A garden full of possibilities

A field of opportunities at Woodend Gardens in Rowley Crescent, near Blenheim. Photo / Supplied

Woodend Gardens in Rowley Crescent, just five minutes from Blenheim and a favourite garden venue for local brides and their photographers, has been put up for sale through Bayleys Marlborough with a deadline sale date of February 25.

The 9.038ha property is being marketed by Glenn Dick, John Hoare and Tim Crawford, who are promoting it as offering "a stylish lifestyle with income opportunities".

"This is a chance for green-thumbed aficionados to secure one of the region's most iconic gardens and one of national significance," Dick says.

Over the years, Woodend Gardens has been open to the public for garden tours, as a setting for garden parties and as a wedding venue.

The 390sq m two-level, four-bedroom house was built in 1993 but was extensively renovated and refurbished last year. This opened up the possibility for Woodend Gardens to operate as a bed and breakfast or home-stay operation, along with further expansion of the tourism aspect of the property. "Marlborough is definitely a growing visitor destination with the vineyards and wider wine industry putting the region on the map," Dick says.

"Coupled with this, gardening and garden festivals are enjoying a resurgence throughout New Zealand.

"Woodend Gardens can piggy-back on this. If someone has aspirations to transform their hobby and love of gardening into a business that enables them to connect with a like-minded public, then this property is definitely one to set them on that path."

The master bedroom with en suite is on the upper level, along with a second double bedroom and office. Another double bedroom on the lower level has its own en suite, on the same floor as a third bathroom, fourth bedroom, family area, formal living lounge, a stylish kitchen with Bosch appliances, a purpose-built spa room and a sheltered outdoor entertaining area.

Woodend Gardens was transformed from bare paddocks 18 years ago, most recently by the energy and vision of current owners Graeme and Sue Wallace. "The Wallaces both have rural backgrounds, so when they spotted Woodend gardens for sale several years ago they saw it as a way to pool their collective talents," Dick says.

"Having spent considerable time last year renovating the home and restyling many parts of the garden, Sue and Graeme are now keen to move on to another adventure. "The foundation is now perfect for someone with energy and passion to capitalise on this and take the marketing of the gardens as a public drawcard to another level, or to simply enjoy an amazing home and beautiful setting for themselves."

He says features of the gardens are the blue agapanthus lining the driveway, sweeping lawns, wisteria walks and intimate rhododendron dells planted within a framework of established specimen trees.

"Textural under-plantings and clever use of colour create an English-inspired setting with topiaries, box hedging and garden ornamentation."

Dicks says wedding photographers extol the virtues of the garden's light variations.

"The lawn with its feature fountain and picturesque plantings has been the backdrop for many images taking pride of place in numerous albums."

To supplement an income from the gardens, the Wallaces planted 3.6ha of sauvignon blanc grapes in 2008 and as part of the sale of Woodend, they are prepared to enter into a supply agreement to buy the grapes for three years from the 2011 harvest - offering terms more favourable than the district average with an option to extend the arrangement upon mutual agreement. "In Marlborough - as in most other wine-growing areas of New Zealand - having a secure contract in place to buy grapes is a real bonus as it gives some certainty and allows for some degree of income planning," Dick says.

The lifestyle opportunities offered up by Woodend also include grazing land for livestock or horses with various multi-purpose sheds.