Ōmārama property ripe for lift off

A commercially zoned holding in the centre of Ōmārama, the small township near the southern end of the Mackenzie Basin in the Waitaki District on the southern Canterbury and Otago border, is for sale. It offers a substantial landholding and a premium residence suited to high-end short-term visitor accommodation, with additional scope for development to leverage the zoning overlay.

The 2.01ha property known as Kinloch Estate, sits at 18 Airport Road, Ōmārama. It fronts State Highway 8, a key route between Christchurch and Queenstown that attracts strong year‑round visitor numbers. The site’s Commercial Business 6 zoning supports residential activity, visitor accommodation, restaurants and retail sales limited to food, beverages and souvenirs, subject to compliance with development standards.

The circa-378sqm residence sits in one corner of the large site, and is constructed from schist, cedar and Rimu. It has four bedrooms, an office, generous living areas, underfloor heating, triple garaging and an outdoor spa. Covered outdoor spaces connect to landscaped grounds featuring post-and-rail paddocks, a tree‑lined entrance, a separate workshop, private bore and town water connection. The home would be suitable as a luxury Airbnb, or a manager’s residence for a future accommodation venture.

The landholding provides ample room for additional buildings, and the zoning overlay has height limits, setbacks, landscaping requirements and access rules, providing a clear framework for future planning. The site also sits within the Visitor Accommodation Precinct under the Waitaki District Council’s Proposed District Plan.

Wayne Frewen of Bayleys Tekapo, and Al Brown of Bayleys Timaru, are marketing the property, with price on application.

Owned by long‑time Ōmārama residents, Frewen says the property represents a significant opportunity to secure a large commercial parcel in a fast‑growing alpine tourism destination.

“Commercial holdings of this size, with established infrastructure and favourable zoning, are increasingly hard to secure.

“As a junction town, Ōmārama is naturally a great place to stop and stay if you're coming from Christchurch, Oamaru, or Queenstown and Wanaka. Nearby destinations, including Lake Tekapo and Twizel, continue to grow, positioning Ōmārama as the next logical location for development.”

The Alps to Ocean Cycle Trail, the longest continuous trail among New Zealand's official Ngā Haerenga Great Rides, runs past the boundary, and the property also neighbours the Ōmārama airfield, recognised as the home of gliding in New Zealand. Ōmārama sits where the Southern Alps meet the Mackenzie basin, and the prevailing north-west winds combine with this terrain to produce strong, reliable mountain wave and thermal lift for avid gliders who visit from around the world.

Against these underlying tourism fundamentals, Brown says the offering stands out for its scale and zoning.

“This is one of the most versatile commercial holdings in Ōmārama, offering genuine scope for accommodation or tourism activity, with the existing quality residence capable of operating as luxury short term accommodation while future development is progressed.

“Accommodation in Ōmārama reaches capacity at peak times and demand continues to increase as the cycle trail and gliding attract more people.

“State Highway 8 is a major tourist corridor, and this site sits right in the heart of it making it an untapped opportunity for a forward-thinking buyer.”