After several top North Canterbury rural properties have sold well in recent months, one of the Waimakariri district’s most admired farms has been offered for autumn sale.

Peter Crean of PGG Wrightson Real Estate, Christchurch is marketing Hayland, a 582 hectare Okuku pastoral farm, situated 20 kilometres east of Oxford, 22 kilometres west of Rangiora and 55 kilometres north of Christchurch. Peter says its location, productivity and infrastructure set Hayland apart.

“This is a magnificent, aesthetically pleasing property located at the foothill of Mt Thomas, in one of Canterbury’s most notable and high rainfall farming areas. Breeding and finishing sheep, and trading beef, Hayland has long been regarded as one of Canterbury’s finest and most favoured, frequently described as a large-scale model farm.

“Hayland is mainly flat, with some rolling and easy hill country, and benefits from numerous trimmed shelter belts. An extensive lane system ensures easy access throughout, including the capacity to cultivate a large area, making it ideal to breed and finish livestock, and trade additional stock.

“Outstanding farm infrastructure includes a modern three-stand raised board woolshed and covered yard, several other modern implement and utility sheds, two sets of modern cattle yards, a modern stock water supply system, and high standard modern fencing. It has documented significant crop production, fertiliser inputs and a robust re-grassing programme in recent years,” he says. 

True to the quality of the farm, its dwellings are also exceptional.

“Hayland’s two storey five bedroom homestead sits in expansive and well-established park-like surrounds. A classic substantial rural dwelling, built in the mid-1960s it has been totally refurbished and renovated in recent years. A warm and inviting expansive family home, inside and out it ideally caters for the needs of each generation, as well as offering all the requirements for delightful entertaining.“Other residences include a three bedroom manager’s home and a separate two bedroom cottage.“This is an easily managed, large-scale farming operation in a sought-after area: a well-balanced property, complemented by exceptional infrastructure and set up to support a wide range of farming options. For anyone looking for their dream property, Hayland is well worthy of inspection,” he says.

Hayland is presented to the market as the most recent in a series of well-appointed Waimakariri farms to have sold in the past few months, including:

• Aroha Downs, a 601 hectare partially irrigated View Hill, Oxford farm with high rainfall, a long history of dairy grazing, bull finishing, and sheep and cattle breeding that sold in April 2023.
• Spring Grove Farm, Oxford, a 315 hectare irrigated dairy support and finishing property that sold in November 2023.
• Cromdale Station, Lees Valley, a 2181 hectare medium high country property that sold in December 2022.
• Glenburn Station, Lees Valley, a 3684 hectare high country station that sold in November 2022.A 190 hectare Ashley Gorge dairy support property, sold in early 2023.

“While the recent rural property market has been challenging, many people are seeing North Canterbury, and particularly Waimakariri, as an increasingly desirable place to farm. Good property in this district is finding ready buyers, and Hayland is certainly in that category,” says Peter Crean.

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