Waiwhero Farm | Moutere, Tasman Bay

Waiwhero Farm is located in the Moutere Hills, Nelson/Tasman region. The property is roughly 130 hectares and is long and narrow consisting of two land titles, rising to the south with the upper portion giving expansive views across farmland, with views northeast to Tasman Bay and west to the Mt Arthur range.

The aim of the landscape design was to complement and “anchor” the new house plus entry road in the landscape. The farm master plan provided direction for the planting of approximately 10,000 native trees, an irrigation dam, new fence lines and walking tracks to link various parts of the landscape. Consideration was given with regard to where to draw the line for the ‘garden’, new horticultural cropping and farm. The landscape architect was involved from the projects inception, selecting the access drive alignments, the house siting and philosophical design direction with the architects.

The design philosophy for the house and garden is based on the geological formations, the Moutere Hills fans. The house is sited and terraced to sit below and follow the ridgeline on the site. The terracing enables graded access from the house interiors to broad flat terraces stepping across the slope.