Stunning gardens, historic homestead and more at Richmond

Upon visiting Richmond Garden it's not hard to understand why it was named one of the top five gardens in New Zealand by the New Zealand Gardens Trust (a member of the Royal Horticulture Society).
Located at the end of Wakelin Street in Carterton, the garden is only five minute walk from the centre of town, but once you have passed through its gates you are immediately in another world which could be 16th century Italy or just as easily a fairytale. The restoration of the homestead has been exceedingly thorough and thoughtful, overseen by highly respected conservation architect Chris Cochran so that all additions and alterations would be in keeping with the era in which the house was built, amongst them a grand portico which looks north towards the garden's reflecting pool and impressive bronze fountain - a reproduction of a fountain in Madrid.
The same view can be enjoyed from the Family Room - in fact all the bedrooms in the house have their own mirror garden room.
All four bedrooms in the main house are large but the stand out is the Master Bedroom with its own ensuite and possibly one of the best views from any 'loo' in the Wairarapa.
Other features of the downstairs include a formal Living Room with attached office and large contemporary kitchen, plus plenty of storage, and a stunning family room.
Upstairs is the piece de resistance - a sunroom/bedroom which sits atop the house like a crown with striking views north towards the reflecting pool, and mountains and hills to the west and east - a pretty amazing spot to wake up to - and with its own spacious deck to enjoy breakfast, brunch, or dinner for that matter.
Next door to the main residence is a separate smaller house featuring 2 bedrooms, kitchen/dining and lounge areas. - slightly too grand to be called a granny flat.
While space is too limited to list all the diverse features of the garden, it should be pointed out that it is relatively low maintenance, being attractive all year round but requiring most of the work to be carried out between November and April, with a lawnmower and hedge trimmer being the most essential gardening tools in summer. An impressive shade house which, like all the garden, is irrigated by a bore - the house gets all normal town services including water, power and sewerage.
An historic barn that predates the house, vege gardens and glasshouse, a large swimming pool surrounded by mature trees, original stables (race horses used be trained on the property and then go over to Clareville to compete) half of which have been converted to carports, pony paddock, horse arena, tennis court, dove house and doves, a beautiful mature walnut tree - and the list goes on.
Suffice to say, with such an extraordinary range of attributes, Richmond offers as many possibilities as the imagination allows - many of which offer both a private home and income stream.
A visit to view the property is bound to stimulate plenty of these.