368 Mahurangi West Rd, Mahurangi West. Photo / Supplied
A couple wanting to put farming skills into practice found an expansive property with wide sea views handy to Auckland which they've nurtured for nearly 20 years.
Chris and Donna David own 'Kauri Downs', comprised of two titles being sold together, about 15 minutes north of Orewa. The 88-hectare property has wide views of the Hauraki Gulf and is well established.
The retired Aucklanders spend about half their time here and can drive back to the Takapuna-Harbour Bridge area in around 35 minutes off peak.
Former businessman David and former medical technologist Donna, who have a son in Auckland and a daughter in Paris, bought here in 1999 after beginning to despair they'd find anywhere meeting their criteria.
Chris says: "We wanted a property close enough to Auckland, where we live, so we could easily commute, but far enough away to feel it was rural.
"And we wanted a property of considerable size with great views and which had to be located on a sealed road.
"Seeing the stunning views here across the whole of the gulf, stretching from Little Barrier right around to Auckland city, clinched the deal."
The property includes around 20 hectares of fenced native trees, two waterfalls, waterways and ponds. Chris describes it as wonderfully relaxing amid nature including abundant birdlife and brown trout in waterways.
Two titles, a weekend retreat or coastal farm, provide flexibility. New owners might choose to build a new dwelling on the smaller title, or sell or further develop the larger property.
One title has the main farm of 87 hectares with an American barn-style two-bedroom dwelling. A second 1.67 hectare title on the land's highest point shares the great views.
Chris and Donna put in more than two kilometres of roading and power with capacity to supply 10 houses.
They added 12 kilometres of internal fencing to form 17 paddocks, the main ones of which have water troughs.
They also extended the hayshed to 700-bale capacity, built a shearing shed, and sheep and cattle yards.
The couple once ran around 70 Angus cattle and 100 ewes here.
Low maintenance was a requirement for the barn-style dwelling. It has a Coloursteel exterior and two lower wings around its 4.5-metre high centre.
Indoors, wood panelling accompanies Zincalume feature panels with predominantly polished concrete floors.
Much of their time inside is spent in the sizeable open-plan living-dining-kitchen with views and good flow to outdoor living. There are two carpeted bedrooms, a mezzanine upstairs and a downstairs one supplemented by a bathroom and laundry.
They enjoy boating and about three kilometres down the road are the five main beaches of the Mahurangi Peninsula, three on regional parks and two with boat ramps.
Chris points out once you pass Mahurangi West Road it's about half an hour's drive north until you find another road with beach access.
The couple are still active but with Chris approaching his mid-70s they've decided to sell.