset, a little older, a lot wiser, and with their caravan in tow, they’re leaving behind more than memories. They’re leaving behind a blueprint for success built on mutual respect, hard work, a well-manicured lawn… and a goodnight kiss.
Book your stay at www.bluepacificresort.com.au.
The business that has traded consistently well for a long time is being offered to the market now at only $1,295,000, which includes the Freehold property of the main building inclusive of spacious 3 bedroom residence to live in and the Management Rights.
To inquire about purchasing the property, contact Andrew Morgan at Tourism & Hospitality Brokers, P: 0417 608 041 E: andrew@qthb.com.au
