Waimauku: Peace and quiet

With fabulous outbuildings, heaps of space and gardens to die for, this wonderful Waimauku property offers a ready-made opportunity to indulge a lifestyle dream. By CEDRIC GRAY.

Were it not for its history and future potential, Barry Cannell might be tempted to describe his 7.1ha west Auckland property as "the fruit bowl of Waimauku".

Instead, he walks through the prolific orchard, gazes at a garden full of natives and watches the birds flit form branch to branch. "It's a lovely, lovely place," he says.

Barry could have walked further - towards the north-west boundary where two windmills generate sufficient power to pump stream water to the nine well-grassed paddocks.

He could have walked to the greenhouse and shade house, where he has grown tomatoes, capsicums and a variety of herbs. There is so much to see and do that he elects to show his visitors the saltwater swimming pool and summer house snug near the bottom of the garden, where magnolias, camellias, azaleas and more fruit trees reign.

"We can harvest fruit every day of the year," he says. There are citrus, apricots, chestnuts, apples, feijoas, plums and peaches.

Barry bought the property, in Peak Rd, 12 years ago after selling real estate on Waiheke Island and running a yacht charter service on the Hauraki Gulf.

He says one of the sections he sold on the island in the 1980s went for $1600. "I didn't make enough out of the sale to pay for the petrol," he says with a smile. How things have changed.

Life at Waimauku, however, has been full of interest and variety. The property is quiet and secluded - "no hint of the outside world" - and offers ideal grazing in the deer-fenced, sheltered paddocks. Ostrich farming was profitable until a meat-processing plant closed its doors. Deer farming, free-range poultry and a farm retreat-cum-conference centre are fresh options.

The excellent outbuildings include a substantial barn with two bunk rooms, which could easily be converted into comfortable conference facilities.

The stylish home, built six years ago, is solar-heated and surrounded by the colourful gardens. It was designed to capture maximum sunlight, the main living area enjoying french-door access to a wide veranda, a spa pool and a cosy water garden (complete with water wheel), which provides for ideal outdoor dining.

The spacious kitchen features a woodburning stove, plus wetback, and a flue, which heats three upstairs bedrooms. It is impressively finished with rimu cupboards and panels. An equally spacious family area opens to a formal lounge, the open-plan space leading to a guest bedroom and en suite. On this floor is a semi-private room with access to the driveway, which Barry uses as a medical consulting room.

A library occupies a room at the head of a wide staircase, the upstairs area taken up by an office and living quarters. Two of the bedrooms have access to a balcony overlooking the gardens.

The property, with an asking price of $949,000, is being marketed by Neil Schierning, Norwest Real Estate, Helensville, ph 09 420 8331 or 025 782 199.