If you are shivering while selling or buying a house this winter spare a thought for the folk in New Zealand’s coldest towns.
Not surprisingly the top spots for the shiveriest places in the country go to the South Island. The Tara Hills near Omaramara fetched a chilly average mean temperature of 2.9 degrees last month, according to Niwa.
The next coldest spots, tying at 3.1 degrees are the Tara Hills, Arthurs Pass in the Southern Alps, Lake Tekapo and the small township of Lauder in central Otago. While properties coming to market in the smallest places, there are some gems for sale in Lake Tekapo where you can take your pick from modern homes to a high country station.
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Two Thumb Station overlooks the pristine blue water of Lake Tekapo on 2,286 hectares of freehold land in the Mackenzie High Country. The station also has spectacular vistas of the surrounding Southern Alps and the Godley Valley. What’s more, the property and its vast grasslands, streams, and snow tussocks, is located in the International Dark Sky Reserve – how cool is that? Russell Redell and Matt Finnigan from Sotheby’s are marketing the property for sale for price by negotiation. It’s two and a half hours from the nearest town, Fairlie, four hours from Wanaka or 3 hours from Timaru. Stay in the two musterers’ huts while you realise the consents for new homestead, garage and barns.
Build the dream Mackenzie Country high station.
On offer in Ranfurly in central Otago, the next coldest place for June with an average mean temperature of 3.3 degrees, is 14 Knowles Crescent. This three bedroom has a good sized kitchen with plenty of storage and that all important heatpump. It is for sale by tender and is being marketed by Bev Helm of Ray White.
Mt Ruapehu in the central North Island fetched an average mean temperature of 3.5 degrees in June. Frank Broadbent of Ohakune’s NZ Real Estate features a more unusual offering with this wetlands property for sale for $120,000. The 2.73 hectare property is predominately a wilderness area but there is an elevated building site with good views of the bush clad hills. The property is near the National Park township and is between Mt Ruapehu’s two ski fields and a stone’s throw from the Tongariro World Heritage National Park.
Buy your own corner beside a World Heritage National Park.
Back in the South Island, Cromwell in central Otago clocked an average of 3.9 degrees last month. Among the offerings is 29 Horace Street, for sale for $685,000. The schist home was built in the 1960s and is located in Old Cromwell. Bayleys agent Melanie Brewer says it oozes charm while offering the conveniences of modern day living. There are landscaped private gardens and, as you’d expect for Central, your own fruit trees with an irrigation system.
Be in the beauty of old Cromwell.
The resort town of Hanmer Springs in Canterbury was also pretty chilly with an average mean of 4.2 degrees last month. Janice Clyma of Waimakariri Real Estate is offering is 226 Woodbank Road, for $795,000. This is a lifestyle property on five hectares only a few kilometres from the alpine tourist village of Hanmer Springs. There are mountain views and plenty of options with barns, sheds, tack shed and a covered horse yard. The property has an extensive fruit orchard, irrigation, raised vege gardens, a large chook run and an aviary, plus sheep, cattle, calves, ducks, geese and guinea fowl that could come with the property. All the work has been done for you.
Discover your self-sufficient lifestyle.
