- Four log homes in Mount Lyford, Canterbury, are for sale, indicating a change in ownership.
- The village, known for its remote, peaceful setting, has no shops or cafes, appealing to those seeking tranquillity.
- The homes range from 70sqm to 190sqm, with prices from $385,000 to $810,000.
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It's a ski town with no shops, no coffee cart, but an abundance of log homes.
Four have hit the market for sale at the same time, a sign that there's a changing of the guard at Mount Lyford in Canterbury.
Bayleys real estate agent Robyn Powell told OneRoof that owners often stay for years and are happy to drive an hour to do their grocery shopping.
So far this year, Powell has listed four of Mount Lyford’s 55 log homes, twice the number she brought to market a year ago. That's more to do with his clients' ages and the town's population. Many bought when the development was brand new and are now moving on.
Both the town and the Mount Lyford ski area came to life in the mid-1980s when local farmers Jenny and Doug Simpson subdivided their land into 97 sections. The couple still live in the village, Powell said.
The original covenants allowed buyers to build log homes only, but these were relaxed following the 2016 Kaikōura earthquake, and now new builds only have to follow an alpine-chalet style.
Powell has been a resident for 30 years and raised her four sons there. She said the remoteness really appealed to buyers, noting that the development was never meant to be a resort town, more a low-density alpine retreat with no commercial strip. “There is the Mount Lyford Lodge, which is just about to open again for the winter. That’s the hub of the village.”
A two-bedroom cabin for sale at 5 Mount Lyford Avenue has an RV of $385,000. Photo / Supplied
Another two-bedroom cabin, at 84 Mount Lyford Avenue, is inviting buyer interest over $589,000. Photo / Supplied
The nearest supermarkets are an hour away in Kaikōura or Hanmer Springs, although there’s a mini supermarket in Waiau, 20 minutes’ drive away.
The village is situated on State Highway 70, about 62km from Kaikōura, 68km from Hanmer Springs and 145km from Christchurch. It’s around a 10‑minute drive away from the ski field.
“People who live in Mount Lyford like peace. They don’t need retail; they don’t need cafes. This is how we live.”
Local children catch the bus to Waiau for the primary school there, or head on to Culverden for secondary, although some, like Powell’s children, are boarders in Christchurch.
The Mount Lyford Ski Area attracts up to 600 people a day at the height of the season, Powell said. “It’s not Coronet or Cardrona. It’s classed as semi-commercial. It has a lovely family-friendly feel.”
The four homes Powell is selling are machine-built, kiln-fired log homes, ranging from 70sqm to 190sqm in size.
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The smallest of the four, 5 Mount Lyford Avenue, has just two bedrooms and one bathroom but sits on 4366sqm of land. Like most in the village, it’s heated with a wood burner. It has an RV of $385,000 and is inviting buyers to make offers before a June 5 deadline.
On 5102sqm of land is 84 Mount Lyford Avenue, which has two bedrooms, one bathroom and an asking price of over $589,000 - well above its RV of $440,000 - while bigger in scale is Clearview Lodge at 47 Terako Terrace, which has five bedrooms, two bathrooms and is being sold with extensive chattels.
The largest of Powell's properties is 81 Mount Lyford Avenue, which has four bedrooms, two bathrooms and an asking price of $810,000. The cabin is by a lily pond and is set in tranquil native surroundings, creating a true sanctuary experience, Powell writes in her listing.
81 Mount Lyford Avenue offers four bedrooms and a cabin beside a lily pond. Photo / Supplied
A five-bedroom cabin for sale at 47 Terako Terrace sits on a 5841sqm section. Photo / Supplied
Powell said that although the centre village is 650m above sea level, it has its own microclimate. On the day she spoke to OneRoof, Powell had left the village with slip-on shoes and no socks. It wasn’t until she hit the plains at Amuri Basin that there was heavy frost. “Everyone says, ‘It must be cold up there.' But a warm air current circulates. It keeps the hard frosts away.”
The views for all the properties in Mount Lyford Village are spectacular, Powell added, noting that on clear days, residents can see all the way to the Kaikōura ranges.
As well as the four log homes, nine of the 42 sections in town are currently listed for sale, with prices ranging from $150,000 to $800,000.
- Click here to find more properties for sale in Hurunui
