Garden paradise on SH3

OFFERS above $670,000 are invited for a Whanganui home with stunning gardens that’s for sale for the first time since it was built in 1953.

The picturesque lifestyle property at 1734 State Highway 3, Maxwell, was the original homestead for a 400-hectare farm.

The vendor and his wife moved into it in 1983 after his parents retired and developed the gardens that are the centrepiece of the 1.428ha setting.

‘‘Gardening is my passion,’’ he says. ‘‘To a gardener, no garden is daunting, no matter what the size.’’

Complementing the semi-formal mix of buxus hedging, established trees, shrubs and flowers are extensive flat lawn, pathways and al fresco courtyards.

But it’s not just the grounds that distinguish this lifestyle block.

‘‘It’s unique in that it doesn’t have any real livestock grazing,’’ Richard White, of Property Brokers Whanganui and Rangitikei Rural and Lifestyle, says,

‘‘It provides for a different buyer type, those looking for the country feel, which is very private with plenty of space, while being only 15 minutes’ drive from the city.’’

The vendor recently held a private music concert in the garden for 67 friends.

‘‘We could have the music as loud as we like,’’ he says. ‘‘In December 2017, we hosted my daughter’s wedding, with a marquee on the lawn and catering was all done on-site, for 200 guests.’’

The 240-square metre, concrete blockand-stucco dwelling has an iron roof and extensive glazing, some of it doubleglazed, to maximise views of the garden from different vantage points.

There are four bedrooms, an office that could be a fifth bedroom, two main living areas, two bathrooms and a spacious separate laundry.

The kitchen has a tiled floor and an island with storage. It includes a Westinghouse eye-level self-cleaning oven, microwave oven, induction cooktop, integrated rangehood and double DishDrawer dishwasher.

The dining area is open-plan with the kitchen and adjoins the lounge, which has the first of two woodburners and wiring for wall-mounted speakers.

Other features include a heat pump, filtered house water, a Totalspan workshop, two sheds and separate garaging for two cars.

‘‘Whanganui is attracting a lot of outof-region interest,’’ White says.

‘‘A lot of it is price-based, as prices in Whanganui compared to anywhere in New Zealand are very attractive.’’

‘‘Whanganui is pleasantly surprising many buyers looking at our region. We’re the gateway to Taranaki from the south, within a very commutable travel time of Wellington, and Palmerston North Airport is less than an hour’s drive away.’’

The property has a rateable value of $600,000.