Waimauku: Artistic licence

An artistic couple draw energy and inspiration from their rural property, writes Suzanne McFadden.

Rivermede, 487 Kiwitahi Road, Waimauku. Val Davis walks among the stands of kauri and rimu with her eight Suffolk sheep, and "feels a poem coming on".

Rivermede, a magical property on the border of Waimauku and Woodhill, has been a constant source of inspiration to Val and her equally artistic husband, Paul.

The view from Meadow Cottage, across the swell of emerald hills and valleys, has been the ideal place for Val to sit and write her poetry. Her work is not so much Emily Dickinson, but more Pam Ayres. Paul, a photographer, has captured the dramatic landscape with his camera.

From the start of the long driveway down to the 4.6ha of native bush, grazing land and the charming villa there is a sense of romance. At the first gate, on top of a ridge, the view stretches to Woodhill Forest to the west, and South Head and the Kaipara Harbour to the north.

The driveway dips down into an enclave - a turn-of-the-century villa guarded by mature kauri, rimu, puriri and nikau. "Once I got to the second gateway at those trees, I was in love," Val recalls. "It's a magical place, it even has its own little microclimate."

Although the grand old house looks as though it has stood here for the last century, it is a relative newcomer to the north-west.

The previous owners of the property moved the kauri villa from Ellerslie about 10 years ago. They then meticulously restored it over eight years, before Paul and Val added the finishing touches. The stunning English country kitchen has a large new gas range and the home's original coal range as an ornamental feature; the sunny master bedroom now has an en suite and dressing room.

The couple added Meadow Cottage to the property, a one-room chalet a short walk from the house, which Val uses as her office.

They also put a spa pool on a platform on the sprawling lawn, to gaze up at the skies, unhindered by a roof or the light noise of the city.

Although the couple adore Rivermede, they have decided that family comes first, and they need to live closer to their children on the North Shore. The Davis family emigrated to New Zealand from England in the early 1990s, and only wish they had found Rivermede then, when the children were young and could explore the bush, with its streams, waterfalls and ancient river boulders.

But the Davis' won't be leaving the west for good. Once a year, Val and Paul stage a charity concert, "Night at the Poms" - a variety show starring some of the country's up-and-coming young talent, as well as Paul in a spoof of the Bee Gees and Val performing her "sometimes risque" poetry.

This year's concert, on September 3, will be held at the Kumeu Community Hall to raise money for the North Shore Coastguard.

Vital Statistics

SIZE: Land 4.6ha, house 150sq metres + verandahs and deck.

PRICE INDICATION: Interest over $900,000. Auction June 23.

INSPECT: Sunday 2-3pm.

CONTACT: Daniel Mahon, Barfoot & Thompson, ph 412 5640, 021 774 013 mob.

FEATURES: Beautifully restored villa on land comprising pasture, bush and streams. Wooden chalet with power and phone. Spa pool, glasshouse, 8 Suffolk sheep.