15 December 2022
Waikato Expressway shines a spotlight on the south
Whether you’re cycling, driving or car-pooling … commuting between Cambridge and Hamilton has got a whole lot easier this year with the completion of the Waikato Expressway and the newly opened Te Awa River Trail.
Travel time has significantly reduced between ‘town and country’, and surrounding rural areas once plagued by noisy through traffic and heavy trucks have returned to their original tranquil nature… all of which means, demand for property either side of the Expressway is on the increase.
Lugtons Cambridge sales consultant, Janine McWhannell, a born and bred Cambridge resident currently living on SH1B, has noticed a significant reduction in traffic and noise. Tamahere and Matangi villages no longer feel like a thoroughfare, and the accessibility to both Cambridge and Hamilton is “fantastic” she says. “It’s such a quick trip either way, and we no longer have trucks rumbling through and disturbing the peace.”
Janine says properties on the southern outskirts of Hamilton that seemed too far from the city for many buyers to consider are now attractive choices that offer the charms of rural life while being a quick and convenient drive to the education, work, and leisure options of both Hamilton and Cambridge.
Big city commute
When those north of the Bombay Hills first started looking south for affordable property, Hamilton’s northern suburbs of Flagstaff and Rototuna ticked the boxes – good value and commutability. Now, with the 30-year Expressway project complete, the southern outskirts of Hamilton and Cambridge are viable options for those wanting to balance lifestyle with a big city commute.
“The Expressway connects Auckland to the agricultural and business centres of the Waikato, as well as making the leisure and lifestyle offerings of our biggest city feel like they are just a stone’s throw away,” says Janine.
“The rural outskirts of Hamilton through to Cambridge still offer the peace of country living, while being a quick and easy commute to all the convenience of Hamilton and Auckland. Thanks to the expressway, this is now an excellent real estate option that suits buyers in a range of life stages.”
Cambridge connections
Greater connectivity with Hamilton hasn’t detracted in any way from Cambridge’s heritage appeal. “Cambridge is an ideal location to call home with a fantastic community, and the expressway makes it even more appealing,” says Janine.
With its relaxed vibe, quality restaurants, cafes, and boutique shopping, excellent schooling options as well as elite sports (think cycling and rowing champions), Cambridge is already one of the highest searched locations in the region. While median house prices in the Waikato were $770,000 (REINZ: Sept 2022), those in the Waipa remained consistently higher, at $800,000.
Demand continues to outrun supply but hundreds of new sections west of Cambridge and overlooking the Waikato River will go onto the market in 2023 when St Peter’s School converts 20 per cent of its dairy farm into a residential subdivision.
Meeting market demand
As Hamilton continues to take centre stage in the growth of the golden triangle, the city and its surrounding townships have property and value to offer both buyers and sellers. At Lugtons, we thrive on responding to the challenges and opportunities posed by the real estate market because our success comes from finding the ‘right’ result for you, whether that’s town, country, or somewhere in between.
Whatever your life stage and property preferences, we’ll do our utmost to achieve the goal you’re aiming for. Get in touch with the Lugtons team today to start your property search.
