The sky’s the limit for new owners

An executive-level rural homestead situated in the heart of New Zealand’s foremost airplane gliding and stargazing region with a fast-growing population, has been placed on the market for sale.

The spacious four-bedroom residence is located in the Central South Island township of Omarama at the base of the majestic Southern Alps, where its topography generates bountiful thermal currents prime for gliding high above the surrounding mountains and glacial lakes.

Former All Black captain and avid pilot Richie McCaw is regularly seen taking off and landing his glider at Omarama airfield, while affluent members of the town’s gliding club regularly travel from Christchurch, Dunedin, and Queenstown to indulge in their cloud-piercing passion.

In addition to being renowned for optimum gliding conditions, the Mackenzie Basin in which Omarama is located is also New Zealand’s foremost stargazing location – with light-free night skies delivering the ultimate conditions for telescope viewing of faraway planets and galaxies.

Situated just a few hundred metres from Omarama Airfield up a tree-lined private driveway, the single-level homestead known as Kinloch Estate sits amidst premium lifestyle block properties enjoying both privacy and space, as befitting of a high-country environment.

Sitting on some two hectares of flat land, the 378-square metre home at 18 Airport Road in Omarama is now being marketed for sale at auction on November 26 through Bayleys Timaru. Salesperson Shona Brown said Kinloch Estate had been tastefully designed with no expense spared to capture the best of its pristine rural surrounds –including three fenced paddocks.

“Every window is positioned to capture sweeping mountain vistas. Kinloch Estate has been built from timeless natural materials, including schist, cedar, and rimu, to reflect the rustic ambience of the greater Mackenzie Basin,” said Brown.

“Occupant comfort was also factored into the design and construction of Kinloch Estate – with heated tiled floors, a log fire, heat pump, and diesel fireplace keeping the interior cosy warm in winter, while a 96-square metre al-fresco courtyard featuring a built-in BBQ, miniature waterfall, and spa pool offers outdoor living during the hot summer months.

“Entrance to the home’s interior is through a grand character foyer featuring a richly-toned high stud raked rimu ceiling, and a schist-clad wine cellar behind a wrought iron doorway to the side. Meanwhile, the home’s formal dining room and large lounge both look out onto the private tree-lined back lawn. Similar views are enjoyed by the master bedroom with its own walk-in wardrobe and en-suite.”

Kinloch Estate’s three-car garage is internally accessed from within the homestead, while the property’s two additional outbuildings feature a garage/workshop space for storing a multitude of ‘big boys’ toys’ or as a hobby/craft room, and a separate two door garage for housing the firewood pile and property maintenance equipment and machinery.

Brown said that over the past 25-years Omarama had evolved from being a town which most people passed through en route between Queenstown and inland South Canterbury, into a lifestyle destination where property owners enjoyed a broad range of environmentally-based recreational activities ranging from sailing, kayaking, hiking and mountain biking, through to soaking in the hot pools, golf, or fishing.

“The population demographic of those owning property in Mackenzie Basin has changed markedly in the 2000s, and Omarama is very much part of that evolution,” she said

“There has been notable population growth in the towns of Tekapo and Twizel to the north, and now as people seek value for money combined with the rustic charm of a high-country town, Omarama has become the next rung on the property ladder.

“The owners of Kinloch Estate were early adopters of this movement, and created a home with the discerning style and distinction to fit in perfectly with Omarama’s high country vibe. It could either be a high-end ‘bolt-hole’ for someone who loves gliding, or as a permanent residence for someone who just wants to live the quiet life in luxury.”