Oratia: Just like grandma's place

Wonderful rural views from the veranda, 4ha of land, an original kauri villa and resident chickens set this lifestyle block apart from the rest. By LUCY RICHMOND.

That's why Brian Lever and his family spent a year looking for one, and ended up buying a 100-year-old gem in Whangarei and moving it, in two sections, to their fantastic site in Parker Rd.

That was 13 years ago and, having achieved what they wanted with their lifestyle block, Brian and his wife, Debra, are ready for a change of scene.

The Levers have made 1.6ha of the 4ha section suitable for grazing, transformed a former swamp area into a pond and created a cute orchard boasting a variety of trees, including citrus, peaches, plums, feijoas and almonds.

The grounds, dotted with native trees and playing host to heaps of birdlife, include a double garage, an implement shed and a greenhouse. The resident ducks and chickens are part of the package.

Facing north, the secluded villa is situated at the end of a private driveway. The garden surrounding the house has been quaintly landscaped to include dinky steps, lawns, pathways and flower beds.

A splendid veranda, which wraps around most of the house, provides a fantastic spot for outdoor entertaining off the dining room, as well as a functional space. One of the double bedrooms also opens to the veranda.

Kauri is the name of the game inside this delightful home. The front door opens into a long hallway - with kauri floorboards and high, kauri panelled ceilings - which runs the length of the house. All the wood you see is kauri.

The master bedroom and three double bedrooms enjoy generous stud heights and spacious proportions.

To the right of the hallway is the quaint bathroom, a separate toilet and a handy storage cupboard.

The spacious, modern laundry, complete with a pull-out ironing board, opens directly to the veranda at the back of the house.

The dining area features a fabulous open fireplace, which heats the house beautifully. Brian has a second original fireplace surround tucked away should the next owner want it. This room and the adjoining neat kauri kitchen with modern appliances have fabulous rural views across the paddocks and trees.

Beyond the kitchen is the formal lounge. Added when the villa was moved to the site, the lounge now occupies the spot that was originally the outside toilet.

The unusual light fittings, which belonged to Brian's grandmother, are the ideal choice for the formal setting with yet more breathtaking views.

With a microclimate all of its own, Oratia isn't a stranger to summer temperatures of 37 degrees in the shade.

The area epitomises the lifestyle block way of life, and Brian's property captures the essence of the rural dream. Yet it's 25 minutes from Auckland CBD, 20 minutes from Piha, 10 mins from Titirangi village and 10 minutes from Lynmall shopping centre.

The property - at 123 Parker Rd, Oratia - is being marketed by Lisa Adlington and Mark Owers, Bayleys, Titirangi. Ph 817 0101 bus; Lisa 817 0106 dir; 021 878 227 mob; Mark 817 0102 dir; 027 479 1385 mob. It goes to auction late October.