Worth serious consideration – Cranlea Farm, an approx. 317-hectare dairy support and finishing property in the thriving Cheviot area, combining the approx. 192.0899-hectare home block with an adjoining approx. 125-hectare river block. The two can also be purchased separately, but together they form a genuinely balanced operation that's hard to find in today's market.
Recent dairy conversions across Canterbury have tightened supply of quality support country, and that scarcity is exactly what makes this property stand out. The home block is well suited to young and beef stock, with irrigation driving strong summer grass growth across the flats. The river block brings excellent wintering capacity, with country ideally suited to the job. Together, the balance works – and the land converts just as well to fattening or finishing, giving flexibility across a range of farm models.
Irrigation draws from the Hurunui River, backed by two storage dams for consistent supply. Three pivots cover approx. 40 hectares, with a fixed grid system across a further approx. 20 hectares – approx. 60 hectares of irrigated flats in total. The river block adds proven performance of its own, with consented designs for a further approx. 68 hectares of pivot and fixed grid irrigation still to come.
The home block itself runs from medium hills and gentle rolling contour down to partially irrigated flats, split into approx. 22 main paddocks with quality fencing. Infrastructure is practical and complete: a four-bay implement shed, wool-shed, hay-shed, cattle yards, small sheep yards, and established shelter belts. The four-bedroom homestead sits elevated, looking out over the surrounding country.
The river block itself is well fenced for easy access and stock movement, with plenty of dry areas and deep, productive silt soils underfoot – making it the ideal wintering or fattening block. It's well served by infrastructure too, with multiple hay sheds and a tidy three-bedroom home on site.
The Hurunui River and coast are close by, with fishing – including the salmon run – boating, kayaking and walking tracks all on the doorstep. Cheviot township is approx. 10 minutes away, Christchurch under 90.
With Cheviot emerging as a growing hub for viticulture, hops and vegetable production, Cranlea offers scope well beyond traditional dairy support and finishing. A rare chance to secure genuine scale and balance in one line, at a time when properties like this simply aren't coming to market.
