Escape to Otamatea Olive Grove an exceptional rural retreat

This stunning Whanganui home overlooks an olive grove an avocado orchard all subdivided up into four titles. Photo / Supplied

Escape to an exceptional rural retreat is only a short journey from central Whanganui.

The stunning 6.8233-hectare property at 29 Westmere Road features an outstanding five bedroom, multi-level home with a working award-winning olive grove as the backdrop.

Otamatea Olive Grove sits idyllically on the rich Otamatea Loam recognised as some of the best soils on the globe, while the temperate Whanganui climate has proven ideal for the production of high quality olive oil.

The grove features 1800 16-year-old trees planted in 2000 with four varieties — Leccino, Frantoio, Picholene and Koroneiki. There are also 20 mature avocado trees.

The first commercial harvest was in 2008 just after the current custodians bought the property. Crop volumes have grown steadily since and have peaked at 20 tonnes, although there is potential to up the ante to 30 tonnes.

The quality of that first harvest was immediately obvious when the Koroneiki single variety was awarded a silver medal in 2008 and repeated in 2009 at the New Zealand Olive Oil Awards.

And to put the silver medals into context the awards place Otamatea Olive Oil in the top 10 per cent in New Zealand with New Zealand being recognised as among the best producers in the world.

Potential investors, however, have the luxury of buying the magnificent mansion with any part of the four titles the property has been subdivided into. The titles range from 1ha to 1.5ha.

The generously large architecturally-designed home features 5 bedrooms, including a generous master connecting to an en suite and his and hers walk-in wardrobes, three bathrooms and an office. Downstairs one of the bedrooms has its own lounge making this an ideal space for an elderly relative, teenager or has possibilities as an Airbnb.

The elegant formal lounge features beautiful wooden cathedral ceilings while and an open fire place with an impressive schist surround, along with the Contessa log fire in the informal living area, provides a cozy family retreat.

The home has only had two owners and Westmere Road is a no exit street off Tayforth Rd Westmere, one of Whanganui's most popular and sought-after lifestyle areas.

Marketed by Annemarie Horrocks from Bayleys Real Estate, offers close on 29 Westmere Road close on Thursday, May 31 unless sold prior.

This is an exceptional property and a must on the list for serious investors seeking to escape to a rural retreat close to town.