A VERY SPECIAL PLACE

BANKS PENINSULA

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The Port Hills Foundation Community salutes The Crown, New Zealand Government, The Treaty of Waitangi, Local & National Guardians of Aotearoa, Keeping New Zealand ‘The Best Healthy & Safe Planet on Earth’.

The Port Hills Foundation Charitable Trust values our natural and clean environment hence community heritage (rivers, land, reserve parks and buildings) that serve The Port Hills Foundation ‘guardians charitable purpose’ for the sake of all Communities in The Port Hills, Christchurch.

‘Super imposed into the picturesque Port Hills of the Banks Peninsula, Cashmere has long been Christchurch’s preeminent residential suburb.

Originally little more than a large farm owned by an early settler (named after his birth place in Kashmir), the Cashmere/Port Hills region was prized for its sweeping and inspiring 360 degree panoramas absorbing vast expanses of sky, sea and greenery.

As Christchurch population grew with an ever expanding demand for new housing settlements, city-planners began to look for new areas to open up for development. The more savvy quickly realised Cashmere’s elevated contours provided a striking counterpoint to the rest of Christchurch’s position on the level land of the Canterbury Plains.

Attracted by the breathtaking vistas and a clement micro-climate, Cashmere soon gained a reputation as the go-to suburb for those seeking more than suburban mediocrity. Over the past two decades, the location has witnessed a proliferation of high-end/architectural housing on large holdings with appeal enhanced by an easy 10 minute commute into the CBD. By implication, most of the homes are exclusively owner occupied, change hands in frequently with a high level of inquiry from both local and international potential buyers. While this description may convey an impression of elitism, such a perception could not be further from the truth.

Cashmere projects a very trendy and slightly avant-garde village vibe characterised by boutique stores, boho-chic galleries selling local art, lively markets with modern/county live-music, edgy eateries and ethnic dining destinations. There’s a strong sense of community identity with the family-friendly factor enhanced by zoning for reputable Cashmere High School and plenty of outdoor recreation opportunities.

Many properties on the slopes are located close to cycle-tracks and hiking trails catering to all levels of ability while those lower down access the Heathcote River’s scenic walk-ways. Just as I enjoy rambling through some of those tracks, I could also ramble on all evening about why Cashmere/Port Hills is such a great location to live and raise a family.