Rare chance to buy Whangarei Heads farm

An appealing 158.8-hectare farm in seven titles with scope for several land use options is for sale at Pataua South on the picturesque Whangarei Peninsula.

Bayleys in the North rural salesperson, Tracy Dalzell says it is rare to secure scale, income diversity and coastal proximity in one holding on the peninsula.

“Properties of this size, with multiple titles and proven income streams, are tightly held in this district,” she says.

“The combination of flexibility and location offered by this property is already attracting wide interest from newcomers to the district or locals keen to expand their existing land area in an amazing location,” she says.

The property should also be attractive as a land-banking investment for future subdivision, while still earning good returns from current land use options, she says.

The vendors bought the property in March 2023 when it was a productive dairy unit, running about 280 cows and wintering cows on the milking platform and adjacent leased land.

They decommissioned the dairy operation on settlement and switched to a beef trading operation, including successfully raising hundreds of dairy-beef calves in the farm’s excellent calf rearing shed, and grazing up to 160 dairy heifers and 400 dry cows on summer grazing contracts for several repeat clients.

“This farm is a grass growing machine and has all the infrastructure in place to either return it to farming as a dairy unit, or running as a dairy support block or beef trading unit,” Dalzell says.

Infrastructure is extensive and fit for purpose, with e two hay barns; a large, good quality calf-rearing shed; the disused 38-aside herringbone cowshed and concrete yard, plus two substantial effluent ponds which provide a solid operational base if a purchaser wishes to return the farm to a dairy unit.

“With reinstallation of plant and some upgrades, that pathway back to dairying is open to buyers, looking to capitalise on an entry-level farm,” Dalzell says.

A recent report on upgrading the dairy shed, including cost estimates, was prepared by a local dairy consultant and is available on request.

The farm is well fenced into approximately 65 paddocks, supported by an excellent race system that ensures stock movement and management is highly efficient.

The contour is mostly easy rolling, creating a very appealing farm with excellent views from the extensive road frontage that wraps around three sides of the farm’s boundary.

“From Pataua South Road, Addison or Campbell Roads, you can look almost over the entire property. Of course, with all that road frontage, access is always very easy too.”

A tidy two-bedroom dwelling offers additional rental income or comfortable on-site accommodation for an owner-operator or staff.

The vendors are also open to making an adjoining 35-hectare block available for lease on agreed terms with the purchaser. About half this block is suitable for grazing livestock and the balance is aesthetically appealing native bush.

Dalzell says location is a strength of the overall property. It lies within easy reach of Parua Bay School and the village’s shops, and several popular east coast beaches are also close by.

Whangarei’s city centre is only a 24km drive along the scenic route around the Whangarei Harbour edge.

To take advantage of the surge in number of people holidaying in the region over the summer, the vendors have run a very successful ‘side hustle’ for the past two seasons, opening their gates to thousands of visitors keen to wander through an eight-hectare patch of sunflowers.

With sales of real fruit ice creams, coffees, cold drinks, and photography packages, plus gate entry fees, the venture generated more than $30,000 of extra income each year and delivered a 20 tonne per hectare crop of sunflowers for cattle to consume.

The sunflower patch has drawn massive public interest and delivered excellent supplementary returns - a reminder of the upside available when initiative meets location.

“It’s a great example of thinking outside the square and shows what is possible when you are farming in a district like Pataua South which is only 30 minutes from Whangarei and on the way to some of the best beaches and fishing spots in the Northland region,” Dalzell says.

This property is for sale by auction starting at noon on March 25 at Bayleys Whangarei office at 84 Walton Street, Whangarei.