Every spring, large numbers of New Zealanders visit Waikato's famous Cherry Blossom Festival, which offers a spectacular avenue of cherry trees and a wealth of exciting multicultural activities. Unfortunately, owners Paul Oulton and his wife Ann Cao have had to put the entire estate up for sale. The property went to auction on the morning of 13 June, but was sadly passed in.
The renowned English Cherry Tree Manor
Built in the 30s of the 20th century, English Cherry Tree Manor in Tamahere, in the heart of Waikato, has hosted numerous balls themed around the acclaimed British television series “Bridgerton”, as well as the annual Cherry Blossom Festival. Many members of the Chinese community will no doubt have visited.
This beautiful estate at 125 Matangi Road in Hamilton's Matangi area is the result of owner Paul Oulton's years of dedication. He spent 28 years transforming the land into an enchanting park with cherry trees, bluebell woodland, ponds and landscaped waterfalls.
Oulton planted around 170 cherry trees around a 150-metre driveway, carefully arranged across the expansive 2-hectare grounds.
The estate's cherry blossoms create a beautiful local spectacle every spring, prompting Oulton and his wife Ann Cao to open the gates and hold the inaugural New Zealand Cherry Blossom Festival in 2017, an event that went on to become well known.
The estate's owners. Photo by Mark Taylor, Stuff NZ / Waikato-Times
The cherry trees are the estate's most striking feature, but the couple later planted nearly 15000 bluebells, creating a bluebell woodland that became another highlight. Over the years, the annual Bluebell Festival, held from month 9 to October, has grown in popularity, attracting tens of thousands of visits from across New Zealand and overseas. The event has now been successfully held six times.
The owners choose a different theme for each event. One centred on Netflix's hit British series Bridgerton, set in the Georgian era. The theme was warmly received, and following a Bridgerton summer ball at the estate in March last year, they successfully held a Bridgerton spring ball as part of the Cherry Blossom Festival. Many visitors attended in elaborate Georgian dress, accompanied by music from a classical quartet.
Alongside hosting the Cherry Blossom Festival, the couple have rented out bedrooms in the four suites at English Cherry Tree Manor through Airbnb, attracting many visitors from New Zealand and overseas.
Some bedrooms are offered as accommodation on Airbnb
The estate also has a dome tent that has attracted many young locals for a stay, with summer weekend rates of NZ$325 per night.
The camping accommodation has remained popular with younger guests and provides another source of income for the estate
Beyond the accommodation business, the couple had more ambitious development plans. They intended to build two Hobbit-hole-style accommodation units beneath the hill, hoping to attract some of the steady stream of tourists visiting Hobbiton in Matamata. Their resource consent application had reportedly already been approved. To support their ambition of turning the property into a year-round visitor attraction, the local council also approved their application to build a 5-metre-tall dragon sculpture and a chapel.
A beautiful aerial view of the estate
Loan pressure forces couple to sell
Unfortunately, the couple's substantial legal bill, incurred when they sued media company Stuff and one of its journalists for defamation, has “forced” them to abandon their development plans. They now have to sell Cherry Tree Manor to repay a high-interest loan.
Oulton said monthly repayments of more than ten thousand New Zealand dollars were a major strain, and they did not want to continue under such pressure. Although unsure of their next move, they were considering relocating to Australia.
The cherry blossom estate was the last property offered at the auction on 13 June, but was unfortunately passed in.
Barfoot & Thompson real estate agent Alex Zhang said it was a unique property suited both to owner-occupiers seeking a family home and investors looking to develop a business.
He said the property stood apart from other lifestyle or farm investment properties because of its variety of trees and flowers, and even a stream running through it. “The scenery changes with every season. It looks absolutely stunning.”