Luxury lodge set among heavenly creatures

Claremont has been nominated three times in the World Tourism Awards. Photo / Supplied

Claremont, one of Canterbury's notable country estates situated on 644 hectares of prime North Canterbury farmland with "God's Marbles" and dinosaur bones among its tourist attractions, is for sale via expressions interest through Brian Brakenridge of Browns Sotheby's International Realty, Christchurch.

"Surrounded by sweeping lawns, fragrant rose gardens and towering specimen trees, Claremont currently operates as a luxury lodge in conjunction with its farms," Brakenridge says.

"While the entire estate, 16km north of Amberley, is being offered for sale along with its beef, sheep and deer farming operations, the owner would consider the sale of just the lodge itself set on 15.23ha ," Brakenridge says.

The lodge buildings comprises a 742sq m six-bedroom historic homestead set within manicured gardens that feature an all weather tennis court and a self-contained 110sq m three bedroom cottage.

Claremont is a member of the prestigious New Zealand Lodge Association and was nominated in 2007, 2009 and again this year in the World Tourism Awards as New Zealand's leading Luxury Lodge and Australasia's leading Boutique Resort. It was also the only prestigious Andrew Harper Hideaway Report Grand Award winner for New Zealand in 2008.

"While it could continue to operate as an award-winning luxury lodge, Claremont would be equally suited to being returned to a gracious private country residence," says Brakenridge.

The farming operation is used as an adjunct to the present tourism business and guests are offered a morning's four-wheel drive excursion which comprises a combination of a farm tour, exciting off-road driving and a geological odyssey.

"Claremont boasts some of the most remarkable geological features in New Zealand including the on site remains of mosasaurs and plesiosaurs," Brakenridge says. "In addition to stunning mountain scenery, the tour takes is a spectacular limestone escarpment and the fascinating God's Marbles, which are one metre limestone spheres formed around dinosaur bones. Other features of the tour are the dramatic Waipara Gorge and an amazing giant natural sculptural called the Bishop's Head.

"This tour was acclaimed by Destinations magazine as the most interesting and diverse in New Zealand and is frequently described by guests as one of the highlights of their entire New Zealand vacation."

Currently Claremont offers guests an accommodation choice from three luxury lodge suites, a luxury self-contained retreat villa and the family self-contained cottage.

Listed by the NZ Historic Places Trust as a Category 2 building, the original Claremont homestead was built in 1866 from high density hand cut limestone blocks quarried on the property. The layout was classic Georgian with a central front entrance and hallway with four reception rooms on the ground floor. A staircase from the hall led to the four bedrooms upstairs and the main building was surrounded by a colonial style veranda and deck on three sides.

Brakenridge says the current owners purchased Claremont in 1979 and began a thorough restoration project in 1999 that was completed in 2000/2001.

"They also added a 25sq m turreted pavilion dining room and a connected two floor annex which includes a first floor owners' flat with balcony/sun deck and a further bedroom suite. This annex also has its own private entrance and has a separate heating and power supply."

The total area of the house is 742sq m with a 120sq m four car garage block.

It is a 45 minute drive to Christchurch and us on the western side of the Amberley-Waipara Basin, which is regarded as one of the fastest growing wine region in New Zealand with over 80 vineyards, several wineries and cafes close by.

Local amenities include primary schools nearby at Broomfield and Amberley where there is a post office, public library, public swimming pool, a number of retail shops, petrol station and other service providers. "From a locality perspective Claremont can only be considered to be in a prime location," Brakenridge says.