Taupaki - Flying start

A couple added a special feature for their children when building on their lifestyle block.

323 Annandale Rd, Taupaki.

Louise Poland-Smith not only gave her two boys a taste of adventure when she had a neighbour build a flying fox on their property, but also fulfilled a childhood dream.

``When I was a girl growing up in Kaukapakapa, I always wanted a flying fox,'' she says.

``It's a good one, too, it goes 60m from the tree house down to the paddock until you bump into some tyres at the end.''

It's all part of the experience of growing up in the country that she and husband Warren Smith believe has been great for their sons, now aged 18 and 13.

``It's been great for them - the open spaces and growing up with animals around them.''

Although the spaces on their 0.8ha block weren't always so open when they bought it more than 14 years ago.

``It was all overgrown with a little hermit shack on it,'' says Louise.

``The neighbours said the garden used to be stunning but it had been let go for a while. We tried to retrieve as much as we could but we pretty much started from scratch.''

After clearing the site they built a three-bedroom brick and Hardiplank home designed by an architect friend. Two years later they put in a pond below the house.

The almost Cape Cod-style house sits amid a swathe of lawn and is surrounded by mass-planted garden beds.

It has views across the rolling countryside with ``no roofs or houses in the way, which is nice''.

The downstairs has an open plan living area that opens out to a north-facing deck that wraps around the eastern side of the house. A spa pool sits off to the other side of the house under some trees.

The main bathroom downstairs has floor to ceiling white tiles broken up by a horizontal band in a pebble effect, sandy in colour like the splashback behind the kitchen's gas hob.

Upstairs is the master bedroom and a study. The master has an en suite and its own north-facing balcony.

The whole of the downstairs, including the two bedrooms, has underfloor heating.

Not far from the house is what Louise calls ``the cottage'', with a look that mirrors that of the main house.

It started life as a workshop eight years ago but was converted about a year ago to serve as accommodation.

It now boasts 1-2 bedrooms, a bathroom, kitchenette and laundry as well as its own phone line and septic tank.

It also has a verandah, and three olive trees form a screen to provide privacy from the main house. The property also has two paddocks, home to five sheep.

Warren and Louise are shifting to begin again on a 1ha block further up the road.

Says Louise, ``We want to build again; we both love doing places up and it's been good fun here, but we've got as far as we can with this place.''

VITAL STATISTICS

BEDROOMS: 4+

BATHROOMS: 3

GARAGES: 2

SIZE: Land 8094sqm, main house 208sq m, second dwelling 92sq m.

PRICE INDICATION: Similar properties have been known to sell upwards of $900,000. Expressions of interest close September 27.

INSPECT: Sun 3-3.45pm.

ON THE WEB: www.harcourts.co.nz #KM060811

CONTACT: Simon Spiller, Harcourts Kumeu, ph 412 7666 bus, 021 968 068 mob.

FEATURES: Property ideal for those seeking either their first lifestyle opportunity or downsizing to a more manageable holding. Has self-contained second dwelling, landscaped grounds, two paddocks and a pond.