Large-scale dairy properties are seldom offered to the market in the North Island. Wharetoto Dairy, located at 2/1389 Taharua Road, Rangitaiki, east of Taupō, is one of those rare exceptions.
Comprising approximately 731ha, with around 605ha forming the effective dairy platform, this property offers a level of scale more commonly associated with larger South Island dairy operations, but without the same reliance on costly irrigation systems or the additional expense that comes with more intensive grazing and feed requirements.
The wider location also brings a quality of life that is difficult to ignore. Taupō is approximately 30 minutes away and close enough to be part of everyday life, offering strong business services, schooling, hospitality, and everything that comes with one of New Zealand’s most recognised regional centres.
Lake Taupō provides boating, fishing, and recreation almost on the doorstep, while the region’s rivers are internationally known for trout fishing.
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For those who enjoy the outdoors, the Central Plateau offers skiing and alpine recreation, while sika deer and wild pigs are well established in the wider Rangitaiki area, giving hunting enthusiasts outstanding opportunities close to home.
When farming allows some time away, Hawke’s Bay, with its wineries, food, and lifestyle attractions, is also within reach.
Wharetoto Dairy is predominantly flat to easy contour, providing a practical and efficient farming platform with excellent accessibility across the property.
At the centre of the operation is a modern 80-bale rotary dairy, supported by automatic cup removers, Protrack drafting, in-shed feeding, and herd management technology.
The dairy complex is complemented by substantial feed storage, liquid feed capacity, and a 280kVA backup generator servicing the dairy, water pumps, and workshop.
Six modern dwellings provide quality accommodation for owners, managers, and staff, an important consideration for a farming operation of this size.
Wharetoto Dairy is currently farmed as a large dairy unit, with approximately 1,230 cows wintered for the 2025/26 season. For the 2025/26 season, 70 per cent of the herd was wintered off farm, with the remainder being wintered on farm.
The 2025/26 season produced approximately 491,297kg of milk solids. The current farming programme has increased cow numbers to 1,337, targeting 600,000kgMS for the 2026/27 season. All cows were wintered on farm, excluding 100 cows grazed off during June and July.
Stan Sickler, Rural Sales Advisor at Colliers, has been exclusively appointed to market the property for sale and says this is an opportunity for an incoming owner to step into an established farming business with many of the key operational components and good infrastructure already in place.
“Recent investment across the property has been significant,” Sickler says.
“More than 330ha of pasture has been renovated or undersown over the past two years, while winter cropping, supplementary feed systems, and on-farm silage production form part of the current farming programme.
“The Rangitaiki district benefits from summer rainfall and strong grass-growing conditions, helping support a productive pasture-based farming system through periods when other regions can become moisture constrained.”
Water is supplied through both the Taharua Stream and a spring system, with a developed reticulation network servicing stock, dairy, and dwellings.
Environmental development has also been a focus, with approximately 19,000 native plants established, together with poplar planting for shade and further work around waterways and pond areas enhancing birdlife and adding aesthetic value.
“You can run a large-scale dairy business, build a long-term agricultural investment, and still enjoy everything the central North Island has to offer,” Sickler says.
“Wharetoto Dairy offers a significant opportunity to the astute investor looking for a large-scale investment in the dairy sector with the potential to leave a legacy.
“For established farming families and corporate operators, it offers the ability to secure meaningful scale in a single North Island holding.”
For investors, it represents a substantial productive land asset with an established operating platform, quality infrastructure, staff accommodation, and the option of acquiring the herd and selected machinery alongside the land.
Perhaps most importantly, Wharetoto Dairy has the attributes of a property that can be held for the long term. Farms of this scale are increasingly difficult to replicate, particularly when combined with good contour, reliable growing conditions, and proximity to a major regional centre.
This is a property capable of supporting the next generation as strongly as it supports the current one.
Wharetoto Dairy is being offered for sale by tender, closing at 1pm on Wednesday 2 December, unless sold prior.
- Supplied by Colliers
