Up for auction: Rooms with a zoo

Neville Jacques, with a Highland Cattle (L) and American Bison (R), says the property has been a labour of love for its owners. Picture / Christine Cornege

They came out of Africa and into Matamata, and brought some exotic friends with them - including Bassoon the American bison and Mr and Mrs Ostrich.

But now Elmarie and Bruce Pitchford are reluctantly selling their 8.6ha property - animals and all - to move into town.

The Pitchfords' dream to live on the property was foiled when an illness confined Mrs Pitchford to a wheelchair, so the section on Taihoa North Rd, 5km east of Matamata, is up for auction on May 14.

They'll take with them some great memories - like their kids swimming in a pool with Snorkel, the pet water buffalo.

If the new buyers are keen, they can keep the interesting collection of pets - including the bison, ostriches and water buffalo, with herds of fallow and russa deer, a pair of Highland cattle, emus, alpacas, miniature horses and donkeys plus some chooks and a kunekune pig.

In 2012 the property was given a capital valuation of $1.545 million, according to QV.

It was sold in 1991 - 24 years ago - for $400,000, and the Pitchfords bought it in 2007.

How the family ended up with such a menagerie of creatures great and small can be tied back to Mrs Pitchford's love of animals - they also have a dogs, cats and a parrot at their home in the Matamata town, where Dr Pitchford works.

The two buffalo - now about 1.5 tonnes each and too big for the pool - were acquired after Mrs Pitchford heard one was being "bullied" by an alpha male at another farm.

"Each animal has a personality of its own - Bassoon the bison is good friends with the two highland cattle," she said.

But at that hefty weight and nearly 2m high, "he's an animal to be respected", Dr Pitchford added.

Bayleys Matamata salesman Neville Jacques said the property had been a labour of love for its owners, who were reluctant to give it up - and their pets.

"They would love to see it passed on to someone equally as passionate about wildlife."

He said the property had a fully contained and insulated flat on site and could easily be made into a bed and breakfast to accommodate tourists visiting nearby Hobbiton.