Cromwell is making an impression as Central Otago’s leading lifestyle destination and Wooing Tree Estate has responded to the demand from all over New Zealand for a quality place to live by creating a diverse neighbourhood community at the entrance to the fast-growing town. 

The estate, which will ultimately provide 360 sites, is being developed on the high-profile Wooing Tree vineyard spearheaded by Tauranga company Veros Property who assembled an investment and development team to help vineyard owners Steve and Thea Farquharson achieve their plan for a boutique vineyard – style estate.

Veros senior development manager Sean Haynes says the company has a reputation for its residential and commercial projects throughout New Zealand which include extensive subdivisions, retail and education facilities and apartment complexes.

He is upbeat about playing a part in Cromwell’s progress. 

“Our vision for the development has been to deliver a comprehensive, high quality new neighbourhood that provides real appeal for those who call Cromwell home. We saw an opportunity to provide a truly masterplanned development with high quality landscaping and finishing that supplement the wonderful natural amenity of this unique location. It has proven an excellent formula with so many people attracted to this stunning location backdropped by the Pisa range with its proximity to Lake Dunstan, cycle trails, wineries, Cromwell town centre and other attractions.”

The 25-hectare site has been sensitively developed with the expertise of Queenstown landscape architect Paddy Baxter of Baxter Design as master planners who have put together a package of bespoke urban design and housing controls designed to lift the bar in terms of quality in Cromwell.

” It will be a diverse neighbourhood with a range of housing options and supporting open space and greenways which are synonymous with Cromwell,” says Sean. “While some vines have been retained as part of the overall design any have been transplanted to the new Wooing Tree vineyard site close by. We are pleased to be able to continue to grow and produce the Wooing Tree award winning wines on site from the remaining vines and to create a new cellar door and boutique hospitality facility which will be a focal point of the estate.”

Along with reserve areas and a central greenway there are cycle trails and a dedicated space for the vineyard throughout the subdivision. A feature is the imposing centrally located tree from which the vineyard takes its name. History has it that over the years this was the place where lovers met and wooed each other and it will sit within a 2,000 square meter public park at the bookend of the estates central greenway reserve.

The first residential state is now complete with the first residents beginning their builds. Stage two, comprising 120 sections has sold out while the 100-site stage three has recently been released with price tags starting at $270 000. The fourth stage, which will continue to expand on the the mix of housing choices, will follow in 2022.

“There is a diverse mix of section and housing choice and specific guidelines for homes built here to ensure a higher level of design across all the price points. Many of our purchasers are local and range from young families to,” says Sean. ” It is exciting to see some are first home buyers taking advantage of  house and land packages including people from other parts of the country, along with expats, looking to shift to the region.”